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ABSA Credentialing Evaluation FAQ

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54 views3 pages

ABSA Credentialing Evaluation FAQ

Uploaded by

ysyeung2011
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Credentialing Evaluation - FAQ

Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) / Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP)

1. What is the difference between the Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) credential and the
Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP) credential? Do I need to obtain one before the other?
The RBP and CBSP are distinct and independent biosafety credentials. An RBP is not needed to obtain a CBSP
or vice versa.
Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP): An RBP is an individual with documented university education or
specialized training in relevant biological safety disciplines. Eligibility requirements include a minimum of 5
year- equivalents of practical experience in biosafety program management, or a combination of education
and directly related work experience.
Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP): A CBSP meets specific educational requirements with a
strong microbiology foundation (must have at least 3 semester hours) and biosafety program management
experience. Professional experience will need to be demonstrated with at least 51% of time spent in biosafety
program management or significant biosafety accountabilities.

2. Do I need to send in my application and application fee together?


No. However, the application materials will not be submitted to the Board for review until payment is received.

3. How does the Credentialing Evaluation Board (CEB) ensure unbiased review of credential application
submissions?
The CEB evaluates each submission based on a transparent and uniform set of criteria; conflict of interest
provisions have been established. Board members are approved by the ABSA Council and adhere to a high
standard of professional integrity and ethics.

4. Can ABSA provide a specific course of study that will lead to registration or certification as a Biosafety
Officer?
There are a few Biosafety Fellowship Programs available to help strengthen biosafety professionals. Some
examples are:
• National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program (NBBTP)
• The University of Chicago Biosafety Training
ABSA also offers several educational opportunities, including:
• Principles & Practices of Biosafety (PPB ®)
• ABSA Biosafety and Biosecurity (BBTC ®) Training Course
• Advanced Biosafety Training Series

1
Relevant Discipline is defined as a Physical Science (Chemistry, Earth Science, or Physics) or in the
biological sciences, examples may include:

Biological Science

Affective Neuroscience Cognitive Neuroscience Microbiology


Anatomy Computational Neuroscience Molecular Biology
Animal Health Science Conservation Biology Neuroethology
Biochemistry Cytology Neuroscience
Biocomputers Developmental Biology Oncology
Biocontrol Ecology Parasitology
Biodynamics Embryology Pathology
Bioinformatics Ethology Pharmaceutical Science
Biology Environmental Science Pharmacogenomics
Biomaterials Evolutionary Biology Pharmacology
Biomechanics Evolutionary Genetics Physiology
Biomedical Engineering Food Science Plant Science
Biomedical Science Genetics Proteomics
Biomonitoring Genomics Structural Biology
Biophysics Health Sciences Systems Biology
Biopolymers Immunogenetics Toxicology
Bioprocess Technology Immunology Wildlife Biology
Biotechnology Immunotherapy Zoology
Cell Biology Medical Technology

A master’s in public health (MPH) is unlikely to satisfy the modification of the criteria unless it has a direct
application to biological safety. An MPH in health or safety policy or management is not likely to be accepted.
The course work required for each individual program will be taken into consideration and reviewed on a
case-by-case basis for acceptability.

5. How do I show that as a consultant I have biosafety program management experience?


Obtain a written reference from the manager of the department(s) you are providing biosafety consulting
services that:
• verify you are managing the biosafety program on behalf of their company (e.g., you are acting as
the facility BSO)
• outline the scope of the biosafety program you manage. The reference should include how many
hours per day, per week, per month you spend managing their program.

6. What does the Credentialing Evaluation Board (CEB) consider as acceptable ‘professional biological
safety experience’?
To qualify as acceptable biosafety experience, the applicant’s principal responsibility must be in the
management and direction of a biosafety program. Although biosafety program management does not need
to be the applicant’s only responsibility. Refer to the next page for examples of program management.

2
Adequate Examples of Biorisk Program Management Inadequate Examples of Biorisk
Program Management

Approve Biorisk assessments involving work with infectious Approve Risk Assessments
agents, GMOs, challenge animals, and plant pathogens.
Recommend and approve risk mitigating control strategies.
Biosafety Officer on facility IBC. Advise on risk mitigating Participate on an IBC
control, Risk management and communication strategies.
Approve Biorisk assessments for the facility.
Write and deliver biosafety training including OSHA Perform training
Bloodborne Pathogen, General Biosafety, Safe Work with Viral
Vectors, How to run an IBC, Large Scale Biosafety, Agent Specific
Biosafety Training, Biosafety Awareness Training for
Maintenance, contract personnel, etc.
Write and/or approve Biorisk management policy, procedures Implement laboratory SOPs and
and/or SOPs for laboratories, large scale process areas and biosafety program
animal facilities handling infectious agents.
Represent Biosafety on Engineering Teams designing Participate on Engineering Project
containment facilities including laboratory, animal facility or Teams
large scale. Ensure design criteria are adequate to mitigate risk
of contamination spread. Participate on team to write
Engineering Design Standards for the construction of
laboratory, large scale, and animal facilities.

Note: A year-equivalent is one year of full-time biosafety experience. For an applicant with 50% of
their work focused on biosafety, two years of professional experience would yield one year-
equivalent of biosafety experience.

7. My application to become an RBP was initially denied by the Credentialing Evaluation Board (CEB).
I now feel I have overcome the deficiency listed, what is needed to request reconsideration?
If your initial application was reviewed within the past 12 months, you need to submit a letter to the CEB to
request reconsideration and you must supply any supporting documents that demonstrate you have met the
deficiency. If more than 12 months have passed, you will need to submit the entire application packet
(excluding your transcripts), including the application fee.

8. My request for reconsideration to become an RBP was denied. Is there an appeal process?
Any denial of credentials may be eligible for appeal by the applicant one time to the Credentialing Evaluation
Board (CEB) as follows: If an applicant receives a denial of his or her application from the CEB, he or she may
submit written notice to the CEB for reconsideration. If the applicant is not satisfied with the CEBs response,
he or she may submit a written notice requesting an appeal to the ABSA President no later than 14-days after
the denial is issued. The appeal must be based on a factual and or procedural issue with regard to the review
and denial. No other issues or matters shall be considered.

Revised September 2023

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