Biosafety Practitioner Level 1 (Foundation)

Scheme Outline

The Level 1 qualification is based on course attendance and achievement.

ISTR accredits training providers for the whole course or selected units, or elements of units.

Individuals can become registered by ISTR as Level 1 Practitioners if they have completed all units (via one or more accredited providers) and have two years relevant experience. Some may decide that they need only attend specified, but still accredited, units. In those circumstances, delegates will still receive accredited training but to meet Level 1 Practitioner requirements, will need to complete all the units.

The modules for Level 1 are:

1. Roles and responsibilities
   
2. Legal
   
3. Disinfection/sterilization
   
4. Waste disposal and Transport of hazardous materials
   
5. Hazards and risks
   
6. Genetic Modification
   
7. Equipment - Plant, equipment and servicing;
   Facilities/design
8. Laboratory management
   Bio-security
9. Policy/manual development
   Auditing/inspection
   Influencing skills
   Incident and emergency procedures
   Occupational health, health surveillance, immunisations
10. Learning and development
    

How to become registered as a Level 1 Biosafety Practitioner

1. Enrol on a course that provides you with some or all 10 of the units listed above. See list of currently accredited training providers (PDF).
   
2. When you have received your certificate(s) for all the 10 modules (either from a single course provider or mutiple providers if you used different ones for different modules), complete the Application for Registration as a Biosafety Practitioner (MS WORD) form.
   
3. Submit the completed application form and a copy or scan of the certificate(s) and other information required and send by email to the ISTR Biosafety Accreditation Scheme Administrator. There is a £32 registration fee payable by BACS. Payment details will be provided once the application has been approved, but please note that a letter of registration and certificate will not be sent until payment has been received.
   

Information for training providers for Biosafety Level 1

All potential providers are invited to read the accompanying guidance:
  Accreditation of training courses - Information for Course Providers (PDF)

Please contact the ISTR Biosafety Accreditation Scheme Administrator for full information if you have an interest in running biosafety training courses accredited by ISTR.

Call for training provider assessors

Course outlines, content and presentation will be assessed by one of a team of ISTR appointed assessors. Those interested in becoming an assessor should contact the administrator.

To qualify as an assessor, applicants must satisfy the following three criteria:

• Biosafety manager, adviser, officer or retired of the same
  
• Paid up full Member of ISTR
  
• Available at reasonable notice to review documents and/or visit course provider
  

Full details are available from the ISTR Biosafety Accreditation Scheme Administrator.