Clinical engineering
Clinical engineering staff check and maintain medical equipment to make sure it is safe to use and operating correctly.
Hospitals and NHS staff in the community rely on an increasingly wide range of medical equipment to provide excellent care to patients, so your role is vitally important.
Life as a clinical engineer
You’ll need a background in electronic or mechanical engineering and the confidence and willingness to take a hands-on approach.
You’ll enjoy a varied and exciting role maintaining and ensuring the safety of a wide range of medical equipment. This could range from simple devices such as nebulisers to sophisticated and life-saving equipment like radiotherapy linear accelerators.
With experience, you can develop your role and gain greater responsibility to modify and construct equipment.
You will be responsible for managing medical equipment through its life cycle, ensuring that parts are replaced, guaranteeing that machines are always safe to use.
A typical day may include:
- testing new equipment
- introducing equipment and devices into service
- advising on the correct use of equipment
- addressing patient safety issues
- safely disposing of old devices
Hollie Owen
Apprentice medical engineer
Read Hollie's storyIt makes me feel good knowing that the equipment I fixed will go and help a patient get the treatment they need.

How much can I earn?
You’ll be employed on a national pay and conditions system called Agenda for Change (AfC). Below are examples of the pay band you’ll be on, depending on your role within neurophysiology:
- healthcare science assistant – B2/3
- healthcare science associate – B4
- healthcare science practitioner – B5
- Cclinical scientist – B6/7/8a
- consultant clinical scientist – B8a-d
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
How to become a clinical engineer
Starting your career in clinical engineering might be easier than you think. You could undertake study at university or find an apprenticeship that takes you straight into a job.
There are a wide variety of entry levels into clinical engineering such as assistant or level 2 apprenticeships, associate practitioner roles, level 4 apprenticeships.
There are also Bachelor degrees/degree apprenticeships, Master’s degrees and Higher Specialist Scientist Training.
See ‘How to become a healthcare science professional’ for details.
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, 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
There are several different ways to start your career in clinical engineering, depending on your experience and qualifications.
Apprenticeship
You could look for an entry level job/level 2 apprenticeship – typically GCSEs 9-4/A-C in maths, English and a science. If an apprenticeship feels right for you, you’ll need 5 GCSEs at 9-4/A-C (or equivalent) including maths, English and science or Level 2 Diploma in Healthcare Science to start a level 4 apprenticeship.
Associate practitioner
An associate practitioner role is another route to a career in clinical engineering. You’ll likely require foundation degree, or equivalent experience with training and experience to NVQ level 3.
Degree-level qualification
A level 6 apprenticeship or degree course require relevant level 3 qualifications, for example three A-levels (including at least one science subject) or an Access to higher education course.
Post-graduate
To start the NHS Scientist Training Programme, you’ll need a 1st or 2:1 in relevant first degree or relevant higher degree and 2:2 in a relevant subject.
Higher Specialist Scientist Training is available for registered clinical scientists with relevant MSc or specialist diploma.
Where a career in clinical engineering can take you
Working in clinical engineering can lead to registration as a Clinical Scientist. You can then move into senior and consultant Clinical Scientist roles, through the Higher Specialist Scientist Training (HSST) programme.
It can also lead to careers in academia, research, industry, management and leadership and training.
