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The College’s Entrance Requirements

There are standard requirements for entrance to the College for each category which are detailed in the Credentialing Standard. The categories of registration are listed in Part 5, Division 3, section 5-3 of the College bylaws.

There are four practicing categories:

  • Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio)
  • Registered Biology Technologist (RBTech)
  • Applied Biology Technician (ABT)
  • Applied Biology-Limited Licensee (AB-LL)

There are also three in-training registration categories:

  • Biologist in Training (BIT)
  • RBTech in Training or Trainee(RBTech)
  • ABT in Training or Trainee(ABT)

The College also has Student members, who are in a post-secondary educational program that could lead to becoming a registrant of the College, but are not otherwise regulated by the College.

Registrant Categories

Comparative scopes of practice for applied biology professionals

The scopes of practice for the various categories of applied biology professional are summarized and compared in the table below. More detailed information on the scopes of practice for RBTechs and ABTs can be found in Schedule 3 of the College bylaws.

Scenarios/
Examples
Registrant Category & Designation
RPBioRBTechABTAB-LLIn Training ABT, RBTech, BIT
Field Data CollectionYESYESYESYESYES
Data EntryYESYESYESYESYES
Data AnalysisYESYESWhen supervised by an RPBio or RBTechIn Licensed AreaWhen supervised by an RPBio or RBTech
Report WritingYESYESYESIn Licensed AreaYES
RecommendationsYESYESWhen supervised by an RPBio or RBTechIn Licensed AreaWhen supervised by an RPBio or RBTech
Interpretive AnalysisYESWhen supervised by an RPBioWhen supervised by an RPBioIn Licensed Area when supervised by an RPBioWhen supervised by an RPBio
Developing experimental design or protocolYESWhen supervised by an RPBioWhen supervised by an RPBioIn Licensed Area when supervised by an RPBioWhen supervised by an RPBio
Preparing interpretive reports outside established parameters, protocols, and guidelinesYESWhen supervised by an RPBioWhen supervised by an RPBioIn Licensed Area when supervised by an RPBioWhen supervised by an RPBio