How to Become a Biologist in British Columbia
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the College of Applied Biology to work as a biologist in British Columbia or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Reserved title means that only a registrant of the College of Applied Biologists is legally allowed to use the following titles in British Columbia (BC)”
From cab-bc.org/cpd-practice-hub, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 3 steps
- Licensed in another province: 3 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 3 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Applied Biology
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
-
Complete and submit an application to the College, since assessments are only conducted once an application is complete.
Source
“All assessments will only be conducted upon an application being completed.”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-register -
After submitting the application, arrange for the degree-granting institution to send official transcripts directly to the College.
Source
“Applicants must request transcripts *after* they have submitted the application to the College.”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-register -
Pay the application fee and annual registration dues and complete the College's online mandatory training courses before receiving registration.
Source
“All applicants for registration regardless of application stream (e.g., labour mobility) must pay the application fee, complete the College’s online mandatory training courses and pay annual registration dues prior to receiving registration with the College.”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-register
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with College of Applied Biology
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
-
Start an application in the College's portal and select the Labour Mobility application stream, completing the required steps.
Source
“Go to https://portal.cab-bc.org/applicants/start to start your application/ 2. Select the Labour Mobility application stream and complete the required steps; and”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-register -
Pay the application fee as part of the labour mobility application.
Source
“Select the Labour Mobility application stream and complete the required steps; and 3. Pay the application fee”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-register -
Complete the College's online mandatory training courses and pay annual registration dues before receiving registration.
Source
“All applicants must pay the application fee, complete the College’s online mandatory training courses and pay annual registration dues prior to receiving registration with the College”
cab-bc.org/application-faqs
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with College of Applied Biology
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
-
Complete and submit an application to the College, since assessments are only conducted once an application is complete.
Source
“All assessments will only be conducted upon an application being completed.”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-register -
Obtain a course-by-course education credential assessment report in English from an approved credentialing service, which must receive official transcripts directly from the issuing institution and send the report directly to the College.
Source
“A *course-by-course* education/training credential assessment report in English from a credentialing service.”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-register -
Pay the application fee and annual registration dues and complete the College's online mandatory training courses before receiving registration.
Source
“All applicants for registration regardless of application stream (e.g., labour mobility) must pay the application fee, complete the College’s online mandatory training courses and pay annual registration dues prior to receiving registration with the College.”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-register
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with College of Applied Biology
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Requirements
Education
Education requirements must be met through courses that appear on an official transcript, were completed for full credit, and received a passing grade.
Source
“No. Education requirements must be met through courses that appear on an official transcript, were completed for full credit, and received a passing grade.”
cab-bc.org/application-faqs
Experience
Experience must meet the definition of the practice of applied biology and must have been obtained in the 10 years prior to application, and may be volunteer or work experience.
Source
“Must have been obtained in the 10 years prior to application - May be either volunteer or work experience”
cab-bc.org/the-college-has-updated-its-experience-requirements-for-...Up to one year of pre-graduation experience may count toward the experience requirement for RPBio applicants and RBTech Stream 1 and 2 applicants.
Source
“Up to one year of pre-graduation (from your qualifying degree) experience may count for all RPBio applicants, and RBTech Stream 1 and 2 applicants.”
cab-bc.org/application-faqs
Other
Applicants must complete the College's online mandatory training courses before receiving registration.
Source
“complete the College’s online mandatory training courses and pay annual registration dues prior to receiving registration with the College”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-registerApplied Biology Limited Licensee applicants must provide 3 references who are familiar with their work and can speak to their professional practice competencies.
Source
“Provide 3 references that are familiar with the applicant’s work and can speak to how they demonstrate the professional practice competencies.”
cab-bc.org/applicant-self-assessment-tool-general-information/appli...
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
A worker fully certified in another Canadian jurisdiction is recognized as qualified to practise the occupation in British Columbia, and ASPB Professional Biologists can apply as RPBio through the labour mobility stream without any additional exam or assessment. Source
“any worker fully certified for an occupation by one Authority shall be recognized as qualified to practice that occupation by the other Authority”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-register
Start labour mobility application
Source
“Go to https://portal.cab-bc.org/applicants/start to start your application/ 2. Select the Labour Mobility application stream and complete the required steps; and”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-registerPay application fee
Source
“Select the Labour Mobility application stream and complete the required steps; and 3. Pay the application fee”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-register
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Applied Biology
Credential assessment
World Education Services (WES)
course-by-course credential assessment for internationally educated applicants
Source
“The following credentialing services meet the above requirements: - World Education Services (WES)”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-registerInternational Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)
course-by-course credential assessment for internationally educated applicants
Source
“- International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)”
cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-registerComparative Education Service
course-by-course credential assessment for internationally educated applicants
Exams
Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Applied Biology
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Applied Biology
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Applied Biology
Supervised practice
Required
A Registered Biology Technologist in Training must work under the supervision of an RPBio or RBTech when performing the reserved practice of applied biology. Source
“They must work under the supervision of an RPBio or RBTech when performing the reserved practice of applied biology.”
cab-bc.org/applicant-self-assessment-tool-general-information/appli...
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $28.85 | $42.00 | $60.00 | Limited (2 of 5) |
| Canada | $25.71 | $40.00 | $66.67 | — |
Biologists in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Title protected
- Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Professional Practice Resources | College of Applied Biologists cab-bc.org/cpd-practice-hub · fetched October 9, 2026
- Apply to Register | College of Applied Biologists cab-bc.org/registration/apply-to-register · fetched October 10, 2026
- Registration FAQs | College of Applied Biologists cab-bc.org/application-faqs · fetched October 9, 2026
- The College has updated its experience requirements for all applicants | College of Applied Biologists cab-bc.org/the-college-has-updated-its-experience-requirements-for-... · fetched October 9, 2026
- Applied Biology – Limited Licensee Requirements | College of Applied Biologists cab-bc.org/applicant-self-assessment-tool-general-information/appli... · fetched October 9, 2026
- Registered Biology Technologist in Training Requirements | College of Applied Biologists cab-bc.org/applicant-self-assessment-tool-general-information/appli... · fetched October 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
1
Do you need a licence to work as a biologist in British Columbia?
Yes. Registration with the College of Applied Biology is required to practise in British Columbia.
Getting Licensed? Get Your Resume Ready Too
Nainly pairs expert resume assessment with a done-for-you career marketing campaign, so your profile keeps reaching decision-makers while you work through the licensing steps.
Schedule a CallFree consultation. No commitment.