1. Purpose and Scope
Full certification as a Master Bomb Technician (MBT) signifies that the holder can plan, command, and personally execute render-safe and disposal operations for the full spectrum of conventional, improvised and CBRN explosive hazards, anywhere, at any time, and in accordance with national law and international best practice (NATO, IMAS, civil vocational frameworks). Holders of MBT Consultant and MBT Emeritus status, while unable to perform render safe procedures, are recognized for their knowledge, experience, leadership, and dedication to the bomb disposal profession.
2. Eligibility (entry to the program)
Item
Prior qualification
Operational experience
Ethics and security
Minimum Requirement
One of the following: NATO STANAG 2389 Category A card; national “senior/advanced” diploma (e.g., DEF52115, SAQA 63229, NZQA 4037, UK ESA L3); U.S. DoD EOD badge + 36 months rated time.
≥ 150 logged EOD/bomb disposal tasks covering at least 4 hazard classes (conventional, IED, CBRN, bulk demolition) in not less than 36 months.
Signed CMBT Code-of-Ethics.
3. Certification Level Guidelines
The following certification levels shall be recognized:
Band
Level 1 – Active Bomb Technician
Level 2
(Recent Retiree)
Level 3
(Legacy Technician)
Level 4
(Veteran Technician)
Time Since Last Full Certification*
Holds current full certification
≤ 5 years since their last full certification
> 5 to 15 years since their last full certification
> 15 years since last full certification
Typical Profile
Current active military or public safety bomb technician
Left service but kept informal currency (training, consultancy)
Retired from operations but remained in EOD-adjacent roles
Career experience, now fully out of operational status
Allowed End-State
Full CMBT – Certification active after assessment
Full CMBT – Active after abridged assessment
CMBT Consultant – Active after a bridge course or MBT, but holds no live RSP authority
CMBT Emeritus = Honorary, no operational privileges
* Measured from the expiry date of the last nationally recognized senior EOD certificate or badge (e.g., STANAG Cat A card, DoD badge).
This certification framework recognizes:
- Prior Learning – The Certification Authority shall recognize competencies gained outside the CMBT program where the applicant demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Legacy Assessment Panel, equivalence to the performance criteria in §5 through documentary evidence, examination and, where applicable, practical demonstration.
- Expiry – The Legacy Pathway shall cease to accept new applications five (5) years after promulgation of this standard.
4. Competency Domains
- Advanced Ordnance Science and Diagnostics – Explosive chemistry, initiation systems, fuzing theory, defeat physics.
- Full-spectrum RSP and Disposal – Conventional, IED, UXO, guided weapons, bulk stocks, CBRN.
- Incident Command and Mission Planning – Task analysis, cordon calculations, multi-team synchronization (STANAG 2389, Annex F).
- Safety Governance and Risk Management – Hazard assessment, environmental and community protection, QA/QC (IMAS 09.30 §5; DAOD 8000-1 §4-5).
- Legal and Policy Compliance – Explosives law, evidence handling, incident reporting to national database/EODIMS.
- Instruction, Assessment and Mentoring – Design and delivery of training; chairing competency boards (UK ESA NOS; IMAS 09.30 §5.3).
- Inter-agency/Multinational Liaison – Police, fire, public-health, UN or NATO staff co-ordination.
5. Performance Criteria
The following certification levels shall be recognized:
Area
Render-Safe Procedures
Conventional Ordnance
CBRN Ordnance
Bulk Demolition
Mission command
Minimum Evidence Required (within the last 3 years)
20 IEDs (min. 5 remote pull, 5 manual access, 5 robot)
30 UXO items
4 tasks incl. sampling and overpack
3 operations ≥ 50 kg Net Explosive Quantity
10 incidents as Team/Incident Commander with post-mission report
6. Assessment and Award Process
Stage
Knowledge Examination
Portfolio Review
Peer Interview
Method
150 question CBT; 80 % overall, 70 % per domain
Board verifies logbook, CPD hours (≥ 60 hours in preceding 24 months) and referee statements
60 minute oral on judgment, ethics, leadership
Successful candidates receive a numbered CMBT Certificate valid for 36 months.
7. Recertification
- Currency – Maintain an active log with ≥ 30 tasks/12 months or complete an approved simulation refresher.
- CPD – 60 hrs./ 3 yrs. across technical, leadership and instructional topics.
- Re-board – Abridged oral and knowledge test every cycle.
- Failure or lapse > 12 months triggers full initial assessment. (Cycle mirrors CAF three-year card and many NATO units.)
8. Code of Ethics (extract)
- Primacy of life and public safety over mission success.
- Impartial application of explosives law; no misuse of specialist knowledge.
- Integrity of evidence and reporting – all actions recorded truthfully and submitted to the national database within 24 hours.
- Continuous self-improvement and mentorship of junior technicians.
9. Accreditation of Training Providers
Training centers that wish to prepare candidates must:
- Hold national explosives training accreditation (NMAA, Defence Authority, Home Office, or equivalent).
- Align lesson plans to the above competency domains and map every lesson to at least one cited source standard.
- Maintain instructor-to-student ratio ≤ 1 : 6 for practical training, and ensure every instructor is an MBT in good standing.
