About the course

Reasons to study

1. Enhancing your knowledge of advanced clinical practice may lead to career progression into advanced level roles across all specialties of practice.
2. Tailor this course to support your specific clinical practice, through studying either Primary Care, Critical Care, Emergency Care, Mental Health Care or Cancer Care.
3. You will be taught by lecturers have a wealth of skills, expertise and professional credibility related to advanced clinical practice.

Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) are a relatively new career pathway in heath provision. Trainee ACPs can be from a variety of multi-professional backgrounds bringing with them a wealth of clinical experience. ACPs are part of Government plans to modernise and transform the health service and will help to meet ongoing changes and challenges of the NHS, including increasing service provision to meet the needs of patients in a variety of clinical settings. With increased patient demand, ageing populations, patients with multiple co-morbidities, complexity and poly-pharmacy ACPs provide holistic clinical care to enhance the patient experience and improve health and social care outcomes. Advanced practice in all fields requires expert clinical, leadership and education skills underpinned by high quality research and evidence base to support practice developments. The course challenges the depth and breadth of your knowledge and supports you to demonstrate a high level of practice so you can function at the leading edge of advanced practice.

The apprenticeship course provides the opportunity for experienced registered healthcare professionals to gain 180 FHEQ level 7 credits and a Master of Science award. It is designed to provide those who are working as ACP apprentices, with an opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, behaviours and values required to meet the Institute for Apprenticeships Advanced Clinical Practice Standard and for an Advanced Clinical Practitioner role as part of the health and social care workforce.

The complexity of the course requires you to apply advanced theoretical knowledge in your clinical practice. To achieve this, you will study part-time for three years, attending the University for the equivalent of one day per week (minimum 20% out of practice training). The expected length of time to complete the course will be detailed in the Commitment Statement (Individual Learning Plan) agreed by the apprentice, employer and the University following your Initial Needs Assessment.

You will be able to study specific routes to support your education including: Primary Care, Critical Care, Emergency Care, Mental Health Care, Cancer Care or Generic.

If you’re thinking of studying an apprenticeship course or are an employer looking for an apprenticeship for your employees, you’ll also find useful information on our Degree Apprenticeship webpages.

Entry requirements

You must hold:

• Current registration on Part 1 of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register, Health and Care Professions Council or the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• A minimum period of 3 years post-registration experience.
• A first degree in your specialism or another relevant health related subject is required, or evidence of ability to study at postgraduate level.
• GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme or equivalent.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

Placements

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Supervision and assessment in clinical practice, when studying on this course:

• You are required to be working in clinical practice in primary, community or secondary care.
• You will require a Clinical Educator who will supervise and assess you in clinic practice.
• Your employer must confirm that they are able to release you for ‘off the job training’ to attend all university study days.
• You and your employer are responsible for identifying an appropriately qualified, occupationally competent clinical educator who will supervise the development of your clinical skills and will assess your level of competence in clinical practice to provide evidence of your achievement of course and module learning outcomes. The course leader will provide the University’s criteria for the clinical educator role.