NHS Higher Specialist Scientist Training

If you are a registered and experienced clinical scientist, you may be interested in training to become a consultant healthcare scientist.

Consultant healthcare scientists improve patient care by applying their specialist scientific skills.

What does the training scheme involve?

  • a five-year programme at a similar standard to medical specialty training
  • work-based training and study at doctorate level
  • possibly gaining Medical Royal College qualifications (eg fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists).

What opportunities are there?

It can be possible to find posts in:

  • clinical bioinformatics
  • life sciences
  • physical sciences and biomedical engineering
  • physiological sciences

Click on the boxes below to find out more about each area and find out more about the different healthcare science roles.

How do I get a place?

There are two ways to get on to an HSST programme:

  • direct entry - apply for a newly advertised post in an accredited training department
  • in-service training - be nominated by your employer to move into an existing post

How do I apply?

The application window usually opens in late winter/early spring, for entry later the same year.

For the very latest information about important dates, please check the National School of Healthcare Science website

 

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