Get HCPC registered
To work as a biomedical scientist in the UK you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Why you need to be HCPC registered
Biomedical scientist is a protected title. It is a legal requirement for anyone using the title 'biomedical scientist' in the UK to be registered with the HCPC.
Who are the HCPC?
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is the statutory regulator for several health and care professions, including biomedical scientists.
The aim of the HCPC is to protect patient safety by keeping a register of health and care professionals who meet HCPC standards.
HCPC standards cover areas including:
- training
- conduct
- performance
- ethics and
- continuing professional development (CPD)
and are used to decide whether you are fit to work as a biomedical scientist in the UK.
Meeting HCPC standards ensure that you practice biomedical science in a safe, effective and lawful manner and protect members of the public.
HCPC standards of proficiency for biomedical scientists
How do I become registered with the HCPC?
To become registered as a biomedical scientist with the HCPC, you need to demonstrate that you meet HCPC standards of proficiency for biomedical scientists. This can be demonstrated through a combination of academic qualifications and clinical laboratory training.
Your undergraduate degree must meet all the necessary academic criteria set out in the HCPC standards of education and training.
During your clinical laboratory training, you will need to complete a Registration Training Portfolio - an IBMS portfolio based qualification designed to demonstrate that you meet HCPC standards of proficiency. When successfully completed, and it has been verified by an IBMS verifier, you will be awarded an IBMS Certificate of Competence. The certificate demonstrates that you have met HCPC standards of proficiency and you can apply to be registered as a biomedical scientist.
How do I know if my degree meets HCPC standards?
If you are studying or have completed:
- an IBMS accredited or
- an HCPC approved honours degree in biomedical science
you will meet HCPC standards of proficiency for registration as a biomedical scientist.
The IBMS also accredit and the HCPC also approve a small number of healthcare science honours degrees that meet HCPC standards for registration as a biomedical scientist.
If you have completed an IBMS accredited or HCPC approved honours degree find out how to become HCPC registered.
If your IBMS accredited degree was awarded before 2002 please visit our FAQ page to find out how to become HCPC registered.
I do not have an IBMS Accredited or HCPC approved honours degree
If you completed an IBMS Accredited or HCPC approved degree and achieved an ordinary or pass degree please visit our FAQ page to find out how to become HCPC registered.
If your degree has not been accredited by the IBMS, you will need to contact registration@ibms.org to request a degree assessment.
Once you have completed:
- any recommended top-up modules and
- an IBMS Registration Training Portfolio
- and have been awarded an IBMS Certificate of Competence
you can contact the HCPC to apply for registration.
How do I meet HCPC training standards for registration as a biomedical scientist?
You will need to complete an IBMS Registration Training Portfolio - an IBMS portfolio based qualification designed to demonstrate that you meet HCPC standards of proficiency.
You must complete the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio in a laboratory which holds current IBMS pre-registration training approval.
You can begin your IBMS Registration Training Portfolio in an IBMS approved laboratory while you study any recommended top-up modules from your degree assessment.
I am working at the level of a biomedical scientist but am not HCPC registered
Please note, we are currently revising the process and documentation for the Certificate of Competence by Equivalence. If you have any queries regarding this qualification, please direct them to registration@ibms.org.