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Healthcare science assistant

Alternative titles for this job include Assistant technical officer

Healthcare science assistants support medical staff, with duties ranging from lab testing blood samples to monitoring patients’ heart function.

Average salary (a year)

£24,000 Starter

to

£30,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 40

You could work

evenings / weekends on a rota

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

College

You could take a college course, which may help when looking for work or an apprenticeship.

Courses include:

  • applied science
  • biology, chemistry, maths or physics
  • T Level in Healthcare Science

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

More Information

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Healthcare Science Assistant Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Healthcare Science Associate Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Volunteering

You may have an advantage when applying for jobs or an apprenticeship if you have volunteering experience in health or social care.

You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT.

Direct Application

You can apply directly for jobs. You'll usually need:

  • good literacy, numeracy and IT skills
  • an understanding of medical terminology
  • some experience of working in a healthcare or lab setting

More Information

Registration

  • you could register with the Academy for Healthcare Science to demonstrate your professional skills and competence

Further information

You can find out more about working as a healthcare science assistant from Health Careers.

What it takes

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

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • science skills
  • analytical thinking skills
  • maths knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • administration 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

As a healthcare science assistant, you could:

  • take readings from monitoring and diagnostic equipment
  • label, sort and store patient specimens
  • analyse tissue and fluid samples
  • prepare specimens for further testing
  • sterilise equipment and dispose of hazardous waste
  • enter patient data and test results onto a database
  • work closely with other healthcare professionals

Working environment

You could work in an office, in a laboratory or at a GP practice.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience and further training, you could apply for a post as a senior healthcare science assistant or healthcare science associate.

You could join the NHS Practitioner Training Programme to train as a clinical scientist or biomedical scientist.

You might also work in

  • cardiology – checking for heart abnormalities
  • phlebotomy – analysing blood samples
  • cytology – screening for diseases like cancer

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 healthcare science assistant 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

Healthcare Science Practitioner - Level 6

  • Provider: UNIVERSITY OF LANCASHIRE
  • Start date: 15 September 2026
  • Location: Preston

T Level Health and Science - Healthcare Science

  • Provider: ROOKS HEATH SCHOOL
  • Start date: 02 September 2026
  • Location: Harrow
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

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