Entry requirements for in-service applicants

What is an in-service applicant?

In-service applicants are existing NHS employees working in a recognised scientific specialty. They can enter the Scientist Training Programme (STP) and complete their training in their current workplace with the support of their employer. They remain in full time employment in their department whilst training and salary support is provided by NHS England.

Existing employees can also apply for a ‘direct entry’ training post but would need to resign from their current post if successful.

Additional entry requirements for in-service applicants

In-service applicants will ordinarily have the same entry requirements as direct entry applicants. However, the school acknowledges there may be in-service applicants who possess appropriate professional experience but do not meet the academic entry requirements for the STP. Therefore, in-service applicants who are unable to apply for equivalence via The Academy for Healthcare Science or Association of Clinical Scientists, will be considered for entry on to the STP if evidence of the following is provided:

• the proposed training centre have successfully trained at least 1 trainee to completion of the STP
• the proposed in-service STP applicant must supply confirmation in writing from the NHS England commissioned university that they will be accepted for admission
• the expression of interest (EOI) for the post is successfully agreed
• the Trust recruitment and selection processes have been followed
• any other required documentation requested by the school recruitment team

This option is only available for in-service applicants and does not apply for direct entry applicants.

Further requirements

Discussions with the university should be held prior to the nomination of the in-service applicant. If not already known, the name of the relevant programme director and the university that offers the academic portion of the Scientist Training Programme can be obtained by emailing england.hcsrecruitment@nhs.net.

All required evidence should be provided, along with the details of the nominated applicant, in time for the applicant to submit an application before the published deadline.

If the proposed in-service applicant cannot meet the entry requirements for the designated STP MSc programme, or the training centre has not already successfully trained a Clinical Scientist via the STP route, then the proposed in-service applicant cannot enter the programme.

If the proposing training centre is unhappy with the decision made by the university with regard to Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL), then it will have to follow the university’s relevant appeal process, as the university APEL processes are independent from the School. The applicant will need to provide evidence that they will be accepted onto the academic programme and this will be required prior to the application process.

Applicants relying on non-UK qualifications will need to provide UK ENIC equivalence at the time of application. Further information is available via the UK ENIC website.

Required level of communication skills

All trainees must have the required level of English language skills to undertake the role effectively and deliver safe care to patients.

If English is not your primary language or you do not hold undergraduate or post-graduate qualifications that were taught and assessed in English (you may need to evidence this), then should you be successfully offered a place on the programme you may need to demonstrate your English language skills. We accept IELTS Academic and IELTS General tests. A score of 7 or above is required with no element below 6.5. We accept UKVI and non-UKVI versions. The test needs to be taken at an official test centre and not at home. Note that the level may differ from UKVI requirements. Any test certificate submitted must be no more than 2 years old. This will be required from applicants that get to the offer stage of the recruitment process and must be provided before commencing on the programme.

If you already have an IELTS that meets our requirements and is less than 24 months old, you can upload/provide this with your application.

Also, if English is not your main language you may have to demonstrate to the Higher Education Institution (HEI) the necessary knowledge of English to meet the entry requirements and enrol on the academic teaching part of the programme.

Support required from NHS employer

In-service applicants need the support of their employer in consideration of current and future workforce needs. They do not have a choice of post location or specialty and will only be able to apply for the training place for which their current employer is sponsoring them. The employer must provide confirmation of support, and we will give the employer an in-service application code to pass onto their nominated applicant. The code is only issued once the required information and copies of qualifications have been received and checked. The applicant must enter this code when applying for the post.

Any applicant who does not meet the above entry requirements will not be able to proceed with the recruitment and selection process.

Provision of the master’s degree

The master’s degree is provided by one of the universities commissioned by NHS England. Most of the specialty programmes are provided by only 1 university and no alternative is offered. In a small number of cases more than 1 university provides a specialty and in these cases employers may state a preference. However, employers and proposed applicants do not have the final choice, NHS England will allocate the university place. NHS England will pay the full cost of the master’s degree.