Science Council Registration
For APT Registered Science Technician (RSciTech)
Guidance to candidates: Eligibility criteria
Please check the following:
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Are a Member of the AAPT (you will need your AAPT membership number as part of the application process). AAPT membership if free for L3/4 students - click here for AAPT application form and send completed form to jade.murray@nhs.net
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Hold the RSPH Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Science (Anatomical Pathology Technology) or equivalent (you can start working on your competency statement (s) once you have completed your level 3 portfolio).
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Expected to have one year's professional experience in a mortuary as an APT (your level 3 training will count towards this)
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Committed to undertaking continuing professional development (CPD) - you may use your level 3 portfolio (or training log / training plans) as evidence of ongoing CPD.
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Have a supporter / proposer for your application (each applicant is required to identify a work base supporter i.e. a mentor or line manager who is a senior APT).
Guidance to candidates: Competency statements
Applicants will need to demonstrate competence across five areas (A to E below) – think of these a mini-reflective pieces of approx. 300 words each. Try and link one or two of your portfolio evidence pieces or training log entries within these statements (e.g. see evidence piece no. 2) – as providing good examples will further support your statements.
The competence statements you will need to complete will fall under the following areas:
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A: Application of knowledge and understanding
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B: Personal responsibly
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C: Interpersonal skills
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D: Professional practice
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E: Professional standards
For each of the five areas above you will need to write one or more statements (dependant on the training route you took).
For example: Section A: "Application of knowledge and understanding", you may be required to write 3 statements covering the following:
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A1: a statement on how you apply your knowledge to your day-to-day work
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A2: a statement demonstrating that you can explain the reasons you carried out a task and what the process involves.
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A3: a statement explaining how you recognise when a work based activity has been successful (or not!)
Click here for more guidance on what the assessors will be looking for under each competence.
Click here for examples of completed competence reports (not APT profession) and Click here for "Do’s and don’ts" when completing your competence statements.
Finally, for your competence statements you should be using examples within the timeframe of your level 3 diploma training (i.e. evidence within the last three years).
Guidance to candidates: Application routes
There are three possible routes to registration depending on your qualifications and timeline, and this will determine what competency statements must be completed:
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Shortened Route (Candidates apply directly to the AAPT)
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Standard Route (Candidates apply directly to the Science Council)
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Mortuary Technician Apprenticeship Pathway (Candidates apply directly to the Science Council)
1. Shortened Route (Candidates apply directly to the AAPT)
If you apply for science council registration within 2 years of your level 3 qualification you can apply for the RSciTech shortened route:
You can start working on your competency statements once you have completed your EPA and waiting for your level 3 certificate- you can do this by completing the competency short application form below.
Normally there are x 14 competency statements that need to be completed for science council registration, however a number of these do not need to be completed via the shortened route:
The following RSciTech x 8 competences are waived for applicants of the shortened route:
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Application of Knowledge and Understanding: A1, A2, A3
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Personal Responsibility: C1
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Interpersonal Skills: B2
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Professional Practice: C2
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Professional Standards: E1, C3
Required competences, applicants must demonstrate the following x 6 competences when applying via the shortened route:
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B1: Work Consistently and Effectively with Minimal Supervision
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B3: Responsibility for Quality of Work and Impact on Others
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D1: Problem Identification and Solution
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D2: Effective Use of Resources
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D3: Continuous Process Improvement
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E2: CPD
Complete the document below and send back the the AAPT by email christianburt@ibms.org - click here for help with completing the form below:
2. Standard Route (Candidates apply directly to the Science Council)
Those who have completed their qualification longer than 2 years ago must complete all x 14 competence statements during their application. Use the template below to help you complete all competencies - you can then copy and paste your competency statements directly to the Science Council online application - Click here to apply online now with the Science Council.
A supporter form is required with each standard route application:
Each applicant for science council professional registration is required to identify a supporter (applicants nominate their own supporters as part of their application process). As the applicant’s supporter you must be familiar with their work and will be a senior colleague, usually a line manager or supervisor. Wherever possible supporters should also hold membership of the AAPT.
After a candidate submits their application, it is important that an individual who knows the applicant and their work well can verify that they have represented themselves accurately. This will involve reading the applicants competence report and then completing the supporter review form (click here for supporter review form template).
Your role as a supporter is to consider the candidate’s application and provide supporting comments that the candidate meets (or exceeds) the standard for each of the following five competence areas:
A: Application of Knowledge and Understanding
B: Personal Responsibility
C: Interpersonal Skills
D: Professional Practice
E: Professional Standards
Finally, the supporter signs the supporter review form to confirm that, to the best of your knowledge, the information the candidate has provided is correct and accurate.
3. Mortuary Technician Apprenticeship Pathway (Candidates apply directly to the Science Council)
For those of you who completed the training via the apprenticeship programme route: The Science Council will only need your apprenticeship certificate and CV alongside the application fee - Click here to apply online now with the Science Council (select Apprenticeship shortened route option).
Guidance to candidates: Science council application process
Applications for the professional registration must be made via the AAPT or Science Council online application process. Completed applications are then assigned two assessors by the Science Council. Following assessment, the AAPT will be sent your application outcome decision, and if approved, a certificate showing your registration as a Science Council registered professional will be sent to you with a formal letter by the AAPT - you will need to show this certificate when applying for the level 4 diploma.
Please remember to select either the “Apply for RSciTech” link or the “Apply for RSciTech – Apprenticeship shortened route” link when you start.
Use your personal (non-organisation) email address when asked, as this will ensure you continue to have access to the application portal if you change organisation. You can also save and then go back to your application form via the portal.
Guidance to candidates: Science council 2024 onwards fees reimbursement
When you first apply, there is an application fee payable to cover the costs of the support provided to you. In addition to this, there is also an annual registration fee if you have been successful with your application.
The above fees (application and first year registration costs) will be reimbursed back to candidates when a level 4 application has been received by North Tees. Please complete the form below to claim your fees back and send to: jade.murray@nhs.net
Further information
Click here for further information from the AAPT on Professional registration
Page last updated: 15/10/24