Clinical neurophysiology
Clinical neurophysiologists investigate and diagnose disorders of the nervous system including a range of conditions affecting the functioning of the muscles (neuromuscular disease).
Life as a clinical neurophysiologist
You’ll use computer, electronic and magnetic techniques to investigate the function of the brain and spinal cord and peripheral nerves and muscles. You’ll diagnose conditions such as epilepsy, motor neurone disease (MND) and Parkinson’s disease. You will work closely with neurologists and neurosurgeons.
You’ll provide supervision and clinical support to technical staff in your department, on the wards, in intensive care units (ICUs) and in operating theatres. Most days involve undertaking clinics to diagnose and monitor a range of conditions using electronic techniques.
Neurologists and neurosurgeons will refer patients to you but you’ll also see patients from other areas including general medicine, paediatrics and psychiatry.
You’ll mainly work within normal working hours although many departments provide an out-of-hours service for emergencies and you may have to do some on-call work at weekends.
How much can I earn?
You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. Find out details of current salary ranges for foundation and specialty training, SAS doctors and consultants on the Pay for doctors page.
How about the benefits?
- make a difference
- flexible and part-time working
- high income early in your career
- work anywhere in the world
- excellent pension scheme
- good holiday entitlement
- NHS discounts in shops and restaurants
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families
- emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
- teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
- problem-solving and diagnostic skills
- outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
- first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
Entry requirements
Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.
If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.
You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.
Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circumstances could be considered as part of your application.
What are my chances of starting a career in clinical neurophysiology?
In 2020 there were 31 applications for 10 specialty training places. There are currently 106 consultants working in the NHS in this specialty.
How to become a neurophysiologist
After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.
After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training to become a clinical neurophysiologist, which will take a minimum of six years.
You may be able to train part-time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.
Where a career in neurophysiology can take you
You could:
- specialise or conduct research in areas such as epilepsy surgery or Parkinson’s disease
- teach medical students or postgraduate students in training
- get involved in research at universities, the NHS or private sector
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Specialist Clinical Physiologist - Neurophysiology
Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Neurophysiologist
Newport, NP20 4SZ
- Salary :
- £31516.00 to £38364.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
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Consultant in Neurophysiology
Exeter, EX2 5DW
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locum Consultant in Neurophysiology
Penrith, CA11 8HX
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical/Counselling Psychologist & Clinical Lead
Welwyn Garden City/Cambridge, AL8 6HG
- Salary :
- £66653.00 to £77094.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialist Clinical Technologist/Trainee Clinical Technologist
Derby, DE22 3NE
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
-
Lead Clinical Coder / Senior Clinical Coder
Luton, LU4 0DZ
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Nurse Specialist / Clinical Paramedic Specialist
Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4TA
- Salary :
- £47302.00 to £54129.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hospice in the Weald
-
Clinical Psychologist
Keele, ST5 5NT
- Salary :
- £46148.00 to £60504.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Caudwell Children
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Clinical Lead
Morpeth, NE61 2DB
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mental Health Matters
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Marlborough, SN8 2QT
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Kennet Primary Care Network
-
Clinical Endoscopist
REDRUTH, TR15 1AN
- Salary :
- £75000.00 to £80000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- InHealth Group
-
Clinical Psychologist
Cheltenham, GL539DZ
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Trainer
Leeds, LS2 9JT
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Fresenius Kabi Ltd
-
Clinical Lead
Sheffield, S1 3PB
- Salary :
- £58000.00 to £62000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- OneMedicalGroup
-
Clinical Lead
Darlington, DL3 7PL
- Salary :
- £85.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Healthcare Darlington
-
Clinical Lead
Sheffield, S1 3PB
- Salary :
- £58000.00 to £62000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- OneMedicalGroup
-
Clinical Lead
Southall, UB2 4AU
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- West London NHS Trust
-
Clinical Psychologist
Stoke on Trent, ST5 7HL
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Worcester, WR5 1EZ
- Salary :
- £46148.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- SW Healthcare
-
Clinical Trainer
Yate, BS37 5AF
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Sirona care & health CIC
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Ilminster, TA19 9FE
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- CLICK PCN
-
Clinical Administrator
St Leonards on Sea, TN37 7RD
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
-
Clinical Lead
Boston, PE21 8EG
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Omnes Healthcare Limited
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Ilminster, TA19 9FE
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- CLICK PCN
-
Clinical Assistant
West Bromwich, B71 4HJ
- Salary :
- £23000.00 to £26250.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- InHealth Group
-
Clinical Pharmacist
St. Helens, WA9 5PR
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- St Helens South PCN (Rainhill Village Surgery)
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Salisbury, SP1 3SL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Millstream Medical Centre
-
Clinical coder
Reading, RG108BP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Wargrave Surgery
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Witney, OX28 6JS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Windrush Medical Practice
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Swindon, SN3 4BF
- Salary :
- £45945.00 to £53625.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Merchiston Surgery
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Hull, HU9 2BL
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- City Health Care Partnership CIC
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Liverpool, L31 0DJ
- Salary :
- £55500.00 to £62500.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Westway Medical Centre
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Redruth, TR15 1AU
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Kerrier East PCN
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Liverpool, L31 0DJ
- Salary :
- £55500.00 to £62500.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Westway Medical Centre
-
Clinical Lead
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3XT
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinic Receptionist
Great Yarmouth, NR31 6LA
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Administrator
317 01 Freeman Hospital, NE7 7DN
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Lead
Taunton, TA2 7PQ
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Psychologist
Ipswich, IP3 8LY
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Manchester, M270EW
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sides Medical Centre
-
Clinical Lead
Gamston, NG2 6PR
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Middlesbrough, TS5 8SB
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Greater Middlesbrough Primary Care Network (PCN)
-
Clinical Lead
Gamston, NG2 6PR
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Administrator
317 01 Freeman Hospital, NE7 7DN
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Stafford, ST16 3EB
- Salary :
- £47000.00 to £51000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- GP First Ltd
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Honiton, EX14 2NY
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Honiton Surgery
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Wrexham, LL13 9QE
- Salary :
- £56514.00 to £63623.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Clinical Pharmacist
Swindon, SN6 7DN
- Salary :
- £45000.00 to £58000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Westrop Medical Practice
-
Clinical Psychologist
Norwich, NR6 5BE
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust
-
Clinical Lead
Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6JL
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (468)
-
Clinical Lead
South Shields, NE32 5NN
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
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These organisations have further information about being a doctor in clinical neurophysiology, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
British Society for Clinical Neurophysiology
International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology – European Chapter
And hear from Sarah about working as a clinical neurophysiology doctor.
Dr Sarah Finlayson, specialty registrar in clinical neurophysiology