RSB Professional Registration Guide
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OUR VISION Our vision is of a world that values biology’s contribution to improving life for all.
OUR MISSION Is to be a unifying voice for biology for the public benefit; to provide impartial evidencebased advice; to raise professional standards; to support biologists throughout their careers; to engage the public with our work; to support the bioscience community and to provide events and other fora for information exchange in the biosciences.
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Why is professional development important? Biology is continually advancing, playing a central role in the development of society and impacting on almost every aspect of life. Therefore, professional development is essential for today’s biologists so that they too remain abreast of the latest standards of knowledge and practice necessary to fulfil their roles in an ever-changing world. Membership of the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), the leading professional body for the biosciences, demonstrates that individuals are subject to a rigorous code of conduct and have access to a reputable continuing professional development (CPD) scheme. The RSB represents over 17,500 members worldwide and is committed to supporting their professional development at all stages of their career or education. Our range of specialist registers, including those under licence from the Science Council, aim to enhance the recognition, status and employability of our members.
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The benefits of professional registration
Our professional registers
As an employee who holds professional recognition, you show that: You possess a nationally recognised, pan-science award You are committed to professional development You have excellent on-the-job experience and are committed to integrity and working towards public interest You work to high ethical standards and can be trusted as a professional You have the potential to progress in your registration status (e.g. from RSciTech to RSci to CSci or to CSciTeach)
The RSB has a range of professional registers to suit biologists working in a variety of specialisms at varying levels.
“The award means that the level of work that I undertake has been externally verified as meeting an established standard. This gives me greater confidence in the value of my work.” Stuart Phillips RSci MRSB Scientist, LifeScan Scotland Ltd “This scheme is a great way for analysts to get recognition for their skills which they cannot get from their job title. The analysts had a real sense of achievement when they got their new recognition.” Karen Heaton Microbiological Services Manager, Severn Trent Water “Professional Registration with the Royal Society of Biology has provided me with external validation of the level at which I work. This is also recognised by my current employer who supports membership of relevant CPD schemes.” Dr Christopher Lindsay CBiol FRSB, Research Scientist
CHARTERED BIOLOGIST (CBIOL) Chartered Biologist acts as a gold standard for professional competence, and provides a benchmark for bioscientists working in a vast and continually growing array of settings. Who can apply? Chartered Biologist (CBiol), is a registration offered solely by the Royal Society of Biology, and is available for members who have the appropriate professional experience or have successfully completed Royal Society of Biology CPD for the past two years at the MRSB or FRSB grade. To find out more about this award and check your eligibility, email your CV to cbiol@rsb.org.uk Minimum membership grade: Member REGISTERED SCIENCE TECHNICIAN (RSCITECH) Who can apply? RSciTech is open to members of the RSB who are delivering scientific services in technical roles. Applicants will be asked to provide examples from their career which demonstrate the required professional competencies. To find out more about this award and check your eligibility, email your CV to rscitech@rsb.org.uk Minimum membership grade: Associate
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REGISTERED SCIENTIST (RSCI) Who can apply? RSci is open to members of the RSB working in a variety of roles and industries. Applicants will be asked to provide examples from their career which demonstrate the required professional competencies. To find out more about this award and check your eligibility, email your CV to rsci@rsb.org.uk Minimum membership grade: Associate CHARTERED SCIENTIST (CSCI)* Who can apply? CSci is open to members of the RSB working at a senior level, defining direction and strategy in their workplace. Applicants will be asked to provide examples from their career which demonstrate the required professional competencies. To find out more about this award and check your eligibility, email your CV to csci@rsb.org.uk Minimum membership grade: Member
CHARTERED SCIENCE TEACHER (CSCITEACH)* Who can apply? CSciTeach is open to members of the RSB who are involved in the specific practice and advancement of science teaching and learning. Applicants will be asked to provide examples from their career which demonstrate the required professional competencies. To find out more about this award and check your eligibility, email your CV to csciteach@rsb.org.uk Minimum membership grade: Member PLANT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS REGISTER (PHP) Who can apply? The Plant Health Professionals register is open to members of the RSB working in the plant health sector in industry, government departments or academia. Applicants will be asked to provide examples from their career and training to demonstrate the competencies, which are based on the GB strategy for plant health and biosecurity. To find out more about this register and eligibility, please visit www.rsb.org.uk/ careers-and-cpd/registers/plant-healthregister Minimum membership grade: Associate
*In the absence of an appropriate qualification for CSci and CSciTeach registers, candidates may submit a report of their laboratory work, known as an equivalency report.
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Competencies & evidence To complete your application for our professional registers, you will be asked to submit a competence report. This competence report is your chance to demonstrate examples of how you meet the criteria to become registered. This is your chance to shine and talk about all the excellent work you’ve been doing, both in employment and volunteer roles. THE APPLICATION PROCESS Applications are accepted online, through the RSB’s member’s portal, mySociety, at my.rsb.org.uk. Once submitted, applications are reviewed by two independent assessors who will use your answers to determine how well you have demonstrated how you meet each of the professional competencies for the specific register. There is a one-off application fee for each register, which is followed by an annual retention fee. CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) Once successful, your registration must be maintained by completion of an annual CPD record. Your CPD record is found in mySociety and you can add to it throughout the year via your account. You are required to achieve at least 50 points per year from activities in at least three of five key areas: Work-based learning Professional activity Formal education or training Self-directed learning Other, e.g. skills obtained outside the workplace 6
Any activity which has resulted in new learning and advances your skills as a biologist will qualify as CPD under our scheme. Your CPD record will serve as a useful portfolio of your career development to date, and can be used to demonstrate this to others. To find out more about CPD, email cpd@rsb.org.uk. RSB TRAINING COURSES One way to increase your CPD points is by attending any of the RSB’s range of online and face-to-face training courses. These courses are heavily discounted for RSB members and cover a range of specialisms and training needs. We also approve external events and training courses for CPD points to provide assurance that the professional development opportunities you undertake are of a high quality. To find out more, email training@rsb.org.uk.
Pathways to registration – Industry and Technical Skills Certificates INDUSTRY SKILLS CERTIFICATE Our exclusive Industry Skills Certificate has been specifically designed to support scientists’ employability. It demonstrates that participants have acquired the skills and knowledge required for a career move into industry. The certificate also supports those working towards the RSB’s Registered Scientist (RSci) status. Requirement: Minimum of 5 training courses within a 12-month period. TECHNICAL SKILLS CERTIFICATE Our Technical Skills Certificate has been specifically designed to support the skills development of technical staff working in higher education, industry or in a private laboratory. The certificate also supports those working towards the RSB’s Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) status.
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Professional registration summary To find out more, visit www.rsb.org.uk/ careers-and-cpd/registers
Industry Skills Certificate
RSB courses 5 completed No membership required, but membership gives 50% off courses Supports RSci
Increased professional experience
RSciTech
RSci
egistered Science R Technician Level 3 or equivalent 1-2 years of experience Associate membership (minimum)
Technical Skills Certificate
Early Career 5 RSB courses completed No membership required, but membership gives 50% off courses Supports RSciTech competencies
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Increased professional experience
egistered Scientist R Level 5 or equivalent 1-2 years experience Associate membership (minimum)
RSB exclusive registers Plant Health Professional
egistered Plant R Health Professional Associate, Registered or Senior levels Bioscience degree or equivalence through work experience Associate memberships
CSci
hartered Scientist C Level 7 or equivalent 6 + years, including senior role Member or Fellow
CBiol
hartered Biologist C Level 7 or equivalent 6 + years, including senior role Member or Fellow
Increased professional experience and leadership experience
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