Using the App

IBMS Registration Training Portfolio (v5)

The IBMS Registration Training Portfolio is the route most trainees use to qualify for HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist. The current version is v5, which the IBMS published in 2022 and updated in 2024.

Portfolio tracking is built into PathologyLabTraining at /portfolio.

Who needs this

You need the Registration Training Portfolio if:

• You hold an IBMS-accredited BSc Biomedical Science degree (or equivalent), AND
• You want to register with the HCPC as a Biomedical Scientist

If your degree is not IBMS-accredited, you typically need top-up modules first — see our accredited degree guide and the IBMS site.

Fees (2026)

• Registration Training Portfolio (all-in, trainee): £187
• Verification visit: included in the portfolio fee
• HCPC registration application: £86.34 scrutiny fee + £98.12 first-year (50% discount for new UK graduates) → from April 2025, ongoing annual renewal is £123.34 (£246.68 biennial)

Always check ibms.org for the latest fees — these can change at short notice.

Structure

The v5 portfolio has the following sections:

1. Pre-analytical — specimen handling, identification, integrity
2. Analytical — testing methods, QC, equipment operation
3. Post-analytical — result reporting, authorisation, communication
4. Health, safety, and security — COSHH, ACDP, infection control
5. Quality assurance and governance — IQC, EQA, audit, incidents
6. Professional practice — confidentiality, CPD, professional conduct

Each section contains a set of required evidence items with witness sign-off boxes.

How to use the tracker

1. Open /portfolio from the main menu. The page is titled IBMS Portfolio Assistant.
2. Under Select Your Portfolio Section, choose the discipline card that matches your training route (Haematology & Transfusion Science, Clinical Chemistry, Medical Microbiology, Cellular Pathology, Immunology, or Genetics & Genomics). The selected card shows its competency list.
3. The page is organised into four tabs: Learning Path, Evidence, Assistant, and Analytics.
4. In Evidence, attach PDFs, DOCX, images, or simulator certificates to each competency.
5. The Learning Path tab tracks completion across the V5 modules; Analytics shows your overall and per-section progress.
6. The Assistant tab is the AI-coached drafting helper for reflective writing.

There is currently no separate "Start V4" / "Start V5" button — the tracker is built around the current V5 framework. If you are still completing a legacy V4 portfolio (which expires 31 August 2026), use the same screens but mark V4-only evidence in your reflection notes so the verifier can recognise it.

Linking simulator results

Completing certain Virtual Lab simulations or specialist training modules automatically suggests the IBMS competencies they evidence. Accept or adjust the mapping before attaching.

Verification

When you are ready, request IBMS verification through the IBMS website. The verifier visits your laboratory (or completes a remote review where applicable) and signs off the portfolio. After successful verification, you receive your Certificate of Competence and can apply to HCPC.

Timeline expectations

Most trainees complete the portfolio in 12-24 months alongside their pre-registration training role. Faster than 12 months usually means insufficient evidence depth; longer than 24 months can mean the portfolio is fragmenting and a verifier may ask for refresh.

Exporting

The tracker exports a single PDF or zipped package that follows the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio structure — your verifier can navigate it without surprises.

Standards alignment

The portfolio is aligned with:

• HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Biomedical Scientists (revised September 2023)
• IBMS Registration Training Portfolio v5 (2022, updated 2024)
• ISO 15189:2022 quality framework (referenced for QA evidence)
• Your laboratory's current SOPs (your local document control determines specifics)