Accreditation

To achieve programme accreditation by the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) an education provider needs to demonstrate that the academic/training programme has met the AHCS Standards of Education and Training, Good Scientific Practice and the relevant Standards of Proficiency. Learners successfully completing an accredited programme can apply to join the AHCS register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

The National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) has a national responsibility for the management of the educational framework for training and development of healthcare scientists across the NHS in England. The NSHCS accredits programmes including the Practitioner Training Programmes and Higher Specialist Scientist Training Programmes on behalf of the AHCS. Following the incorporation of Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP) into the AHCS, programmes sitting outside this educational framework can apply to be accredited by the AHCS following the AHCS Guidelines for Accreditation (January 2023). Programme accreditation is an integral part of the AHCS Quality Assurance Framework.

The Academy quality assures the accreditation process and subsequent annual monitoring processes undertaken by the NSHCS by observing a sample of accreditation visits and a desk-based activity. Where the accreditation process is undertaken by the Academy directly, a senior member of AHCS staff, normally the Head of Accreditation is a member of the accreditation panel.

Outcomes of all quality assurance activities are reported to the AHCS Education, Training and Standards Committee for consideration.