Training Within EPA

 

The EPA supports staff in achieving their career goals as far as they are willing and able to take them. Staff can join the trust as band two Support Workers and can complete the IBMS certificate of achievement parts 1&2 and can progress to a level four Associate Practitioner post. At band four staff can go onto complete the apprenticeship in Healthcare Science over four years to become a Biomedical Scientist.

The EPA provides in house training for those without accredited degrees. Staff can complete a funded in-house training portfolio completing ‘top-up’ modules to register with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). For those with equivalent laboratory experience the certificate of competence can completed which is also an in-house funded training portfolio taking around twelve months to complete. After registration specialist and advanced diplomas and Masters degrees can be supported to help achieve more senior roles and higher pay banding.

Biomedical Scientist Training

To register with the HCPC you need to have the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) Certificate of Competence.

To gain the Certificate of Competence you must complete:

  • Appropriate academic qualification
  • Complete in-house training portfolio

Possible academic pathways

  1. An IBMS accredited degree or
  2. An IBMS non-accredited degree + ‘top-up’ modules or
  3. A Practitioner Training Program (PTP) Healthcare Science degree or
  4. Level 6 Healthcare science apprenticeship degree
Certificate of Competence

This is an in-house training portfolio.

  • Must be completed in a lab with IBMS training approval.
  • Takes about 12 months to complete.
  • Evidence is assessed in-house but there is also an external verification.

Once you have obtained the Certificate of Competence you can register with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).

For information on the new Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship BSc (hons) at UEA click here.

What is an accredited degree?

The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) will assess the content of degrees and accredited them.

NOT ALL BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE DEGREES ARE ACCREDITED!!!

A list of accredited degree course and further information can be found on their webpage:
https://careers.ibms.org/students/accredited-degree-courses/undergraduate-uk-courses/

Without an accredited degree you will need to contact the IBMS to assess your degree. They will provide details of further academic modules that need to be studied.

Further Training

  • Specialist Diploma – discipline specific portfolio
  • Higher Specialist Diploma
  • Specialist Certificates in transfusion
  • IBMS Certificate of Expert Practice in quality or training
  • IBMS Advanced qualifications in:
    • Cervical and non-gynaecological cytology
    • Histopathology reporting
    • Specimen Dissection
  • MSc degrees
  • These will allow progression to more senior roles and higher pay band.

Clinical Scientist Training

Scientist Training Programme (STP) – under Modernising Scientific Career framework.

  • Run by the National School of Healthcare Science.
  • Training includes undertaking an MSc as well as in-house portfolio.
  • Practical training undertaken in an accredited laboratories which can involves rotation to other hospitals.

Scientist Training Programme (STP)

STP training is structured into 3 elements:

  • Work-based assessments and competencies
  • e-learning assessments
  • MSc in Clinical Science

At the end of the STP training you receive a Certificate of Completion (CCST).

Can then apply to the Academy of Healthcare Science (AHCS) for a Certificate of Attainment.

Certificate of Attainment is required to register with HCPC as a Clinical Scientist.

Clinical Scientist – further training

Can undertake the FRCPath examinations which are required for consultant posts.
Higher Scientist Training Programme (HSST). This incorporates the FRCPath.

Successfully completion of the FRPath exams and the HSST programme will lead to the award of Certificate of Completion HSST (CCHSST) from the National Science of Healthcare Science and FRCPath from the Royal College of Pathologists.

Higher Scientist Training Programme (HSST)

3 elements:

  • Work-based elements – overseen by the National School of Healthcare Science.
  • Academic elements – overseen by Manchester Academy for Healthcare Science Education (MAHSE)
  • FRCPath qualifications – overseen by Royal College of Pathologists
  • HSST students also have the option to complete the Doctor of Clinical Science (DClinSci) programme.

Support workers

  • Can progress to a band 4 Associate Practitioner post
  • Need a level 5 qualification e.g. foundation degree
  • Can complete the IBMS Certificate of Achievement part 1 & 2
  • Level 4 apprenticeship in Healthcare Science

Further information

 

Organisation Email Webpage
Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) mail@ibms.org https://www.ibms.org/
https://careers.ibms.org/students/accredited-degree-courses/undergraduate-uk-courses/
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration@hcpc-uk.org http://www.hpc-uk.org/
Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) info@rcpath.org https://www.rcpath.org/
The Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (ACB)   http://www.acb.org.uk/

NHS Careers

NHS Jobs

 

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/healthcare-science/

https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/

Apprenticeships – general  

https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/ 

https://www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships

 

EWG-H-007 Last updated 28/06/22 (2)