BBTS Post Nominals

Recognising your membership, achievement and contribution

The British Blood Transfusion Society (BBTS) recognises the professional achievements and contributions of its members through three membership grades, each with its own post-nominals.

Following changes announced at the BBTS Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 16 September 2026, all paying members are now eligible to use ABBTS from the start of their membership. Progression to MBBTS is based on professional achievement, education and contribution to the Society, rather than length of membership alone.

The revised framework removes the previous time-based eligibility requirements and provides greater opportunities for members to receive recognition for their professional development and contribution to transfusion practice.

Membership grades and eligibility

ABBTS: Associate

All paying BBTS members are eligible to use ABBTS from the start of their membership.

There is no minimum membership duration or additional qualification requirement.

MBBTS: Member

MBBTS recognises members who have demonstrated professional development, specialist achievement or contribution to the Society.

Members can become eligible through one of the following four routes.

Route 1: BBTS education

Successful completion of a BBTS Specialist Certificate.

Members completing a Specialist Certificate from 16 September 2026 onwards will automatically be awarded MBBTS.

Route 2: Equivalent qualifications

A relevant Level 7 or specialist qualification recognised by the Society. Equivalence criteria are determined by the BBTS Professional Education Committee.

Route 3: Contribution to BBTS

A minimum of two years of active contribution to the Society through activities including:

• Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

• Committees

• Education delivery

• Projects or working groups

This route recognises members who have made a sustained and meaningful contribution to the work of BBTS.

Route 4: Receipt of the Margaret Kenwright Award

Recipients of the Margaret Kenwright Award are eligible for MBBTS.

The award is open to UK individuals under the age of 40 who achieve the highest-scoring abstract in their chosen category. This route recognises academic achievement, research and contribution to the advancement of transfusion practice.

Progression to MBBTS is available at no additional membership cost.

FBBTS: Fellow

Fellowship is awarded on the basis of significant professional achievement in the field of blood transfusion and/or sustained contribution to the work of BBTS. Higher academic qualifications may assist in demonstrating professional expertise and competence.

Past and present BBTS Council members and recipients of the following awards qualify for FBBTS upon application:

• Kenneth Goldsmith Award

• Mollison Award

• Race & Sanger Award

• James Blundell Award

• BBTS Gold Award

Recipients of the Bill Chaffe Award may also apply for Fellowship. The award will be considered alongside their wider professional achievements and contributions to the Society as part of the Fellowship assessment process. Unlike the five awards listed above, receipt of the Bill Chaffe Award does not automatically confer eligibility for Fellowship.

Other members who meet the Fellowship criteria are also encouraged to apply.

Fellowship of BBTS application form

Existing members: Upgrading to MBBTS

Members who met any of the new MBBTS eligibility criteria before the policy change at the BBTS Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 16 September 2026 can now apply to upgrade their membership.

To request an upgrade, please email bbts@bbts.org.uk with your request and relevant supporting information. This may include evidence of completing a BBTS Specialist Certificate, a recognised equivalent qualification, or details of your contribution to the Society.

Going forward, members who complete a BBTS Specialist Certificate will automatically be awarded MBBTS.

The application process for FBBTS remains unchanged.

Undergraduate and returning members

Free undergraduate e-membership does not confer eligibility to use BBTS post-nominals. Undergraduate members become eligible for ABBTS when they transition to an eligible paying membership category.

Returning members will be assessed against the current eligibility criteria, taking account of their previous membership grade, qualifications, achievements and contributions to the Society.

A period of lapsed membership does not, in itself, remove recognition previously earned. Returning members who continue to meet the criteria for MBBTS or FBBTS may have their previous grade reinstated.

BBTS reserves the right to make the final decision on all post-nominal applications

Using your post-nominals

We encourage eligible members to use their BBTS post-nominals in their professional activities, including email signatures, professional profiles, CVs, conference materials and publications.

Members must maintain active, eligible membership of BBTS to continue using their post-nominals.

For enquiries about eligibility, membership grades or upgrade requests, please contact bbts@bbts.org.uk.

What do they denote?

Most paying Members of BBTS can now use the post nominals ABBTS, MBBTS or FBBTS, depending on certain criteria. Post nominals recognise your status as a Member or Fellow of the British Blood Transfusion Society, the professional body for blood transfusion in the UK. 

As agreed by the BBTS Council, the initials ABBTS, MBBTS and FBBTS are acronyms for the status of being an Associate Member, a Member, or a Fellow of the BBTS.

Use of the post nominals is restricted to those who are committed to their profession and their professional body, those who have met all of the requirements for membership, and who maintain that status through payment of a membership subscription fee.

Post nominals are for the purposes of indicating membership of BBTS only, and do not imply that the holder has received any qualifications from BBTS.

Users of the BBTS Post Nominal letters must abide by the rules stated on the Permitted Use of BBTS Post Nominals page

Please note:
The names of successful applicants will be printed in the BBTS member publication, Bloodlines.