Compare roles in health

Not sure where to start with the hundreds of NHS careers? Use our compare roles section to get bite-size information on the entry requirements and training, pay and conditions, prospects and skills needed of up to three roles. If there is something that you think you could do, then get more in-depth information on the role.

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  1. Clinical genetics

    Clinical geneticists diagnose and look after families with genetic disorders. 

    Training usually starts with a five year first degree in medicine. Then there's two years foundation doctor training, two years core training (CT1-CT2), followed by four years specialists training (ST3-ST6). This period of training will include your royal college exams. Length of training can vary according to your circumstances.
    Doctors may work up to 48 hours a week. The working hours may sometimes extend beyond the normal working day to include early mornings, evenings and weekends. You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. The basic salary ranges from £29,384 to £34,012. Once you start your specialty training as a clinical geneticist employed by the NHS, you can expect to earn a salary of at least £40,257, which can increase to between £84,559 and £114,003 as a consultant.
    You'll need excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families. You'll be emotionally resilient, have excellent problem-solving and diagnostic skills and work well in teams and under pressure. You'll also be very organised for the benefit of patients.
    There are currently 147 clinical geneticists working in the NHS in England. In 2020, there were 40 applications for 13 specialty training places. You could progress to specialise in cancer genetics, cardiac genetics or dysmorphology.
  2. Dental technician/dental technologist

    Dental technicians (or dental technologists as they are often referred to) make the dentures, crowns, bridges and dental braces that improve patients’ appearance, speech and ability to chew.

    To work as a dental technician/dental technologist, you need to complete a General Dental Council- (GDC) approved course (diploma or degree level) and be registered with the GDC.
    Dental technicians generally work standard NHS hours, which are likely to be around 37.5 a week. Your starting salary will be band 5 of the Agenda for Change pay rates.
    Absolute precision and attention to detail is key for dental technicians. Much of your work will be by hand making dentures, crowns, bridges and braces and no two pieces will be the same because every patient is different. You will also work with specialised equipment in a laboratory.
    Dental technicians can progress into management roles such as senior or chief technician posts, quality control, teaching or sales. With specific training, they can also become clinical dental technicians so they can create and modify dental appliances. Clinical dental technicians have direct contact with patients.
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