Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP)
List of Certified Biological Safety Professionals
Professional Credentials in Biosafety brochure(PDF 1MB)
Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP)
Certification as a Biological Safety Professional is available via an examination, developed by members of the ABSA and administered by the National Registry of Certified Microbiologists (NRCM). Application requirements for the examination include submittal of transcripts, references and work history. Applicants now apply online and schedule their examinations at testing centers worldwide. Certification is a valuable step in professional development; the recipients are internationally recognized as having sufficient knowledge and experience to qualify as a Specialist Microbiologist in Biological Safety Microbiology [SM(NRCM)]. Upon successful completion of the NRCM examination, individuals can apply to ABSA for the designation of Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP).
ABSA requires all applicants for the CBSP to meet the following experience requirements:
- Master's degree or doctorate with 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours in microbiology AND four (4) years within the past seven full-time, post-baccalaureate experience as a professional with at least 50% time spent in biosafety program management.
- Bachelor's degree (BS or BA) with 20 semester hours or 30 quarter hours of microbiology AND seven (7) years within the past ten full-time, post-baccalaureate experience as a professional with at least 50% time spent in biosafety program management
- Bachelor's degree (BS or BA) with 6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours of microbiology AND fifteen (15) years within the past twenty full-time, post-baccalaureate experience as a professional with at least 50% time spent in biosafety program management.
One course (minimum 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours) is required to be entitled "Microbiology", "Pathogenic Microbiology" or "Medical Microbiology", while the other credits may be earned from courses under the general rubric of microbiology as accepted by the NRCM.
The term "Biosafety Program Management" does not require service as the single biosafety officer, or as the sole person overseeing the program. Service as a member of a biosafety or EHS staff with significant biosafety responsibilities will qualify. Work in a lab writing biosafety SOPs does not qualify as service.
PLEASE NOTE: THESE REQUIREMENTS MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN THOSE SPECIFIED BY NRCM. IN ORDER TO ATTAIN A CBSP CERTIFICATION, YOU MUST BOTH PASS THE NRCM EXAMINATION AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS NOTED HERE.
ABSA will review the experience qualifications of all candidates who pass the NRCM examination and who apply for CBSP credentialing to determine whether they also meet the ABSA CBSP experience requirements.
NRCM has identified courses which may satisfy the microbiology credit hours requirements. (see below)
National Registry of Certified Microbiologists
NRCM Application Information and Application Form
CBSP Certification Maintenance Program
A Certification Maintenance (CM) Program has been implemented in order to assure that CBSPs maintain their professional qualifications. The CM Program requires CBSPs to participate in professional development activities in addition to biological safety activities encountered through their daily job function. CBSPs must meet the requirements of the CM Program to maintain their CBSP certification.
CBSP Certification Maintenance Program(MS WORD, 968KB)
CBSP CM Cycle Assignments(MS Word, 76KB)
CBSP Recertification FAQs(PDF, 16KB)
CBSP Recertification Worksheets(MS Word, 968KB)
Application for Certification Maintenance Credit(PDF, 20KB)
Professional Development Activities approved for CBSP-CM Credit(PDF, 100KB)
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