C&P [2024] - 5.2

Pathways into the Allied Health Profession

University

Apprenticeships

Degrees and postgraduate courses for those who have already been to university, which have been approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or the General Osteopathic Council (GOC), are available. These university degrees last between two and five years, depending on the profession and course that you choose. You will gain practical experience in community settings as a part of your degree. You can find out how all the different courses vary through exploring university websites and prospectuses, using UCAS, as well as speaking to university staff.

It's also possible to do a degree apprenticeship to train for some roles. This is a higher-level apprenticeship, that allows you to study whilst you work before receiving a degree-level qualification. Typically, you’d spend 80% of your time in a clinical setting, with the remainder in a classroom environment, and you would receive a salary. A degree apprenticeship might be offered by an employer or university; they will usually expect you to attend an interview. As mentioned, not all roles currently offer this as a pathway, so it’s important to keep an eye out if this is something that you would prefer to do.