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Specialist Medical Engineer
Walsall, WS2 9PS
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
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Specialist Clinical Engineer
Blackburn, BB2 3HH
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
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Senior Clinical Engineer
Dorchester, DT1 2JY
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Band 5 Medical Engineering Technician (PPM)
Birmingham, B15 2TH
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
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Clinical Engineering Specialist - Huntingdon
Huntingdon, PE29 6NT
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
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Clinical Engineering Business Administrator
Aylesbury, HP21 8AL
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
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Network Engineer
Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QG
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
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IT Operations Engineer
Crowborough, TN6 1XP
- Salary :
- £24826.00 to £30673.50
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Horder Healthcare
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Mechanical Maintenance Engineer
Wolverhampton, WV4 5HN
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Senior Infrastructure Engineer
Gosforth, NE3 3XT
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
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Senior Clinical Technologist/Dialysis Technical Services Engineer
Cardiff, CF14 4HY
- Salary :
- £39263.00 to £47280.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
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Plumbing and Heating Engineer
Abergavenny, NP7 7EG
- Salary :
- £31516.00 to £38364.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
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IT Service Desk Engineer
East Grinstead, RH19 3DZ
- Salary :
- £26530.00 to £29114.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Digital Network & Telecoms Engineer
Bury St Edmunds, IP29 4RR
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
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Network Infrastructure Technical Engineer
Dartford, DA2 8DA
- Salary :
- £40617.00 to £48778.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
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IT Engineer (Connectivity Team)
Worthing, BN13 3EP
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
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Digital Services Endpoint Engineer
Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2QZ
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
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ICT Engineer (London & Southeast)
London, NW9 5EQ
- Salary :
- £36187.00 to £43552.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- UK Health Security Agency
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Maintenance Engineer Electrical Technician
Poole, BH15 2JB
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
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IT Cyber Security Engineer
Milton Keynes, MK6 5LD
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Plumbing and Heating Engineer
Newport, NP20 2UB
- Salary :
- £31516.00 to £38364.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
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Plumbing and Heating Engineer
Newport, NP20 2UB
- Salary :
- £31516.00 to £38364.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
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CAD and Information Technical Engineer
Reading, RG1 5AN
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
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Vehicle Technician/Fleet Engineer - Nursling
Southampton, SO16 0YU
- Salary :
- £39150.31 to £45805.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Central Fleet Services Ltd
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Vehicle Technician/Fleet Engineer - Aylesbury
Aylesbury, HP20 1BH
- Salary :
- £39150.31 to £45805.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Central Fleet Services Ltd
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Multi Skilled Electrical Engineer - BFH
Dudley, DY1 2LZ
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Engineering Tradesperson – (Core Trade Electrical)
Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 9DT
- Salary :
- £31516.00 to £38364.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
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Vehicle Technician/Fleet Engineer - Didcot
Didcot, OX11 8RY
- Salary :
- £39150.31 to £45805.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Central Fleet Services Ltd
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Senior Mathematical Modeller / Research Software Engineer
Birmingham, London, Leeds, Liverpool., E14 4PU
- Salary :
- £40661.00 to £50472.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- UK Health Security Agency
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Clinical Coder / Medical Secretary
Pudsey, LS28 7XP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mulberry Street Medical Practice
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Medical Secretary and Clinical Coder
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE6 3BS
- Salary :
- £24930.00 to £26592.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Walker Medical Group
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Senior Clinical Fellow in Medical Oncology
London, W6 8RF
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
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Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Effectiveness
Bath, BA1 3QE
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
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Medical Secretary
Sleaford, NG34 7HD
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sleaford Medical Group
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Medical Administrator
Wilmslow, SK9 1PA
- Salary :
- £12.42 to £12.92
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Kenmore Medical Centre
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Medical Receptionist
Wakefield, WF3 4HS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Stanley Health Centre
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Medical Receptionist
Liverpool, L21 9HA
- Salary :
- £24367.00 to £24367.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care 24
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Medical Secretary
Huddersfield, HD1 4TS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Paddock and Longwood Family Practice
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Medical Coder
Bicester, OX26 6HT
- Salary :
- £13.35
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Montgomery - House Surgery
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Medical Secretary
Ipswich, IP9 2QS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care Careers
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Medical Administrator
Exeter, EX1 1QA
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Devon Partnership NHS Trust
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Medical Receptionist
Hetton le Hole, DH5 9EZ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hetton Group Practice
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Medical Secretary
Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 9DT
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
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Medical Secretary
Bodmin, PL31 2JJ
- Salary :
- £12.66
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Bosvena Health
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Medical Receptionist
Wigan, WN2 2QG
- Salary :
- £12.51
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Pennygate Medical Centre
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Medical Examiner
London, NW1 2BU
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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