Routes to Registration

The Scientific training program provided by the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) is the current training scheme for Embryologists and Andrologists in the United Kingdom.

This program aims to standardise the training of Clinical Scientists and Biomedical Scientists in all disciplines in the UK and, allows a direct and clear comparison with clear equivalence between the training and qualifications of scientists in the health service and medical doctors.

Overview of the routes

This aims to provide an overview of the different routes to registration for employees in HFEA licensed assisted conception centres and diagnostic andrology laboratories who have staff training towards becoming a Clinical Scientist or Healthcare Science Practitioner.

As per the HFEA Code of Practice all Clinical Scientists working in licensed clinics should be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) or working towards registration. Staff should be registered within one year of becoming eligible, including those eligible as international applicants after training overseas. Once successfully completed all of these routes allow registration with the HCPC to obtain Clinical Scientist status.

There are currently five routes to registration for those working at the level of Clinical Scientist:

One route directly via the Health & Care Professions Council HCPC) as an international candidate who has had all of the appropriate education and training overseas.
One route via the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS)
One route via the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS)
& 5. Two routes via the Association of Clinical Scientists (ACS)

There are currently two routes to registration for those working at the level of Healthcare Science Practitioner:

AHCS Certificate of Equivalence Practitioner Training Programme
Institute of Biomedical Scientists Certificate of Competence by Equivalence

Routes to Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)

NSHCS Certificate of Completion of the Scientist Training Programme (CCSTP).

AHCS Certificate of Equivalence Scientist Training Programme.

Registration with the HCPC can be obtained via an equivalence assessment process undertaken by the AHCS and ARCS has nominated AHCS assessors for this purpose.

Applicants do not need to possess a master degree but they will need to demonstrate that their knowledge, skills, behaviours and experience are equivalent to those achieved on the Scientist Training Programme. Applicants should familiarise themselves with the contents of documentation relating to standards of Good Scientific Practice, and the specialist curriculum of the Scientist Training Programme. Evidence is provided via a portfolio submitted on the AHCS online portal.

Applicants must demonstrate they meet the all the STP learning outcomes including those of the rotations. If rotations are not completed the applicant must show evidence of self-directed learning.

The AHCS do not prescribe a specific length of training to confer equivalence, although applicants should note that graduates from the STP programme will complete three years of Masters level (EQF level 7) education including a minimum of 90 weeks integrated workplace training, and it is unlikely that periods of experience substantially less than this will be deemed adequate.

Applications for the Certificate of Equivalence are considered in three stages, the preliminary (screening) application, preparing the portfolio and the assessment stage. In the preliminary stage, the applicant’s basic qualifications and experience are reviewed through a 1000 word summary of experience and professional references. Once applicants have been approved for portfolio submission, a portfolio must be submitted within six months of the approval date, except in exceptional and pre-arranged circumstances. All portfolios are made against outcomes set out in Good Scientific Practice. The portfolio should not be mapped to the STP curricula but the STP curricula should inform you of what evidence should be supplied, as assessors will be using the STP curricula to ensure learning outcomes are met.

If the portfolio is assessed as complete the candidate will be invited for a 30-60 minute interview which may be conducted face-to-face or using video conferencing. Applicants should expect to answer questions from any of the five GSP Domains, their own portfolio content and any other relevant specialist topics.

Further details and example portfolios can be found on the AHCS website. The AHCS is happy to receive emails from any applicant who needs help with any aspects of the application process.

ACS Certificate of Attainment

Routes to Registration as a Healthcare Science Practitioner or Biomedical Scientist

It is important to understand the meaning of a “Healthcare Science Practitioner.” This is a person who is registered with the Academy of Healthcare Science, either through completion of the accredited practitioner training degrees (PTP) or through equivalence assessment via the AHCS to the outcome of a PTP degree. Please note there is no such thing as a PTP training scheme for reproductive science.

The PTP is an undergraduate training scheme applied for via UCAS or can be completed as part of a level 6 healthcare science degree apprenticeship. It includes NHS work-based professional training placements and academic learning. Whilst on the programme students will complete an accredited BSc in Healthcare Science and will be eligible for statutory regulation with the Health and Care Professions Council as biomedical scientists. If PTP students specialise in cellular science they will have completed a module in reproductive science however will not have had any hands-on training in an IVF centre. Further information on apprenticeships is available on the UK Government website.

A healthcare science practitioner is different from being a “Practitioner in Reproductive Science”. These individuals are either trained or in training to carry out practical tasks in licensed centres, currently using “in house” training. In line with other Practitioners, these individuals cannot undertake clinical decision making. For example, a suitably trained Practitioner could undertake sperm preparation but could not decide whether ICSI or IVF was appropriate.

Experienced practitioners who have been trained in house should apply for registration by one of two possible routes:

AHCS Certificate of Equivalence Practitioner Training Programme

Registration with the Academy of Healthcare Science (AHCS) as a Healthcare Science Practitioner can be obtained through completion of the AHCS Certificate of Equivalence with the Practitioner Training Programme (PTP). The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has accredited the AHCS Register for Healthcare Science Practitioners who are not regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

By registering via this route it shows commitment to maintaining standards of education, competence and conduct providing assurance for employers, patients and the public. This process allows those in our existing workforce, trained “in house” who are working as a Reproductive Science Practitioners or a Technologist; to register.

The fee for the equivalence process is currently £50. The AHCS do not prescribe a specific length of training to confer equivalence, although applicants should note that graduates from the PTP programme will complete three years of Bachelors level education including integrated workplace training, and it is unlikely that periods of experience substantially less than this will be deemed adequate.

Applications for the Certificate of Equivalence are considered in three stages, the preliminary (screening) application, preparing the portfolio, submission online and assessment of the portfolio. In the preliminary stage, the applicant’s basic qualifications and experience is reviewed through a 1000 word summary of experience and professional references. Once applicants have been approved for portfolio submission, a portfolio must be submitted within six months of the approval date, except in exceptional circumstances.

Applicants should familiarise themselves with all documentation relating to standards of Good Scientific Practice, AHCS Standards of Proficiency (SoP) and the specialist curriculum of the Practitioner Training Programme.

Evidence will be provided via a portfolio submitted on the AHCS’ online portal. Portfolios are mapped against the requirements of the AHCS SoP. The portfolio should not be mapped to the PTP curricula but the PTP curricula should inform the evidence supplied, as assessors will be using the PTP curricula to ensure learning outcomes are met. It is therefore recommended that those applying, study the PTP curriculum and ensure their training and experiences cover the outcomes. The portfolio may contain evidence including but not limited to education and training or employment/experience.

The portfolio must begin with a summary of the applicant’s training and experience to date. This must be written in the style of a covering report, and must not exceed 5000 words. The report must clearly indicate how competence has been developed, and both the report and the accompanying supporting evidence must be cross-referenced to the AHCS SoP. Once completed the portfolio is submitted online, if accepted as complete the portfolio will then be assessed and applicants informed of the result via a letter.

Further details, such as an applicant’s guide to PTP equivalence which gives examples of acceptable portfolio evidence, the GSP portfolio mapping template and PTP equivalence handbook can be found on The Academy of Healthcare Science website.

Institute of Biomedical Scientists Certificate of Competence by Equivalence