Do I need to have HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist to apply for the IPEM MRSE certificate of competence?
No. The IPEM MRSE certificate of competence is focused only on assessing whether an individual meets the knowledge and experience requirements of an MRSE. Professional registration is a separate issue. This approach is consistent with schemes administered by RPA2000 (Radiation Protection Advisor, Laser Protection Advisor, Radiation Waste Advisor, Medical Physics Expert). IPEM recommend that individuals who practice as MRSEs should adhere to professional requirements commensurate with the context in which they provide their MRSE advice.
Is the IPEM MRSE certificate of competence only for MR physicists?
No. There are no requirements for an individual to belong to any professional group.
Is the IPEM MRSE certificate of competence only for staff of a certain banding/grade?
No. While employers may choose to assign an MRSE role to staff of a particular band/grade, this is not a specific requirement for the IPEM MRSE certificate of competence.
Is the IPEM MRSE certificate of competence only for members of IPEM?
No. The IPEM MRSE certificate of competence is not limited to IPEM members.
Is there an equivalence route for those who have already been working as MRSEs?
No. This was considered by the working group designing the IPEM MRSE certificate of competency scheme, but a decision was made against having an equivalence route.
How much does it cost to apply?
The current cost to apply for the IPEM MRSE certificate of competence can be found on the IPEM MRSE Page. Please note, this does not include costs associated with sitting the ABMRS MRSE exam. Please refer to ABMRS for further details on costs associated with sitting the ABMRS MRSE exam.
Why was the ABMRS MRSE exam chosen to assess the knowledge component?
The ABMRS MRSE exam was judged to be an appropriate test of knowledge based on feedback from IPEM members who had either been involved in setting ABMRS MRSE exam questions or who had sat the exam under exam conditions. Additionally, the IPEM working party designing the scheme felt that the ABMRS exams were professionally well-organised, in particular with regards the design and setting of questions, standard setting and exam question security. Since most aspects of MR safety are the same globally, the IPEM working party considered that use of the ABMRS exam helped to facilitate international alignment. Finally, using the ABMRS exam was considered to be the most efficient way for IPEM to assess MRSE knowledge. All other options would have required significant additional and ongoing resource.
How will the ABMRS MRSE exam assess individuals against the MR safety framework in the UK?
The ABMRS exam has recently been modified to allow an international version to be available in the UK. Details related to the international version of the MRSE exam can be found from the ABMRS website: Information and Registration – International – ABMRS
Where can I find further information about the ABMRS MRSE exam?
ABMRS have some FAQs of their own
The guidance for portfolio submission has just been updated, but I started preparing the portfolio with the previous guidance (2020 - 2025). Which guidance should I use?
In March 2025 the guidance for IPEM MRSE portfolio submissions has been updated. Candidates can submit under the new guidance from 1st April 2025. We recognise that some candidates will have started to prepare their portfolios under the previous guidance (2020 - 2025) and therefore from 1st April to 30th June 2025 candidates will be able to choose whether to submit under the previous or the new guidance. However, from 1st July 2025 all candidates will need to submit via the new guidance.
In the new guidance, the main categories remain unchanged, the sub-categories have been simplified, and, overall, the definitions and the requirements have been clarified. These updates aim to improve the understanding and the portfolio submission experience of this scheme. Adapting a portfolio to the new guidance should be relatively straightforward. This webpage[link] highlights the key changes to aid transitioning from the old to the new guidance.
The IPEM MRSE certificate expires after 5 years. What is the renewal process?
The first awarded certificates will expire in February 2027, and we are currently devising the renewal process. The following is an early overview - full guidance will be available by mid-2025.
The optimal renewal submission window to ensure uninterrupted certification will be between 6 and 3 months before expiry. The renewal will be in the form of a light-touch portfolio, with up to 1 piece of evidence for each of the main categories (a total of up to 8 pieces of evidence). Evidence will include a mixture of direct experience of MRSE-type work (similar to that submitted for the original portfolio) and CPD activities. No additional knowledge exams will be required. Candidates will receive reminders 18 and 12 months before the expiry of their certificate.
This scheme assesses competence and therefore - as in the original portfolio - the evidence will need to demonstrate direct experience of performing MRSE-type work, and not necessarily that the candidate is currently appointed as an MRSE.
How can I contact the IPEM MRSE scheme?
If you have an issue during submission of the portfolio, or for any general enquiry, please email profdev@ipem.ac.uk.