Biomedical scientist : Entry requirements

Biomedical scientists must be registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC)  and must have a Certificate of Competence awarded by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS)  in order to practice.

There are two main ways in which this can be achieved:

• Study an IBMS accredited co-terminus degree – these courses allow you to study for the degree and meet the requirements for registration with the HPC at the same time. The courses contain clinical laboratory placements and once you have successfully completed it you can apply for HPC registration straight away.
• Study a regular biomedical sciences degree that is accredited by the IBMS and approved by the HPC. Once this is finished, you must carry out training in a laboratory and build up a portfolio to show you have the required ability. This allows you to be issued with the Certificate of Competence which you can then use to apply for the HPC register.

The IBMS website has a list of accredited courses.

It is possible to enter the career if you don’t have a biomedical sciences degree but do have a degree in another related subject such as:

• anatomy and physiology;
• biochemistry;
• molecular biology;
• immunology;
• medical microbiology.

However, you will most likely need to study extra modules to meet the requirements of the IBMS.

Entry without a degree is possible at a lower level if you have relevant A-levels (or equivalent), but you will need to study for the degree part-time while working. Your employer may be willing to offer financial support and study leave.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not needed, although an MSc in a clinical or medical subject can be useful.

Pre-entry experience is not essential, although a sandwich placement or other work experience in a laboratory and evidence of medical interest is beneficial, as is arranging a visit to a local hospital pathology laboratory before you apply.

Candidates need to show evidence of the following:

• good practical laboratory skills and manual dexterity;
• patience and the ability to work accurately and efficiently;
• the ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines;
• a willingness to accept responsibility and use common sense;
• flexibility and ability to work with a range of equipment and techniques;
• good communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team;
• the ability to maintain client confidentiality;
• the ability to work under pressure while maintaining standards of service;
• the ability to work alone or under instruction;
• IT skills.

Recruitment is ongoing throughout the year but there has been a decrease in the amount of biomedical scientist vacancies in the NHS and it is uncertain whether demand will increase in the future. This is partly due to pathology services becoming more automated and the profile of required staff has changed.

Because of this, competition for biomedical scientist vacancies in the NHS is likely to be fierce. It may be helpful to sign up for email alerts with NHS Jobs  to be notified of when any trainee vacancies are available.

Biomedical scientist students are also advised to consider applying for jobs in life sciences through the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) . This is a graduate-entry programme that leads to senior scientist roles. Candidates complete a three-year period of workplace based training and earn a wage at the same time. They specialise in their chosen area in the last two years and biomedical science graduates can apply for the programme. Recruitment is carried out on an annual cycle and you need to regularly check the STP web pages for information on when it is open.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.