We have a bespoke package of support, guidance and resources to help you get settled.
Biomedical Scientist
Biomedical science is practised in healthcare laboratories to identify, research, monitor and treat diseases. As one of the broadest areas of modern science, it focuses on the complexity of the human body and underpins much of modern medicine.
Biomedical scientists and laboratory staff analyse fluids and tissue samples from patients, identifying diseases and providing reports that highlight the effectiveness of potential treatments. In the UK alone, healthcare laboratories are involved in over 70% of diagnoses in the NHS and handle hundreds of millions of patient samples every year.
What's it like to work at the Royal Devon?

When you join us as a Biomedical Scientist you will work in either blood sciences, infection sciences or cellular sciences. Our state-of-the-art facilities include United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited medical laboratories, providing tertiary referral services to NHS trusts and healthcare providers across the UK and worldwide, generating over 94,000 results daily.
Our vision is to employ the best people, use innovative technology in the newest facilities, and build on our excellent scientific and clinical base to become a leader within the pathology community.
Becoming a Biomedical Scientist at the Royal Devon
Laboratory Assistants and Assistant Practitioners
Biomedical science support roles are vital for the smooth running of our laboratory services.
Laboratory Assistants and Associate Practitioners work towards the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) Certificate of Achievement. This is designed to support your training needs, help you develop in-depth knowledge, and equip you with essential skills to become a valuable member of our team.
These flexible qualifications can be used in all biomedical science disciplines, enabling you to evidence your laboratory training.
University
Biomedical Scientists study towards achieving an IBMS Accredited BSc biomedical science degree. For many, this includes a placement within a healthcare laboratory.
Your bespoke learning journey

If you’re looking for a career and not just a job, the Royal Devon is the perfect place for you. We have an established track record for bright and impassioned individuals, so all you’ll need to do is bring your best and we’ll take care of the rest. In return, we’ll welcome you into the fold with learning and development opportunities and a package of support, benefits and guidance to enhance your wellbeing and transform your skillset.
You’ll be part of a friendly team of professionals dedicated to providing excellent services to our patients. Guided by senior members of the team and collaborating with all kinds of different specialties, you’ll progress along your chosen career pathway with the help of your Personal Development Plan. This will drive your learning and identify a plethora of opportunities to build skills including IT, clinical, leadership, coaching and mentoring. It’s also a great way to achieve diplomas, T-Levels, and apprenticeships across a variety of levels.
Biomedical Scientists - Graduates
Building your registration portfolio
For registration as a biomedical scientist, the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) Certificate of Competence (Registration Training Portfolio) is an award that evidences you have met the HCPC standards of proficiency for biomedical scientists through a combination of your academic qualification and clinical laboratory training. The certificate is awarded for a combination of academic qualifications and completing an IBMS Registration Training Portfolio in an IBMS-approved laboratory.
Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
To protect public safety, anyone practising as a biomedical scientist (as with clinical scientists) must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and continue to meet their standards.
Other routes
If you are currently working at the level of a HCPC registered biomedical scientist but are not HCPC registered, you can now become HCPC registered by completing an Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) Certificate of Competence by Equivalence.
Another alternative route is the IBMS Clinical Scientist Certificate of Attainment. This is an experiential programme offered for those who are working in the UK in healthcare science who have an MSc degree, or an equivalent-level qualification, and who can demonstrate through a combination of their education, training and professional experience that they meet the minimum level of practice required for registration as a clinical scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Advancing your career
Specialist Biomedical Scientist
Once you have become registered with the HCPC you will begin your specialist training that will transform you from a new registrant to an experienced and increasingly valuable member of staff.
Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) Specialist Diplomas are professional qualifications that enable you to demonstrate evidence of your training, practical skills, specialist knowledge and competence in a chosen discipline(s) and are awarded upon the successful completion and assessment of your Specialist Portfolio, a compilation of evidence of your specialist laboratory training.
Become an expert in your field
Are you looking to demonstrate expert knowledge in your chosen subject? IBMS higher and expert qualifications have been developed to evidence your training, practical skills, and more specialist knowledge and competency gained in a chosen discipline.
Advanced Specialist Diploma Qualifications
IBMS Advanced Specialist Diplomas are an alternative to professional doctorates and consolidate and demonstrate the highest levels of knowledge and expertise within a discipline.
What can I expect to get paid?
Agenda for change
Known as ‘Agenda for Change’, NHS pay is structured around different bandings for a fair and transparent pay structure. Levels of pay vary within each band according to experience. As your career develops, you can expect to earn more and move to the top of your pay banding before working your way up to the next one.