Clinical engineer

You can do a degree to start training as a clinical engineer. Relevant subjects include:

• electrical or electronic engineering
• mechanical engineering
• biomedical science/engineering
• pure or applied physics
• applied maths

Your degree should be accredited by the Engineering Council.

After your degree, you can apply for the postgraduate NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP). During the 3-year programme, you'll be employed and study a postgraduate master's degree at university.

Competition for places on the STP is high, so it helps if you have relevant experience. Try and do some voluntary work in a hospital and get experience of patient contact.

You could also find employment in the private sector and work your way up to chartered engineer status.

Entry requirements

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

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You could get into this job through a healthcare science practitioner degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

If you do not have a degree, you could apply for the NHS Practitioner Training Programme.

During the 3-year programme, you'll be employed and study a degree in healthcare science at university.

You'll need 5 GCSE grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including English language, maths and a science subject and at least 2 A levels, including maths or a science to apply.

Registration

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

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a clinical engineer from Health Careers and Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

You'll need:

• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• maths knowledge
• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
• design skills and knowledge
• knowledge of biology
• knowledge of physics
• the ability to read English
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

In your day-to-day duties you may:

• test equipment, like walking aids, wheelchairs and speech synthesizers (known as assistive technologies)
• develop artificial limbs that attach to the patient's own tissue
• make artificial joints, heart valves and hearing implants from new materials
• design equipment that allows doctors to try new medical techniques, like optical instruments for keyhole surgery
• manage medical equipment, like scanners, imaging machines and monitoring systems
• carry out quality assurance checks to ensure all equipment is working correctly and safely
• work closely with other medical professionals and technical staff

You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in a laboratory, at a research facility or in a workshop.