Medical physicist
Also called Clinical scientist, healthcare scientist.
Medical physicists design, develop and test the scanning and imaging equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
- Potential salary
- £40,000 starter to £65,000 experienced per year
- Typical hours
- 37 to 42. Working pattern: evenings / weekends / bank holidays on a rota.
- Career area
- Science and laboratory work
- Where they might work
- You could work in an NHS or private hospital or in a laboratory. You may need to wear protective clothing.
- A typical task
- design and develop systems to diagnose and treat health conditions
- Subjects that may help
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- Typical route
- To become a medical physicist, you'll need a degree that includes a high level of physics, for example:
- Interest area used here
- Health and laboratory science, Asking questions and research
What you might do
- design and develop systems to diagnose and treat health conditions
- monitor equipment to make sure it’s accurate, safe and well-maintained
- plan treatment programmes and explain procedures to patients
- carry out procedures and analyse test results
- do research using computer simulations and mathematical modelling
- write reports and present to scientific and non scientific audiences
More tasks (1)
- train hospital staff in the safe use of equipment
Could this suit me?
Consider which of these skills and ways of working appeal to you.
- science skills
- knowledge of medicine
- analytical thinking skills
- maths knowledge
- complex problem-solving skills
- the ability to work well with others
More skills
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- excellent written communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Routes into this career
University route
- To become a medical physicist, you'll need a degree that includes a high level of physics, for example:
- applied physics
- physics and mathematics
- astrophysics
- physics with nuclear technology
- You would then move on to the the 3-year NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) .
- You'll need a first or upper second class honours degree to apply for the STP, or a postgraduate master's qualification in a relevant subject like theoretical physics.
- You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and physics
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
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.
- Physics
Common route. A physics degree is the usual first step. NHS clinical science training comes afterwards.
Apprenticeship or vocational route
- You can train for this job by applying for a place on a Healthcare Science Practitioner Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
- This combines work-based learning with study at university.
- The first 2 years cover broad based science. In your third year you can specialise in medical physics.
- To do this apprenticeship, you'll need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
- equivalent entry requirements
- guide to apprenticeships
Career progression
- With experience, you could:
- become a principal medical physicist
- manage a hospital department
- work in higher education and research
- move into the medical equipment manufacturing industry
Subjects that may help
Subject guidance
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and physics
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship