Our Role
Our Role in Education and Training
We quality assure education and training that leads to entry onto our Register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
We do this in several ways:
- Through the accreditation of higher education programmes either directly, for example exercise physiology programmes or in conjunction with the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS), including the Practitioner Training Programs and the Higher Specialist Scientist Training programmes
- Though our Standards of Education and Training which underpin the accreditation process
- Through Curriculum Development Standards which underpin the development and review curricular
- By ensuring education and training programmes leading to registration map to our relevant Standards of Proficiency and Good Scientific Practice.
All our quality assurance work is underpinned by the Quality Assurance Framework.
Our Role in Healthcare Science Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a job with training. It enables someone to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to perform effectively in a particular occupation. The occupation is defined in the apprenticeship standard (Institute for Apprenticeships, 2017).
Four Standards have been developed by a Trailblazer Group for Healthcare Science:
Level 2 – Healthcare Science Assistant
Level 4 – Healthcare Science Associate
Apprenticeships must last a minimum of 12 months and include 20 per cent structured off-the-job training before the end-point assessment takes place, to develop competence in an occupation.
The end-point assessment takes place when apprentices have completed their on-programme training and is mandatory. The end-point assessments are undertaken by an independent assessment organisation, which must be on the Register of Apprentice Assessment Organisations held by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). The assessments must follow the published end-point assessment plans, also developed by the Trailblazer Groups (see links above).
The Healthcare Science Trailblazer Group is currently undertaking a review of the Level 2, Level 4 and Level 6 Healthcare Science Apprenticeship Standards and the associated end-point assessment plans. We are actively contributing to the review.
We ceased its role with the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education as the External Quality Assurance organisation in September 2022, as part of the transition to Ofqual and the Office for Students taking responsibility for such external quality assurance.
See here for more details: Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education – external quality assurance
There is currently one organisation approved by the Education and Skills Funding Agency to undertake end-point assessments (EPAs) in healthcare science:
National School of Healthcare Science can undertake the EPAs for the level 2 Healthcare Science Assistant apprenticeship, the level 4 Healthcare Science Associate apprenticeship, and the level 6 Healthcare Science Practitioner apprenticeship (where the degree is a non-integrated degree).
See further information at: http://www.nshcs.hee.nhs.uk/join-apprenticeships/apprenticeships
Successful completion of the healthcare science apprenticeship standards leads to eligibility to apply to join a register.
| Healthcare Science Apprenticeship | Register | The Standards that registrants must work to |
|---|---|---|
| L2 Healthcare Science Assistant | AHCS Register (not accredited) | Healthcare Science Assistant |
*We might apply for accreditation by the Professional Standards Authority in due course.
To apply to join our Healthcare Science Assistant Register (not accredited) click here
To apply to join our Healthcare Science Associate Register (not accredited) click here
The National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS)
The NSHCS is also a key source of information for employers and potential apprentices in Healthcare Science.
