Biomedical scientist

Biomedical scientists examine medical samples, for example, of blood and tissues, helping doctors to diagnose and treat diseases. They use their knowledge and test results to advise and support doctors and other medical staff. Biomedical scientists need an in-depth knowledge of areas such as pathology, anatomy and physiology.

Also known as:

Medical laboratory scientific officer

Work activities

Biomedical scientists work in laboratories, using automated testing machines, microscopes, computers and other types of sophisticated equipment. Without the biomedical scientist, doctors would not be able to identify and decide on the most effective treatment for serious and sometimes life-threatening illnesses such as diabetes, cancer and HIV/AIDS. They investigate samples taken during health tests, screening programmes, surgery and blood donation services. They also study samples of tissue taken during post-mortems.

Biomedical scientists can specialise in areas such as:

Clinical chemistry: Analysing blood and other samples, for example, to identify diabetes.
Transfusion science: Identifying blood groups for blood donation, matching the right group to the patient, and making sure there is enough blood at the hospital to cope with emergencies such as road traffic accidents.
Haematology: Studying blood and blood cells, helping to diagnose conditions such as leukaemia and anaemia.
Histology: Studying tissue samples under a microscope, for example, in the diagnosis of cancer.
Medical microbiology: The study of micro-organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, some of which cause disease. This also involves finding antibiotic treatments.

Other biomedical scientists specialise in areas such as virology, immunology and cytology (mainly studying cervical smears). Biomedical scientists must carefully record their experiment results, often on a computer.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a biomedical scientist, you’ll need:

A high level of scientific knowledge.
The ability to use sophisticated laboratory equipment.
Computer skills.
Organisational skills to run several investigations at the same time and to handle large amounts of data.
Communication and teamwork skills to advise and support doctors and other medical staff.
Patience, concentration, attention to detail and a thorough approach to your work.

Pay and opportunities

Biomedical scientists start on level of the NHS Agenda for Change payscale, which means they begin on a salary of £28,407 per year. In the private sector, they may earn more.

Most biomedical scientists work around 37.5 hours, Monday to Friday. However, late finishes and some weekend work may be required. This could include out of hours or unsocial hours.

Employers include the NHS (in hospital laboratories), medical schools, the Health Protection Agency (part of Public Health England) and NHS Blood and Transplant. There are also jobs in the manufacturing industry (particularly pharmaceuticals), government departments and agencies including the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, forensic laboratories and the armed forces. Opportunities for biomedical scientists occur in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) advertises vacancies. Vacancies also appear on the NHS Jobs website, in local/national newspapers and on job boards.

Entry routes and training

To become a biomedical scientist, you could undertake a university degree or complete a relevant apprenticeship.

Degrees must be accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). A number of universities run accredited degrees in healthcare science (life science) with options to specialise in blood sciences, infection sciences or cellular sciences. These courses are usually approved for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You must register with the HCPC to work as a biomedical scientist in the UK.

Apprenticeship options include:

Healthcare science assistant (level 2 / intermediate)
Healthcare science associate (level 4 / higher)

If you have a non-accredited science degree, the IBMS will need to assess it to see whether it has an acceptable biomedical science content. You might have to do further study to get up to the required level of knowledge. Some employers recruit people with A-levels, or equivalent qualifications that meet the entry requirements for an honours degree, and allow them day-release to study for a relevant degree, as well as training for HCPC registration.

In the NHS, biomedical scientists follow a structured career path. Following registration, biomedical scientists have the opportunity to identify a specialist area and undertake further qualifications to gain more in-depth knowledge and skills. Usually after completing a postgraduate qualification, you could take charge of a section of the laboratory or manage a department. Progression can also be into a research or teaching post.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career can be an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

For entry to an accredited degree course, the usual minimum requirement is:

Three A-levels, usually including biology. Chemistry may also be specified.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in your A-level subjects.
A further two to three GCSEs (grades 9-4), including English and maths.

You will usually need GCSEs (including English and maths) to take an advanced apprenticeship. To do a higher apprenticeship, you’ll need two relevant A-levels plus GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don’t have the qualifications you need to enter an accredited degree course, you might be able to start one after completing a college or university Access course, such as Access to Science. You don’t usually need any qualifications to start an Access course, although you should check this with the course provider. If you have a non-accredited science degree, the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) will need to assess it to see whether it has an acceptable biomedical science content. You might have to do further study to get up to the required level of knowledge. A number of accredited part-time degree courses are available.

Related careers

Analytical scientist
Biochemist
Biologist
Medical laboratory assistant
Microbiologist
Scientist
Toxicologist