1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Operating department practitioner

Operating department practitioner

Alternative titles for this job include

Operating department practitioners (ODPs) provide skilled care and support to patients at all stages of an operation.

Average salary (a year)

£25,654 Starter

to

£39,026 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become an operating department practitioner

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship

University

You'll need to study a two-year diploma of higher education or three-year degree in operating department practice approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You can top up your diploma to a degree after qualifying if you want.

You'll find it helpful to get some paid or voluntary experience in the health or care sector before you apply for a course.

You could contact the voluntary services co-ordinator at your local NHS trust for further advice.

During your studies, you may be eligible for financial support from the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

Apprenticeship

You can get into this role through an operating department practitioner degree apprenticeship.

This typically takes 4 years to complete and is a combination of learning in the workplace and academic study at an approved university.

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

More Information

Registration

Career tips

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

Further information

Health Careers has further details about this career and training options.

What it takes

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

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of medicine
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • knowledge of biology
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • active listening skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

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

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You'll support patients of all ages, in the anaesthetic, surgery and recovery phases of an operation.

You will:

  • help patients who are sometimes anxious or vulnerable, get ready for surgery
  • prepare the operating theatre
  • make sure drugs and specialist equipment are available
  • monitor theatre cleanliness
  • provide the surgical team with the items they need during an operation
  • monitor instruments and use medical equipment and devices
  • communicate on behalf of the surgical team with other hospital staff
  • support and monitor patients in the recovery unit as they come round from surgery
  • assess when they are ready to go on to a ward

Working environment

You could work in an NHS or private hospital.

Your working environment may be hot and physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you may be able to progress to team leader or senior ODP and manage an operating theatre unit.

You could also move into education, training and research.

Some ODPs take further training approved by the Royal College of Surgeons to work as surgical care practitioners. This would give you the skills to complete some surgical procedures, under the supervision of a consultant surgeon.

You could also train to work as an anaesthesia associate or advanced critical care practitioner.

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 an operating department practitioner 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

Access to Science

  • Provider: CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE
  • Start date: 04 September 2023
  • Location: Cambridge

Access to Science

  • Provider: EALING, HAMMERSMITH & WEST LONDON COLLEGE
  • Start date: 25 September 2023
  • Location: London
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.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

You can call 0800 100 900 or use webchat to speak to an adviser.

We're open:

  • 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday
  • 10am to 5pm Saturday and bank holidays

We're closed Sunday, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.