Information for trainees
Managing ETP Completion – for the 2024 cohort
The completion deadline for the 2024 cohort is Tuesday 7 April 2026.
As you are heading towards the end of your programme, here are some reminders and hints about how to manage completion so that you can plan accordingly.
You can read the completion criteria on the school website
Unless you have an approved extension via the school’s Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances policy (EEC) or the University, you should be aiming to have achieved the following by Tuesday 7 April 2026 at 5pm:
1. 100% completion of your e-portfolio – One File
- Module A-CS-S1 – Introduction to Clinical Echocardiography
- Module SPS121 – Ultrasound Imaging in Cardiac Disease
2. A pass in the PGCert in Clinical Echocardiography
3. Accreditation with the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) – theory and practical examinations
- Level 2 Transthoracic Accreditation Process
Tips to help you complete your programme
- The BSE will endeavour to offer places for people on the ETP at the appropriate practical assessment. Please ensure they are aware you are on the programme if you are unable to gain a place immediately.
- Make sure you have planned to complete both the theory and practical elements of the BSE accreditation before the completion deadline. If you fail the practical exam, you will be permitted up to 6 months to resit and pass it and still be able to complete the ETP. Any further time required will need to be discussed with the school.
- If you are having problems with collating sufficient cases for your BSE practical exam then speak to your Training Officer early and come and talk to the school on your options
- Trainees who do not achieve the requirements by the deadline and who have not previously notified the school of any barriers to completion may fail the ETP. If you do not plan effectively and communicate early we won’t be able to help you.
- Completion of your e-portfolio is a mandatory requirement. If you don’t achieve this without sufficient reason, this outcome will be reported to NHS England commissioners and quality teams which may impact on future funding for the programme.
- If you have exceptional circumstances impacting on the progress and completion of your programme you can seek more time or adjustments via the school’s Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances policy
So, make sure you plan, review and act regularly and discuss your progress with your Training Officer. If you have concerns about meeting the requirements of the programme in the timeframe allowed come and talk to the school, we will be happy to advise you england.nshcs@nhs.net
Progressing with your training activities (DTAs and ETAs)
The following resources will support you with your training activities:
- New: Developing evidence for specialist training activities (NHS Learning Hub resource)
- A guide to reflection for the DTAs using the four-dimensional approach (NHS Learning Hub resource)
- A guide to reflection for ETAs using the four-dimensional approach (NHS Learning Hub resource)
In addition you should read the NSHCS work-based assessment standards, which outline the evidence requirements for different types of training activity.
Information for trainees and Training Officers
New animations to help you understand work-based assessments
The school has published a series of 3 animations about the various types of work-based assessment, to help trainees, their trainers and assessors to swiftly understand the purpose of each type of assessment and how they should be completed.
The series comprises animations about:
- training activities
- observed assessments
- case-based discussions
Watch the animations about work-based assessments
Sharing Good Practice webinar series
Higher Specialist Scientist Training
Thursday 22 January 2026 – 1pm to 2pm
View further details and register for this webinar (link no longer active)
Developing professionalism in practice
Wednesday 18 March 2026 – 11am to 12pm
View further details and register for this webinar
Are you interested in sharing your practice?
If you or your network have developed practice that you feel could be valuable to share with your peers, please express an interest in sharing your practice via the form linked to below. We are particularly interested in short talks on:
- Strategies for undertaking and assessing Direct Observation of Practical Skills (DOPS)
- Strategies for undertaking and assessing Observed Communication Events (OCEs)
Express an interest in sharing your practice
Are you using AI in your clinical practice?
If you or your network are using AI in your clinical practice, we would like to invite you to present your experience as part of our Sharing Good Practice series. If you are interested, please express an interest via the form linked to below.
Express an interest in sharing your practice
Information for Training Officers
Continuing to support your trainee with their training activities (DTAs & ETAs)
The following resources will support you in supporting your trainee with their training activities:
- New: Supporting trainees with developing evidence for specialist training activities (NHS Learning Hub resource)
- A guide to reflection for the DTAs using the four-dimensional approach (NHS Learning Hub resource)
- A guide to reflection for ETAs using the four-dimensional approach (NHS Learning Hub resource)
In addition you should read the NSHCS work-based assessment standards, which outline the evidence requirements for different types of training activity.
Express an interest in hosting trainees on the STP, ETP and HSST programmes
The school is pleased to announce that the portal to express an interest in hosting trainees has re-opened, providing an additional opportunity to host trainees across the Scientist Training Programme (STP), Echocardiography Training Programme (ETP) and the Higher Specialist Scientist Training (HSST) programme.
This re-opening represents a valuable strategic opportunity to secure fully-funded training places, enabling trusts to build and develop a workforce equipped to meet future service demands and contribute to the ambitions of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan.
By hosting trainees, trusts can:
- strengthen workforce capacity in key scientific roles
- invest in future talent to support innovation and service transformation
- align with national priorities for healthcare science and longterm workforce sustainability
To support new providers who have not previously hosted healthcare science trainees, the school will be delivering a dedicated accreditation webinar - further details to follow.
We strongly encourage trusts to take advantage of this opportunity to help shape the future of healthcare science and ensure services are prepared for the next decade and beyond. The links to each of the expression of interest portals are below.
Have Your Say: HCPC Consultation on Education and Training Standards
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) are consulting on proposed changes to their Standards of Education and Training (SETs), which underpin the quality of programmes for the 15 health and care professions they regulate. These standards are central to the HCPC’s role in protecting the public by ensuring that anyone qualifying in the UK has the skills and knowledge to deliver safe, effective care. Proposed changes include:
- A new structure
- Stronger EDI focus
- Technology readiness
- Applies to all learning models
The consultation is open for 13 weeks, closing 16 February 2026.
Share your views via the consultation survey
Missed a previous edition of the ETP Monthly Memo?
We’ve published copies of the Monthly Memo for ETP trainees and training officers on our website.
Click here to view previous editions of the ETP Monthly Memo.