UK Register of Toxicologists

What are the requirements and how do I apply?

Applicants must review the ERT Guidelines for Registration before applying for UKRT. When assessing applications, the UKRT Panel require evidence of competence in the essential topic areas of toxicology (listed in the ERT Guidelines for Registration, section B) through attendance of appropriate courses, recognised qualifications, by demonstration of specific practical experience and on-the-job training, or through written work.

To aid applicants in more clearly demonstrating their competence in these topic areas, the UKRT has introduced a new, additional template form that must be completed as part of all new applications to join the UK Register. 

The new template form can be downloaded in the mySociety application portal. The paperwork serves as a cover note for applications, to note how each submitted piece of evidence addresses the Eurotox core topics. The aim of this form is to provide further guidance and clarity on the requirements for UKRT registration and help applicants to demonstrate they meet the requirements to join the Register. If you have any questions, please email toxreg@rsb.org.uk.

Applications are assessed by the UKRT Panel, who meet three times a year.

Before applying, please consider whether you meet the eligibility criteria. To apply to join the UKRT, you must:

1. Have an honours degree in a relevant science (taken over a minimum 3-year period from a UK university, or its equivalent). Relevant certificates must be provided.

2. Have at least 5 subsequent years' postgraduate professional experience in toxicology. Please provide an up-to-date CV.

3. Be currently engaged in the practice of toxicology.

4. Be able to demonstrate the breadth and depth of your toxicology knowledge and competence, through published articles or the submission of unpublished reports (at least 5 examples of written work from the past 5 years as a key contributor, which may be redacted to protect any confidential information). Redaction should be kept to a minimum to allow the Panel to review the reports and assess the applicant's competency. Written work should include evidence of authorship and the applicant's role/contribution to the work. Please detail your competence on the template form provided in the mySociety application portal.

5. Provide details of the past 12 months' relevant continuing professional development (CPD), including a range of activities and reflective notes. Further guidance on CPD can be found here. A template form for recording CPD is available on request, please email toxreg@rsb.org.uk.

6. Provide the names and contact details for two experienced Eurotox Registered Toxicologists (ERTs) to act as referees. Your referees should know you in a professional capacity and be able to confirm the quality of your toxicology practice. The two referees should not be employed at the same organisation as each other. If you do not know two referees sufficiently well from separate organisations, please provide a 3rd referee (who does not have to be ERT) to provide a reference regarding your professional competence and recommendation for inclusion in the UKRT. Current UKRT Panel members cannot supply references.

For applicants who lived and/or gained qualifications outside Europe:

As of October 2023, Eurotox has introduced additional requirements for applicants who live and/or gained qualifications outside Europe. These requirements must be applied by the national registers, including UKRT. Full details can be found on the Eurotox website, but the key changes are listed below. These requirements apply to all applicants who live in and/or gained qualifications in any country outside the UN Eastern European and Western European States.

All documentation submitted should be in English.

Your CV submitted should be in the Europass format. Europass is free to access, simply visit the Europass website, create an account and follow the steps to build a CV.

Documentation of academic education should be authenticated using an apostille issued by an authority designated by the state of origin (HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention). To find your local competent authority, please visit the HCCH site, click onto your country's authority, and then follow the link to the local website. It is through these sites that you will be able to gain authentication. You only need to authenticate your highest level qualification; e.g. if you have a BSc and an MSc, you only need to authenticate your MSc certificate.

If you live and work in a country that is not part of the HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention, you should contact your local United Kingdom consulate office who will advise you on authenticating your qualifications.

Once you have authenticated your academic qualification, please submit evidence of the authentication (i.e. official letter or certificate) with your application.

References supplied in support of an application that verify the candidate's work experience and practical training must explicitly specify the time period each position was held, and must accurately and fully document the applicant's duties, responsibilities and full-time professional experience in toxicology. References should be submitted in company letterhead and in English.

Key dates and timelines

The UKRT Panel meet three times a year to review applications, around February, June and October. The deadline for applications to be submitted, paid and references to be received is around 2-3 months prior to the meeting. The next UKRT Panel meeting will be held in October 2025, and the deadline for submissions is TBC.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their application is submitted, paid and referees send their letters of support to the register administrator (toxreg@rsb.org.uk) in time to meet the application deadline. We recommend that applicants submit their application two-three weeks prior to the deadline, to give referees time to respond to the reference request. 

Once your application is fully submitted, you will find out the outcome from the Panel approximately 6-8 weeks after the Panel meeting.

Maintaining UKRT registration

UKRT registration is maintained through annual CPD record completion, upkeep of register renewal fees, and a 5-yearly re-registration cycle. You will receive an automated email about your annual renewal and re-registration when it is due with instructions. Re-registration is required to review your continued professional development, continuation of practice and to maintain and up-to-date register. Evidence of ongoing involvement in toxicology is required to remain on the UKRT register. For information on career breaks, please contact toxreg@rsb.org.uk.

You will be required to include your up-to-date CV containing evidence of continued engagement in the practice of toxicology, an updated publication record, and the past 5 years of relevant CPD including a range of activities and reflective notes. If you use the RSB CPD system, your record will automatically be included.

Deferral policy

If the Panel concludes that your application or re-registration falls short of the required standard, it will be either rejected or deferred. If your application is deferred, the UKRT Panel will provide you with feedback on the remedial action required and information that should be submitted for consideration at a following Panel meeting. Additional information as requested by the Panel should be submitted via email to toxreg@rsb.org.uk. There is no additional fee for deferred applications.

Applications may be deferred by the Panel up to two times. If your application is insufficient to meet the acceptance criteria at the third Panel meeting, it will be rejected. If your application is deferred, you should submit the information requested by the Panel by the submission deadline prior to the relevant Panel meeting. All deferred applications for registration or re-registration that do not result in a successful application within 12 months or three Panel meetings of the initial Panel assessment, whichever is soonest, will result in rejection. In the event that your application for registration or re-registration is rejected, you will not be able to re-apply for a period of at least 3 years.

It is the responsibility of the registrant to ensure their contact details on mySociety are kept up to date, otherwise their registration may lapse.

UKRT queries

All queries regarding the UK Register of Toxicologists should be directed to its Secretariat by email (toxreg@rsb.org.uk). In accordance with their Data Protection Policies, the RSB will not divulge any personal information without the expressed consent of the individual involved and takes all appropriate steps to protect registrants' data held by the UK Register of Toxicologists.

Please note that receipt of email will be confirmed by an autoreply. If you have not received an autoreply then your email will not have sent successfully. If this is the case, please call 020 3925 3449.

Members of the UKRT Panel:

Britta Gadeberg (Chair)

Warren Harvey CBiol MRSB (Vice-Chair)

Dr Kristina Ulrich

Dr Nicola Powles-Glover

Dr Sarah Bull

Dr Clive Meredith

Dr Chris Dalton CBiol FRSB

Helen-Marie Dunmore MRSB

Matthew Stevenson

Clare Horne

Rani Ghosh