Update on IBMS education turnaround times

Over the past year, we’ve shared updates about how our move to a new customer database system (CRM) and new website has impacted on some of our services.

Whilst it has led to some extended response times in places, we’ve worked hard to keep turnaround times at a respectable level and to minimise disruption for members. We apologise if you have been affected during the switch over.

The good news is that both the website and CRM are now in place, and our focus is shifting to optimisation, phase 2 of our IT project —streamlining and automating workflows, reducing avoidable delays and improving the overall experience, something our new capabilities now allow.

Our current turnaround times

Education and qualifications (portfolios, verifications and examinations)

• As we clear backlogs caused by the required data freeze and training on our new CRM system, registration training portfolio applications are taking approximately 8 weeks to process (from receipt of a complete application). We’re currently meeting our target turnaround times.
   
• Verification applications are taking around one month to log, then a verifier needs to be found and allocated to each portfolio. We are working hard to reduce this backlog and appreciate your patience as we manage the increased demand. We have additional capacity in the education team and have focussed more staff to support this work.
   
• Specialist portfolio applications: we’re currently working to approximately 4-week turnaround for portfolio applications (from receipt of a complete application). Our previous communications committed to up to 6 weeks, as the CRM continues to bed in we are now starting to see improved turnaround times.
   
• We’ve improved processing times for verifications and examinations, and we’re continuing to strengthen capacity in the education department to manage volumes. However, we do need volunteers to come forward to undertake verifications and examinations to help ensure that we minimise delays in candidates completing their portfolio assessments.

Membership applications

If you know any colleagues who are waiting for a membership application to register for an IBMS qualification, please contact us on [email protected] so we can prioritise your application and minimise any delays.

If you need to escalate a concern about your enquiry

Please contact us:

• Education/qualifications enquiries: please escalate using our Contact us form via the website and select the qualifications you are inquiring about.
• Membership enquiries: you can contact the membership team at [email protected]
• You can also reach the IBMS via 020 7713 0214 or [email protected]

Festive opening hours

Please note our festive closure, we are:

• Closed from 12:00pm on Wednesday 24 December 2025 (Christmas Eve)
• Reopening at 9:00am on Friday 2 January 2026

During this period, enquiries can still be sent by email and will be picked up when we reopen.

Thank you for your patience and support while we continue improving our systems and how we can better support your membership.