There are two routes through the HSST programme:
- Route 1 – physiological sciences, physical sciences and clinical biomedical engineering, clinical bioinformatics
- Route 2 – life sciences
All trainees must demonstrate an achievement of the curriculum learning outcomes, but the means by which this is documented and assessed are different.
| Programme component |
Route | Assessment components | Assessment tools | Administrative responsibility | Component weighting |
| Mastery of scientific content | 1 | Professional doctorate (PD) | As required by the HEI provider of the PD | HEI | 100%; must pass either the PD or FRCPath to receive the Certificate of Completion for the HSST from the NSHCS |
| 2 | FRCPath, with an option to take selected, or all, components of the PD | FRCPath | RCPath | ||
| Mastery of clinical skills, values and behaviours | 1 | Workplace-based assessment (WPBA)
Demonstration of scientific and clinical skills |
Evidence of activity in the workplace submitted for assessment in the e-portfolio.
NSHCS Independent Assessment of Professional Skills (IAPS) |
Workplace, recorded and assessed in the e-portfolio and monitored by NSHCS.NSHCS in collaboration with Medical Royal Colleges (MRCs) and Professional Bodies (PBs). |
100%; must have a satisfactory portfolio of evidence of activity from the workplace showing that all of the HSSR SOPs have been met, and either gain a ‘pass’ in the NSHCS assessment or FRCPath to receive the Certificate of Completion for the HSST from the NSHCS. |
| 2 | WPBA
FRCPath |
Evidence of activity in the workplace submitted for assessment in the e-portfolio.
FRCPath |
Workplace, recorded and assessed in the e-portfolio and monitored by NSHCS.RCPath |
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| Contribution to innovation | 1 | Innovation in Clinical Science (ICS) project | Innovation Proposal report and presentation to a lay panel. | MAHSE and NSHCS in collaboration with employers, MRCs and PBs. | |
| 2 | Contribution to innovation, service improvement, patient safety or quality management in healthcare science | Complete full research project, if not using previous PhD or FRCPath Part 2 as exemption | MAHSE and NSHCS in collaboration with employers, MRCs and PBs. |