Admission to the Echocardiography Training Programme (ETP) is administered by the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS), with delegated responsibility for recruitment to local employers.
To be eligible for the ETP, all applicants must meet the following requirements:
- 1st or 2:1 in either an undergraduate honours degree (including an integrated master’s degree) in Cardiac Physiology (PTP) or a relevant scientific subject (examples include Pure or Applied Physics, Biology or Human Biology, or Sports Science (if significant scientific content).
- 2:2 undergraduate honours degree in Cardiac Physiology (PTP) or a relevant scientific subject plus cardiology experience and approval from the relevant HEI.
- Alternative/vocational qualification plus sufficient and relevant experience and appropriate underpinning knowledge and skills in cardiology – as evidenced for example by appropriate Voluntary Registration with the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists or Academy for Healthcare Science and approval from the relevant HEI.
The ETP is not intended for people who already have an MSc in Echocardiography or who have already completed/currently training under the Scientist Training Programme (STP).
Approval from HEI
If approval is required by the HEI to meet the entry requirements, the Trust/Organisation will need to obtain this as part of the qualification check. The list of HEI’s will be available on the NSHCS website.
International qualifications
Applicants who hold an international qualification will need to provide a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability. This statement will need to be provided with the ETP scoresheet if a conditional offer is made. It is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain this statement, the School will not confirm comparability in advance of the candidate being nominated. Final acceptance onto the course will be subject to the HEI admissions policy and procedures.
What level of English competency is required?
An applicant must be able to demonstrate the required level of communication skills to undertake the role effectively and deliver safe care to patients and achieve the standards set for healthcare scientists by the Academy for Healthcare Science and the Healthcare Professions Council.
The following may demonstrate these standards:
- Being a national of a majority English speaking country or worked in an organisation/institution where English was the primary language.
- An applicant pursued part of their undergraduate education in the UK.
- An applicant holds a degree or relevant educational qualification that was taught in English by a recognised institution abroad.
- Has passed an English language competency test.
- If an applicant obtained a Skilled Worker visa to apply to the programme, they will have already demonstrated their English language skills as part of the visa application process. Please provide evidence that you passed the test set by the Home Office.
If English is not the first language, an applicant will also have to demonstrate to the Higher Education Institution (HEI) the necessary knowledge of English to meet the entry requirements and enrol on the course. Evidence will need to be provided with the ETP scoresheet if a conditional offer is made. It is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain this evidence by the 28 June 2024.
Anticipated degree results
If an applicant has yet to receive their degree results, predicted results will need to be provided. The applicant’s predicted results must still be a 1st or 2:1 as per the entry requirements. If the applicant’s results do not meet the entry requirements any offers made may be withdrawn, if not accepted by the HEI. When the applicant receives the final degree result, confirmation will need to be emailed to the NSHCS recruitment team.
Any postgraduate qualifications included in an applicant’s application must have been successfully awarded by the start of the programme. HEI’s state that applicants must not be enrolled on two academic programmes at the start of the ETP.