Requirements

01. (post-secondary) School Education

1. Each applicant must have a minimum of at least 8 years’ post-secondary school education and professional experience, which must include a recognised degree (or equivalent) in a biological subject and at least three years’ post-graduate professional experience.
2. As recognised degrees in European countries vary in duration from approximately 3 to 5 years, the period of 8 years’ post-secondary school education must be within the formation:

3U + 2(U and / or T and / or E) + 3E

where:

• U represents a year (full-time or equivalent) studying for a degree (or equivalent) in a biological subject at a university or similar body
• T represents a year (full-time or equivalent) of relevant training
• E represents a year (full-time or equivalent) of relevant professional experience.

02. Recognised degrees

1. A recognised degree is one that is recognised by ECBA for the purposes of the European Professional Biologist title. A list of recognised degrees is given in Annex 2.
2. A biological subject is one where at least 50% of the total time is spent on biology.
3. Biology is that branch of science dealing with the study of living organisms.

03. Assessment of professional experience

A European Professional Biologist must:

1. be able to apply his/her knowledge to a satisfactory standard in a biologically related job
2. be knowledgeable about health, safety, environmental and other regulations relating to his/her job
3. possess a broad knowledge of experimental and other biological skills
4. be able to plan and organise work to a satisfactory standard
5. be able to make clear oral and written presentations and reports.

04. Referees

1. Each applicant must submit the names and addresses of two referees with his/her application form.
2. Each referee should preferably be a full Member of the national biological association to which the applicant belongs.

05. Code of conduct and ethics (“CoC”)

1. Each applicant must agree to abide by the European Professional Biologist code of conduct and ethics (part of the application – please sign the applicaton form)Annex 3).
2. The European Professional Biologist code of conduct and ethics is additional to any code of conduct of the national biological association of which he/she is a full Member.

06. Fees and periods of registration

1. Registration will be for a period of 3 years. At the end of that time, each European Professional Biologist will have to renew his/her registration.
2. To join the Register (database), each applicant must pay:
   1. an application fee to the relevant national biological association
   2. a registration fee to ECBA.
3. The application fee is non-returnable. The registration fee will be returned if the application is unsuccessful.

07. Renewal

1. After three years, to remain on the Register (database), each European Professional Biologist must renew his registration and pay:
2. a renewal fee to ECBA for a further period of 3 years.

08. Determination of fees

1. The application fee will be determined by each national biological association.
2. Different application fees may be charged by associations.
3. The registration and renewal fee will be determined by ECBA and will be the same for all countries.
4. ECBA reserves the right to increase the registration and renewal fees, as necessary.