Becoming Clinical Scientist without STP

Hi,

I currently have a BSc degree in biomedical science with 2.1. I am working as a medical laboratory assistant in a hospital.

I am wanting to become a clinical scientist in immunology. For which I'm aware I need to apply for STP to get my training and masters done.

However, I found out that some universities offer MSc Immunology courses. So my question is, if I complete a masters in immunology, do I still have to apply to STP to become a clinical scientist?

Or can I land a clinical scientist role with the immunology masters alone?

Reply 1

AT79

Hey Rafsa,

I've just completed the PTP in Cardiac Physiology, but I also have a HND in Biomed so I've worked as an MLA/AP in a Haematology lab.

Whilst working in cardiology I've worked with a few STP students. As far as I know the course has 2 parts:
1) Academic work/assignments/exams which is completed and submitted to the university for marking.
2) A portfolio of competencies that is completed at work and is signed off by your training officer before submission.

If you enroll onto a standard MSc then I assume you wouldn't complete the portfolio section so it wouldn't be the same as the STP. However I have colleagues that are going through the ACHS equivalence process. This enables you to get credit for work that you do within your job so that you can become a clinical scientist. This link may help

Equivalence - The Academy For Healthcare Science (ahcs.ac.uk)

Reply 2

Rafsa01

OP

1

Original post by AT79

Hey Rafsa,

I've just completed the PTP in Cardiac Physiology, but I also have a HND in Biomed so I've worked as an MLA/AP in a Haematology lab.

Whilst working in cardiology I've worked with a few STP students. As far as I know the course has 2 parts:
1) Academic work/assignments/exams which is completed and submitted to the university for marking.
2) A portfolio of competencies that is completed at work and is signed off by your training officer before submission.

If you enroll onto a standard MSc then I assume you wouldn't complete the portfolio section so it wouldn't be the same as the STP. However I have colleagues that are going through the ACHS equivalence process. This enables you to get credit for work that you do within your job so that you can become a clinical scientist. This link may help

Equivalence - The Academy For Healthcare Science (ahcs.ac.uk)

Thank you so much for replying. I did not know about the ACHS equivalence so thank you very much for letting me know about this route.

I am worried as STP is very competitive and I am scared I might not make through it, hence leaving me to do standard MSc with no garunteed jobs role. Do you know how easily available it is to get ACHS equivalence? Or do I have to anything specific in order to get into it, (career or education wise)?

May I also know more about PTP in cardiac Physiology and how you managed to get into it and how you're finding it at the moment?

Reply 3

AT79

Original post by Rafsa01

Thank you so much for replying. I did not know about the ACHS equivalence so thank you very much for letting me know about this route.

I am worried as STP is very competitive and I am scared I might not make through it, hence leaving me to do standard MSc with no garunteed jobs role. Do you know how easily available it is to get ACHS equivalence? Or do I have to anything specific in order to get into it, (career or education wise)?

May I also know more about PTP in cardiac Physiology and how you managed to get into it and how you're finding it at the moment?

To be honest I don't know too much about the equilavence but I think its pretty tough to get, but the requirements change depending on experience etc. For example I have a colleague who is doing some research with a consultant as she needs to get her name on a paper because she hasn't got an MSc so hasn't done the research that would be expected if you did an MSc project. She has however got post graduate qualifications, CPD and does a lot of teaching to junior staff including doctors.

I would imagine that if you want to work in Immunology you would need to complete the generic and specialist IBMS portfolios as well as the MSc before you could get equilvalence. If you can't get onto the STP, are there any trainee BMS posts you could apply for?

I got into Cardiac physiology as I worked as an ECG technician (cardiographer - its our version of an MLA) performing ECGs and fitting ambulatory monitors (Holters and 24hr BP monitors). I worked through the SCST exams while learnt more about cardiology and gained experience. An opportunity to do a BSc apprenticeship came up so I took it.

I really enjoy the physiologist role. Its varied and its challenging. I thought working in the labs was good as there was no patient contact, but now I'd hate to go back to having no contact with them...regardless of how frustrating they can be at times!!!

Reply 4

HealthcareSci

10

To get a job as a clinical scientist you need to be registered with the HCPC as a clinical scientist (or get a trainee role that supports that). For that you need either:

A certificate of attainment from the IBMS or ACS, a certificate of equivalence from the AHCS or a certificate of completion of the STP from the NSHCS. (https://www.hcpc-uk.org/education/approved-programmes/approved-programmes-results/?Professions=270450003&ProviderQueryString=&IntakeModes=Open)

A masters would help, but all of them require at least three years of working in your clinical specialism. The STP is by far the most common route, but not the only one. There are lots of clinical scientists out there without a masters at all (as well as lots with PhDs). The important thing is the work experience at an appropriate level - an MLA post is very unlikely to get you exposure to the right technical or clinical workload that's required.

If you're currently an MLA then go and speak to clinical scientists in immunology in your Trust. They are the best people to speak to.

Becoming Clinical Scientist without STP

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