Supporting the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
Healthcare Science covers a vast range of specialist areas such as cardiology, clinical engineering, nuclear medicine, radiation protection and audiology.
This occupation is found in many different settings including hospitals, primary care, public health, and private sector hospitals. Employers vary in size from a large national organisation such as the NHS through to a private practice.
Healthcare science practitioners work in, physiological sciences, physical sciences, clinical engineering and clinical bioinformatics. They work in environments such as outpatient departments, hospital wards and engineering workshops.
The broad purpose of the job is to use expertise to deliver diagnostic or treatment procedures on patients, or quality assured tests or investigations on equipment. This is all underpinned by ‘good scientific practice’.
Healthcare science practitioners are responsible for reviewing tests that contribute to the clinical assessment of patients for the presence of disease. While working to departmental protocols they use judgement plus scientific skills and knowledge, to perform clinical, technological or scientific duties. They supervise the training of trainee practitioners and the healthcare science support workforce.
They develop and follow standard operating procedures (SOPs). They perform complex procedures to a high degree of safety and accuracy, and record and interpret clinical or technical data.
Healthcare science practitioners are accountable for their own practice and that of others in respect of the outcomes of tests, procedures and analyses. They organise and prioritise work and resources. They perform demanding tasks and achieve objectives against deadlines. They also lead and support teams.
In their daily work, they may interact with healthcare science professionals, the wider multi-disciplinary team, patients, carers and the public.
This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details. It has information on assessment method requirements, roles and responsibilities, and re-sits and re-takes.
An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.
Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.
The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 36 months. The EPA period is typically 2 months.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.
The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements required before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.
The gateway requirements for your EPA are:
For the healthcare science practitioner (integrated degree), the qualification required is:
BSc (Hons) in Healthcare Science
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 8 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You need to compile a portfolio of evidence before the EPA gateway. You can use it to help answer the questions.
Long written test
You will complete a test requiring long written answers. It will be closed book, meaning you will not have access to any books or reference materials.
In the the test you can have:
The test will have 5 long response written questions. You will have 90 minutes to complete it.
You should speak to your employer if you have a query that relates to your job.
You should speak to your training provider if you have any questions about your training or EPA before it starts.
You should receive detailed information and support from the EPAO before the EPA starts. You should speak to them if you have any questions about your EPA once it has started.Reasonable adjustments
If you have a disability, a physical or mental health condition or other special considerations, you may be able to have a reasonable adjustment that takes this into account. You should speak to your employer, training provider and EPAO and ask them what support you can get. The EPAO will decide if an adjustment is appropriate.
This apprenticeship aligns with Academy for Healthcare Science for Practitioner Register
Please contact the professional body for more details.
This apprenticeship aligns with Institute of Physics and Engineering Medicine for Register of Clinical Technologists
Please contact the professional body for more details.
This apprenticeship aligns with The Science Council for Registered Scientist (RSci)
Please contact the professional body for more details.
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