Training, development and registration (clinical immunology)
The training you receive depends on the level at which you're entering this area of healthcare science.
Training and development
The education and training you will take in clinical immunology, will depend on the level at which you’re working.
- If you enter via the NHS Practitioner Training Programme (PTP) you will need to take a full-time (usually 3-year) accredited integrated BSc degree in healthcare science (blood sciences) at university. At least 50 weeks of work based training in the NHS is included in these programmes. For the most up to date list of accredited BSc healthcare science degrees, please use our course finder. Applications for full time courses are made through UCAS.
- As a graduate entering the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) you will be employed in a fixed term, salaried training post and will study towards a Master’s degree qualification in clinical science (blood sciences - clinical immunology).
- If you're entering Higher Specialist Scientist Training (HSST) you will study towards doctoral level qualifications.
Programmes are often supported by the development of work based assessment tools, assessment of equivalent learning and the development of academic careers.
Continuing professional development
No matter what level you are working at, as part of your development you will be expected to do continuing professional development (CPD) to show that you are keeping yourself up to date with the policies and procedures in your area of work.
Find out more general information about professional development
Accredited Scientific Practice- development opportunities for healthcare science staff
Accredited Scientific Practice (ASP) provides an additional route for your ongoing professional and scientific development as part of the healthcare science (HCS) workforce. ASP allows employers to develop bespoke, responsive, short course programmes to meet training needs within the HCS workforce. ASP programmes provide you with a quality assured, rigorously assessed qualification which can lead to voluntary professional registration with the Academy for Healthcare Sciences (AHCS).
An ASP programme involves work based learning with academic study of modules from the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) portfolio programmes. Access to an e-portfolio is provided to record learning in the workplace while associated academic study is completed independently through an accredited university provider. In some cases, completion of academic study may also lead to an award of a postgraduate qualification from the university provider.
Read more about ASP on the NSHCS website.
Registration
As a clinical scientist, you'll be required to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You’ll also need to hold an Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) Certificate of Attainment granted upon completion of the NHS Scientist Training Programme or AHCS Certificate of Equivalence.
Find out more about the AHCS certificates.
For those parts of the workforce not regulated by the HCPC, professional voluntary registers are in operation.