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Clinical scientist

Alternative titles for this job include Healthcare scientist

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

Average salary (a year)

£30,401 Starter

to

£50,819 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends on a rota

How to become a clinical scientist

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You'll need a first or upper second class honours degree in a subject related to the specialist area you want to work in. For example:

  • life sciences like biology, genetics or biochemistry
  • biomedical science
  • medical physics

Once you have your degree, you can apply for the NHS Scientist Training Programme, which will qualify you to work as a clinical scientist.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including 2 sciences
  • 2 or 3 A levels, including maths and physics

More information

Apprenticeship

You can 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 college qualifications like A levels for a degree apprenticeship

More information

Work

You could apply to join the NHS Practitioner Training Programme without a degree.

You would study for a degree in healthcare science, which includes work-based training. You would usually need:

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

More information

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a clinical scientist from Health Careers.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of biology
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to read English
  • analytical thinking skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • complex problem-solving skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your duties will depend on your specific role, but may involve:

  • interpreting test results and suggesting treatments to doctors
  • researching, developing and testing new methods of diagnosis and treatment
  • giving doctors advice on buying and using commercial products and equipment
  • working directly with patients in audiology or cardiac physiology
  • investigating organ abnormalities and finding ways of improving a patient's wellbeing
  • in embryology - researching infertility, including IVF treatment, egg retrieval and assisted reproduction
  • in pathology - investigating the cause and progression of illness, or reason for death
  • in genetics - studying cells to check for inherited diseases
  • in haematology - analysing, diagnosing and monitoring blood-based disorders

Working environment

You could work in an NHS or private hospital or in a laboratory.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could move into management or teaching.

You could also go on to study for a PhD or apply for the NHS Higher Specialist Scientific Training Programme (HSST).

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a clinical scientist 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 scientist?

Search for training courses near you.

JobsIn the United Kingdom

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