Healthcare science assistant
Healthcare science assistants support medical staff, with duties ranging from lab testing blood samples to monitoring patients’ heart function.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a healthcare science assistant, you could:
- take readings from monitoring and diagnostic equipment
- label, sort and store patient specimens
- analyse tissue and fluid samples
- prepare specimens for further testing
- sterilise equipment and dispose of hazardous waste
- enter patient data and test results onto a database
- work closely with other healthcare professionals
Working environment
You could work in an office, in a laboratory or at a GP practice.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression
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 in
- cardiology – checking for heart abnormalities
- phlebotomy – analysing blood samples
- cytology – screening for diseases like cancer
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- science skills
- analytical thinking skills
- maths knowledge
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- to be flexible and open to change
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to work well with others
- administration skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
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
More Information
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
More Information
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.
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
Registration
- you could register with the Academy for Healthcare Science to demonstrate your professional skills and competence
Further information
You can find out more about working as a healthcare science assistant from Health Careers.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.