Clinical scientist

Also called Healthcare scientist.

Clinical scientists research and develop techniques and equipment to help prevent, diagnose and treat illness.

Potential salary: £49,000 starter to £65,000 experienced per year
Typical hours: 38 to 40. Working pattern: evenings / weekends on a rota.
Career area: Science and laboratory work
Where they might work: You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in a laboratory or at a university. You may need to wear protective clothing.
A typical task: analyse data from genetic material to trace how diseases develop
Subjects that may help: 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including a science, for a degree
Typical route: You can do a degree to start your training as a clinical scientist.
Interest area used here: Asking questions and research

Career actions

What you might do

analyse data from genetic material to trace how diseases develop
research and test methods to improve diagnoses and treatments
assess abnormalities in different parts of the body
study cells or diagnose and analyse blood disorders
investigate the causes of illness or death
instruct medical staff on how to use instruments and equipment

Could this suit me?

Consider which of these skills and ways of working appeal to you.

knowledge of biology
thinking and reasoning skills
excellent verbal communication skills
the ability to use your initiative
science skills
to be thorough and pay attention to detail

More skills

complex problem-solving skills
maths knowledge
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Routes into this career

University route

You can do a degree to start your training as a clinical scientist.
Subjects include: life sciences; biology or biochemistry; genetics; biomedical science; medical physics.
After completing your degree, you can apply for the NHS Scientific Training Programme (STP). During the 3-year programme, you'll combine employment in the NHS with study for a postgraduate master's degree.

University courses that could lead to this career

These are course families, not published offers. A link does not mean the degree is sufficient on its own.

Biochemistry
Common route. A possible first degree before scientist training. The training programme is separate.
Biomedical Engineering
Alternative route. Clinical science is a further training route. The undergraduate degree is only a start.
Biomedical science
Common route. A bioscience degree can be the start. NHS scientist training is a later, competitive postgraduate route.
Genetics
Alternative route. Relevant to some scientist training posts. The training programme is separate and competitive.

Explore university routes

Apprenticeship or vocational route

You could apply for a place on a higher or degree apprenticeship, such as: Healthcare Science Associate Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship; Healthcare Practitioner Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship; Clinical Science Level 7 Postgraduate Apprenticeship.
When you finish your apprenticeship, you can apply to join one of the NHS training programmes and continue your training to become a clinical scientist.
a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

Other routes

If you do not have a degree, you could apply to join the NHS Practitioner Training Programme (PTP).
During the 3-year programme, you'll be employed in the NHS and study for an accredited university degree in healthcare science.
If you work as a healthcare science associate in the NHS, you may be able to apply for a place on the PTP.

Career progression

With experience you could: apply for the NHS Higher Specialist Scientist Training programme; become a consultant clinical scientist or move into healthcare management; work in research and study for a PhD; teach in higher education.

Registration and requirements

you'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council

Subjects that may help

Subject guidance

2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including a science, for a degree
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Explore the science

Lessons

Used in this kind of work
Gene Mutation
Specification 2.14.
The clinical scientist profile includes analysing genetic material to trace how diseases develop. This lesson is about a copied change that may alter a protein, cause a disorder, or do neither.
Background for this kind of work
How DNA Works
Specification 2.10.
Clinical scientists may analyse genetic material. Replication explains how a sequence is copied before it can be compared. The profile does not say they repeat Meselson and Stahl's experiment.
Background for this kind of work
The Genetic Code
Specification 2.11.
A triplet code is why a DNA change can matter for a protein. That supports reading genetic data. It is not itself a diagnostic method.
Background for this kind of work
Patterns of Inheritance
Specification 2.15.
Inheritance patterns are one way to ask whether a genetic change is shared in a family. The profile's genetic analysis is broader than a monohybrid cross.

Practice

A further look
Recall: Gene expression and genetics
Specification 2.14, 2.15.
The genetics deck rehearses mutation and inheritance language. It can sit behind genetic data analysis. A correct recall card is not a clinical result.

Beyond the Classroom

Used in this kind of work
Gene Mutation, Beyond the Classroom section
Specification 2.14.
The enrichment asks how a mutation found in a tumour differs from one that could be inherited. That is the distinction a clinical scientist's genetic analysis has to keep open.
Try this: Why does finding a mutation in tumour cells not prove that it was inherited?
A further look
Beyond the classroom: Unit 1 Biology
Specification 2.9, 2.14.
Unit 1 enrichment applies DNA ideas outside the required recall. Clinical scientists analyse genetic material. An enrichment article is not their method.
Try this: Which part of a DNA result is a measurement, and which part is an interpretation of what that measurement means?