STEM

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

College

You could take a college course, which may help when looking for work or an apprenticeship.

Courses include:

• applied science
• biology, chemistry, maths or physics
• T Level in Healthcare Science

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
• guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
• search for courses|/find-a-course

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do a Healthcare Science Assistant Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

You can also do a Healthcare Science Associate Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship, if you have A levels or equivalent qualifications.

These can take between 1 and 2 years to complete and combine on-the-job training with classroom learning.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Volunteering and work experience

You may have an advantage when applying for jobs or an apprenticeship if you have volunteering experience in health or social care.

You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT.

Direct application

You can apply directly for jobs. You'll usually need:

• good literacy, numeracy and IT skills
• an understanding of medical terminology
• some experience of working in a healthcare or lab setting

More information

Further information

You can find out more about working as a healthcare science assistant from Health Careers.

View all vacancies in this region

With experience and further training, you could apply for a post as a senior healthcare science assistant or healthcare science associate.

You could join the NHS Practitioner Training Programme to train as a clinical scientist or biomedical scientist.

You might also work incardiology – checking for heart abnormalities; phlebotomy – analysing blood samples; cytology – screening for diseases like cancer