Become an NHS scientist
Healthcare science professionals are a vital part of the NHS workforce in Wales.
They support patient care through scientific and technical expertise and are involved in over 80% of all the clinical decisions.
NHS Wales Career Pathways
The career pathways were created with healthcare science professionals in Wales, using guidance from professional bodies and NHS models. They show the different routes you can take in a healthcare science professional career.
Clinical Photography and Reconstructive Science
Clinical Computational Sciences
Diagnostic Radiography and Therapeutic Radiography
Operating Department Practitioner
When starting your healthcare scientist journey it helps to have healthcare related work experience. There is advice and suggestions about how to go about this on our work experience pages.
Routes into the profession
Typically, there are 3 routes into the healthcare science profession, dependent on the specialty area you choose:
1. Apply for assistant and associate roles
Entry requirements: GSCEs in English, Science and Maths, or equivalent.
Salary: Band 2, 3 or 4.
How to apply: Visit the NHS jobs website and search for 'Assistant' or 'Associate'.
Due to the differences with England, you will need to search in the Allied Health Professions section for radiography or Operating Department Practitioners (ODP) assistants and support workers.
Training is provided and funded when you are in the role.
You do not usually need previous experience in the NHS to apply.
2. Complete a degree that is a graduate training programme
If you have completed a degree that is an accredited NHS training programme, you are eligible to apply for roles in NHS Wales when you graduate. These will typically be a pay grade band 5 or 6 and can be found on the NHS jobs website under either health science services or the allied health professions section.
You may be able to apply for a bursary to study if you intend to work in NHS Wales after graduation.
3. Complete a postgraduate training programme
These are for people that have already completed a relevant degree, postgraduate degree, or doctorate but not a training programme.
The scientist training programme offers programmes for many of the healthcare science professions.
You may also take this route if you are moving to the NHS from another career, or moving into healthcare science from another part of the NHS.
Our Career Framework and funding page will give you further information.
Applicants from the rest of the UK
All healthcare science professionals in the UK follow the same entry routes into the profession and the same curricula of training. Only the funding and types of education differ.
When applying for healthcare science roles in NHS Wales, you are encouraged to contact the employer for a conversation prior to applying. You may also be invited to visit and talk to other members of the team.
You should also make sure that it is clear on your application how you meet all parts of the person specification, as shortlisting is based on scoring against some or all of these points.
Learn some of the wonderful reasons and bust the myths about working in NHS Wales.
International applicants
When applying for roles in NHS Wales, you will need to have secured a visa before applying for some roles. However, some health boards will encourage you to apply and are able to support with your sponsorship if you are successful for the role.
You are advised to contact the healthcare science service manager of the role that you are interested in, or the service local to where you are living or seeking to live in Wales.
Some roles require that you are registered before you apply for the role.
Applicants that have not worked recently and are no longer registered
HEIW supports potential employers with funding to offer you the experience needed to regain your registration.
Please contact the service local to where you are living or seeking to live in Wales.
Contact Us
Get in touch with the Healthcare Science Cymru team via HEIW.HCS@wales.nhs.uk