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Clinical engineer

Alternative titles for this job include Biomedical engineer, bio-engineer

Clinical engineers apply engineering principles to the research, design and development of healthcare products and equipment.

Average salary (a year)

£24,907 Starter

to

£44,503 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends on a rota

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a clinical engineer

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • a specialist training programme run by the NHS

University

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.

Areas of clinical engineering covered by the programme include:

  • rehabilitation engineering
  • clinical measurement
  • medical device development

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

There are also jobs in the private sector for clinical engineers, where you could work your way up to chartered engineer status.

You could take postgraduate qualifications in biomedical engineering to increase your job prospects, particularly for research and development roles.

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

Apprenticeship

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

Other Routes

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 an accredited degree in healthcare science (clinical engineering) at university.

You'll need:

  • 5 GCSE grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including English language, maths and a science subject
  • at least 2 A levels, including maths or a science

You can search for universities offering accredited degrees by using the NHS course finder.

More Information

Registration

Career tips

When applying for NHS training and apprenticeships, you'll be expected to have an understanding of how NHS values apply in your work.

Further information

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

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

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

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

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

Working environment

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

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience and further training, you could become a consultant, specialising in particular clinical areas, or move into people or project management, teaching or medical research.

There are opportunities in both the public and private sector.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a clinical engineer right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Are you interested in becoming a clinical engineer?

Search for training courses near you.

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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