Higher/Degree Apprenticeship Advanced Clinical Practitioner

MSc Advanced Clinical Practice

Course code
ST0564
Level
Higher/Degree Apprenticeship
School
School of Health and Social Wellbeing
Duration
Typically three years
Delivery
Day release; September and March intakes
Programme leader
Victoria Stanley

Introduction

Accredited by the Centre for Advancing Practice, our Advanced Clinical Practitioner apprenticeship gives you the Master's level expertise needed to become an Advanced Clinical Practitioner. Learn from an expert multi-professional team within first-class facilities at Glenside Campus.

Accreditations and partnerships:

Why study for an Advanced Clinical Practitioner apprenticeship?

Advanced Clinical Practitioners (Level 7) are experienced clinicians who independently manage the clinical care process from start to finish. Working across traditional health and social care boundaries, they combine expert clinical skills with research, education and leadership.

If you're currently employed in health or social care settings as a registered clinician, this apprenticeship will help you progress to an Advanced Clinical Practitioner role in your workplace. The apprenticeship has been designed in partnership with employers to ensure you become part of a multi-professional workforce.

Why UWE Bristol?

Accredited by the Centre for Advancing Practice, our apprenticeship is fully aligned with the work of the Academy of Advanced Clinical Practitioners. You'll be taught by an expert multi-professional team, many of whom work in clinical practice as advanced practitioners alongside their academic commitments.

You'll have access to our first-class facilities at Glenside Campus, which include a sensory room, simulation suites, a replica ward and consultation rooms, all equipped with up-to-the-minute technology. Glenside is also home to one of UK's best health and social care libraries, providing all the resources you need.

Benefits to your employer

This apprenticeship has been designed in partnership with employers to prepare you to work at the top of your registration. You'll apply your learning directly to your practice, ensuring you're equipped with the latest theory and methodology from the start.

Advanced practice training allows you to address medical staffing issues through delivering high quality, safe patient care. You'll build the confidence and skills needed to carry out a range of interventions with a high level of autonomy and drive service improvements through reflective practice.

Careers

On successful completion of this Level 7 apprenticeship, you'll achieve a Master's degree in Advanced Clinical Practice. So our apprenticeship will enable you to build the Master's-level expertise required to become an Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

In addition to supporting your development in the workplace, this apprenticeship will help you understand the career landscape in your sector and plan for your longer-term ambitions. Our award-winning Careers Service is on hand to give you independent advice and guidance at any point in your studies.

Course details

Content

Co-created with employers, this three-year apprenticeship consists of 20-credit modules, each lasting 200 hours. Apprentices will study for 60 credits each year, as well as attending specially created action learning sets. These sets will allow you to actively explore important issues such as professional identity, resilience and the art of negotiation in a busy clinical situation. 

Year one

You'll study

  • Leadership, Complexity and Change in Healthcare: Theory, Practice and Development or 
  • Leadership and Innovation.

Plus, one or two optional modules:

  • Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
  • Advancing Practice in Clinical Examination and Diagnostic Reasoning for Urgent, Emergency and Primary Care Practitioners
  • Examination of the Newborn
  • Pathophysiology and Diagnostic Reasoning in Clinical Practice
  • Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning for Practice
  • Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning of the Presenting Child.

Year two

You'll study

  • Health and Social Care Research for Advanced Clinical Practitioner. 

Plus one or two optional modules

  • Evidencing Work based Learning
  • Independent and/or Supplementary Prescribing
  • Rehabilitation.

Year three

You'll study

  • Evidencing Work Based Learning for Advanced Clinical Practitioner
  • Advanced Clinical Practitioner Synoptic Module (incorporating apprenticeship end point assessment). 

Please note these modules are indicative and can vary. 

Read more about the approved apprenticeship standard on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website.

Learning and Teaching

Contact time is split between face-to-face teaching and work-based learning opportunities. Your on-site teaching will incorporate lectures, simulations, action-learning sets, group work and self-directed learning.

See our glossary of teaching and learning terms.

 

Assessment

Throughout your apprenticeship, you'll be assessed through coursework, examinations, presentations, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and a portfolio of work.

Learn more about our assessments. 

Features

Professional accreditation

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, you'll gain a Master's in Advanced Clinical Practice. 

This apprenticeship is accredited by the Centre for Advancing Practice. 

Health Education England's (HEE's) Centre for Advancing Practice has been established to standardise post-registration education. This is achieved by accrediting advanced practice courses that achieve the standards outlined in the multi-professional Advanced Practice Framework. 

Practitioners who have completed accredited education courses will be eligible to be listed on the Centre's Advanced Practice Directory. 

Course accreditation from the Centre for Advancing Practice will bring a new level of consistency to the workforce and help showcase advanced practice within health and social care.

Study facilities

Throughout your apprenticeship, you'll have access to student support and the latest healthcare facilities at Glenside Campus. These include a sensory room, simulation suites, a replica ward and consultation rooms, and one of the UK's best health and social care libraries.

You'll also have 24/7 access to IT support, whether you're on campus or at your workplace. If local to UWE Bristol, you'll have the opportunity to use our state-of-the-art facilities for practical skill building.

Life

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Sustainability

It is embedded in our culture, teaching and research.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Entry

Typical offers

Entry requirements

An apprentice must be employed in a role that is relevant to the skill, trade or occupation they are being trained for. As part of their commitment to the apprenticeship, apprentices must complete at least six hours per week of off-the-job learning activity within their normal contracted working hours, which is supported by their employer.

You will have a first degree from a recognised institution of higher education or its equivalent in a relevant subject area.

You must hold current registration with one of the statutory regulators of health and care professions i.e. NMC and/or HCPC/GPC.

Grade C/4 or above in GCSE English and Mathematics or Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Mathematics or equivalent. 

Independent Prescribers Module

If you're eligible to take the Independent Prescribers Module, please be aware that there's an additional application process for you to take before you can start the module. Criteria vary depending on your professional body requirements and are subject to change. Your employer will also be required to engage with this additional application process.

ESFA eligibility requirements

To study an apprenticeship, you need to:

  • be aged 16 years or over
  • be an EEA citizen (with Right to Work in the UK) and not be in any other kind of full-time education (including being enrolled on any other apprenticeship programme)
  • be employed (for at least the full planned duration of your apprenticeship) in a role that is linked to the appropriate industry for the apprenticeship training
  • receive at least legal minimum wage for apprentices (wages vary depending on experience, employer and level or type of apprenticeship)
  • commit to at least 6 hours per week of apprenticeship training during your normal working hours
  • have support from your employer, including a mentor/line manager. Your employer is also responsible for funding your apprenticeship.

More information about eligibility for apprenticeship funding is available on the GOV.UK website.

Accredited Learning and Accredited Experiential Learning

You may be able to gain accreditation for prior learning from another institution (Accredited Learning) or you may be able to get credit for learning achieved through experience that may not be formally accredited (Accredited Experiential Learning). For more information please see our Accredited Learning (AL) page.

How to apply

Employed

If you’re interested in applying and have the support from your employer, speak to your line manager and/or HR team in the first instance for approval. Your employer will contact us so we can send you an application link.

Unemployed

If you’re not employed, you can use the following tools to find an apprenticeship vacancy with an employer:

For more guidance on higher and degree apprenticeship applications.

For further information

For course-specific enquiries, please contact the Programme Leader.

For Entry Requirement enquiries, please contact Admissions@uwe.ac.uk.

For all other enquiries, please email our Apprenticeship Hub apprenticeships@uwe.ac.uk or call +44 (0)117 32 84888.

For further information about Higher and Degree Apprenticeships.