Biologists at work, gloved hands working with plants

Chartered Biologist

Chartered status professionally recognises those in their field working at a high level. It engenders public confidence in professionals and gives employers confidence in their employees.

Chartered Biologist (CBiol) is a gold-standard for professional competence, providing a benchmark for bioscientists working in a vast and continually growing variety of settings. There are numerous benefits of CBiol status. Gaining CBiol status shows that you are making an impact in your role, contributing to your organisation and utilising highly developed biological skills. It also demonstrates a dedication to continuing professional development and may help your career progression.

For any employer or organisation, having employees with CBiol status shows that your staff are working to extremely high standards, demonstrates a high level of competency in your staff, and shows that the organisation is supportive of employees' ongoing career development. If you are an employer and would like to receive further information and guidance for staff applying for registration, please email us

What are the requirements and how do I apply?

The minimum requirements to apply for CBiol are:

Level 7 qualification or ability to demonstrate equivalenceAn established career, approximately 5 years post-graduation experience or 2 years of continuing professional development (CPD) at MRSB or FRSB levelMembership of the RSB at MRSB or FRSBAbility to demonstrate the competencies

Applications for CBiol are taken through our online portal mySociety. If you are not yet a member of RSB, please create an account on this site and apply for membership before starting a CBiol application. If you are already a member, simply log in with your existing details.

The online application will take you through a number of sections to complete, including personal details, employment details, qualification certificates, references, career overview, and competency questions.

The main area of your application that is reviewed by qualified assessors are the competencies. When you are writing these you should ensure to give clear, structured examples and enough detail that someone outside of your work area can build up a picture of what you do.

Download our CBiol guidance document for more details on the application process. You can also request an example CBiol application to help you prepare your answers.


How do I maintain CBiol registration?

CBiol registration is maintained through upkeep of membership and register renewal fees, and an annual CPD record. There is a single CPD system for all Royal Society of Biology members, which is simple to use and widely recognised for CBiol and other professional registers. Our CPD scheme is points-based, with 50 points required to complete the year. These are achieved in sums of one to three points per hour depending on the activity. Almost any activity that develops your valuable skills as a life scientist qualifies for CPD. A small selection includes: the training of staff, the learning of a new practical technique, developing management skills, presenting at a conference and self-study in any area of biological interest.

For further information and guidance on CPD please visit our CPD webpage.

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Application Fee £55
Renewal Fee £25

Start your application now and join the world's biggest network of life science professionals.

For more information on professional registration, read our Frequently Asked Questions 

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