Medical Physics

The Level 4 Healthcare Science Associate apprenticeship is an ideal way for learners to gain a recognised qualification whilst working within a relevant healthcare science related industry.  

The Medical Physics pathway is specifically designed to support those learners working within a department that relies heavily on physics-based applications, this could be within a Clinical Imaging department including areas such as CT, MRI, Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine, Cardiovascular Imaging, a Medical Physics department, Neurophysiology department or even a Medical Engineering department.

The apprenticeship scheme has taught elements that are split between core units where you will join other level 4 Science Apprenticeship learners from a variety of pathways, this often generates lively debate within class as many share best practice amongst the remote online classroom. In total there are nine core units that cover the fundamental topics you would naturally expect on an apprenticeship course based within healthcare science, some of the topics covered include:

• Health and Safety
• Effective Communication
• Legal and Ethical Context of Healthcare Science
• Quality, Audit and Innovation

As you gain mastery in the core units, learners will then move towards the specialist units that relate more to the department the learner is working in. Part of this provision includes the study of anatomy and physiology delivered via our state-of-the-art training package and then learners will move onto the Scientific Basis of Medical Physics, the underpinning knowledge of working within a medical physics environment.

Upon completion of this course, you are likely to be in a Band 4 Associate Practitioner role, or in a position to apply for such role when one becomes available, the level 4 course is also an excellent starting point for applying to continue your studies at level 6, often within a University setting.

Future roles that could be applied for are within medical engineering, equipment management, diagnostic or therapeutic radiography, clinical engineering or medical innovation and enterprise.

No previous work experience within Medical Physics is required however learners will benefit from having a basic understanding of the role. 

A good understanding of maths and physics is also desired, but not essential, as training will be given in this area.

We operate a remote teaching format where core lessons are delivered once a month, followed by a 4-week period to complete the relevant assignments. 

Learners will build an ongoing portfolio of evidence throughout the duration of the course and are expected to showcase their practical competencies via remote assessment.  

Witness testimonies from peers will ascertain how the learner meets the behaviours expected of an apprentice and continued professional development from within the department logged as off the job training.

The physics element is delivered in a way that learners can relate it to their own workplace experiences which helps form a solid understanding of even the most complicated terms. There is also a great application of anatomy and physiology so that learners can see exactly where and how they are improving a patient’s health or disease management. 

Learners will get to utilise this knowledge to really help increase their confidence and reflect on their own working practices, this in turn can help to influence changes that may be needed as and when technology advances.