Membership Eligibility

BIMA welcomes members who are healthcare professionals or students committed to advancing health and wellbeing through faith-inspired excellence.

To join as a BIMA Member, you must:

• Be a registered healthcare professional in the UK (e.g. GMC, NMC, GPhC, GDC, HCPC, or equivalent), or
  
• Be a current health and life sciences student at a recognised UK institution. Verification may be required.
  

Those not eligible for membership are warmly invited to:

• Join as a Supporter of BIMA (£10/month) — supporting our work and gaining access to selected events and updates.
  
• Guest Member — free, to stay informed through our newsletters and announcements.

BIMA Regulatory Verification Policy

This policy outlines the procedure for verifying professional registration and regulatory status of all applicants for BIMA membership. It ensures that only appropriately registered and accredited health and care professionals are accepted, in accordance with UK regulatory standards.

1. Scope

This policy applies to all membership categories requiring professional verification, including Core, General, Associate, and Student Members. Supporter and Guest Members are exempt from professional verification.

2. Statutory Regulatory Bodies

BIMA accepts applicants registered with the following UK statutory health and social care regulators, all overseen by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA):

• General Medical Council (GMC) – Doctors, Physician Associates, Anaesthesia Associates
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) – Nurses, Midwives, Nursing Associates
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – Allied Health Professionals (Physiotherapists, Paramedics, Radiographers, etc.)
• General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) – Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians (Great Britain)
• Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) – Pharmacists in Northern Ireland
• General Dental Council (GDC) – Dentists and Dental Care Professionals
• General Optical Council (GOC) – Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians

3. Verification Standards

For each application, BIMA will confirm the following details from the relevant public register:

• Identity match – full name matches application and register entry.
• Registration number and regulator confirmed.
• Current registration or licence to practice is active.
• Correct professional scope or division (e.g., Adult Nurse, Paramedic).
• No current sanctions, suspensions, or conditions on practice.

4. Voluntary PSA-Accredited Registers (Optional Acceptance)

For professions not subject to statutory regulation, BIMA may accept applicants listed on PSA-accredited voluntary registers. These include:

• UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) – Public Health Specialists and Practitioners
• Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) – Clinical Physiologists and Healthcare Scientists not regulated by HCPC
• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) – Counsellors and Psychotherapists
• UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) – Psychotherapists and Counsellors

5. Students and Supporters

Student Members must provide proof of enrolment on a recognised UK healthcare-related degree or training programme. Supporter and Guest Members are not required to provide professional verification but may remain subscribed to updates.

6. Fitness to Practise Considerations

If a registrant is subject to restrictions or historic sanctions, BIMA may request a written explanation and refer the application for manual review. Membership decisions will be made in line with BIMA’s governance framework.