Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship
The Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship develops highly skilled practitioners who demonstrate competence across the four pillars of advanced clinical practice - clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research.
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Important funding information
NHS England have confirmed mitigation funding for Level 7 Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeships from April 2026. The university is committed to the ongoing delivery of its ACP Degree Apprenticeship programme, and will continue to work closely with employers and NHSE regional leads to review our offer. Our December 2025 start date remains in effect for the incoming cohort to allow eligible apprentices of any age to access the apprenticeship in 2025.
Our non-apprenticeship MSc Advanced Clinical Practice programme and Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship programmes are not affected by this funding change.
Fact File
| Qualifications |
MSc Advanced Clinical Practice |
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| Duration |
Typically two and a half years |
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| Entry requirements |
At least a 2:2 honours degree in a related subject.
Experience within a specialised area of clinical practice, which would normally be achieved through at least three years post-registration clinical practice.
Hold current registration with one of the statutory regulators of health and care professions.
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| Other requirements |
Apprentices must be working in a job role that provides opportunities to learn the skills, knowledge and behaviours outlined in the Level 7 Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship Standard and have access to the agreed off-the-job training hours, during contracted working hours.
Please note the apprenticeship route is only available to UK/EU/EEA nationals or apprentices that have lived and have had a right to work in the UK for three years or more and work a minimum of 50% of their time in England.
English and maths eligibility requirements
English and maths eligibility requirements are assessed based on the apprentice's age at the start of their apprenticeship. Please note that English and maths eligibility requirements do not supersede programme entry requirements.
There is no mandatory requirement for apprentices age 19+ to complete Level 2 English and maths. However, apprentices or employers may opt-in for the apprentice to study towards an English and maths qualification where they don't already have an equivalent qualification, with funding available if they choose to do so.
Apprentices who do not provide a suitable Level 2 English certificate, and do not hold an appropriate English language equivalent qualification from this list, will also need to provide an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) result that is dated within the last two years. The minimum requirement for this programme is an overall score of 6.0, with no less than a 6.0 in each of the individual elements. The university’s policy around this can be found here.
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| Start date |
December 2025 |
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| Application deadline |
Mid-October 2025 |
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| Fees |
£12,000 |
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| Faculty |
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences |
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Overview
The Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship is designed with NHS Trusts, and private and charity sector healthcare employers to meet the advanced clinical skills requirements of healthcare services.
Advanced Clinical Practice apprentices will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours to demonstrate expertise within the scope of practice, combining expert clinical skills with research, education and clinical leadership. Apprentices will:
- develop their skills in history taking, physical examination and clinical decision-making
- develop their skills as an autonomous practitioner to lead, educate and develop the research skills synonymous with working as an advanced clinical practitioner
- benefit from being taught by expert bio-scientists, anatomists and clinicians
- study a multi-professional apprenticeship
Focusing on high-quality teaching with plenty of opportunities to develop clinical skills in a practical setting, our apprenticeship provides an educational structure that links to relevant competency frameworks and supports the NHS Career Framework.
Who is the Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship for?
This programme is designed for experienced clinicians working in a wide range of settings including:
- Healthcare services
- Community or integrated healthcare
- Residential and community care
Apprentices will be employed in a role that enables them to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of an Advanced Clinical Practitioner and will carry out their full range of duties concerning individuals' physical and mental healthcare. Apprentices will have experience within a specialised area of clinical practice, which would normally be achieved through at least three years post-registration clinical practice. They must also hold current registration with one of the statutory regulators of health and care professions.
To discuss your employees suitability for the programme please contact our employer engagement team.
Full course details
This master's-level apprenticeship is delivered via day release at our Nottingham Campus. Apprentices will undertake five modules (totalling 180 credits) including the end-point assessment (EPA). All apprentices must undertake an EPA which is a synoptic assessment of the knowledge, skills and behaviours that have been learnt throughout the apprenticeship. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure apprentices meet the standard set by employers and are occupationally competent. End-point-assessments are graded and an apprenticeship certificate and the master's award will only be awarded after the end-point assessment is completed.
Clinical Supervisor
Before the start of the programme, each apprentice must identify a workplace clinical supervisor. The clinical supervisor will provide clinical guidance and support to the apprentice, helping to identify learning opportunities in the clinical environment and assist with the development of their competency portfolio. A clinical supervisor must be a consultant level doctor in the apprentice's professional specialism. It may be possible to appoint a highly experienced, qualified advanced clinical practitioner as a clinical supervisor, however, this will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please speak to our employer engagement team about appointing a suitable clinical supervisor.
Multi-profession supervision for clinical practice training programme
New for 2026, join our immersive, scenario-driven, face-to-face Multiprofessional Supervision for Clinical Practice two-day training programme designed for healthcare professionals stepping into supervisory roles for advanced and enhanced level practice.
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Modules
Foundations of Clinical Assessment and Research: History Taking, Anatomy, and Physiology for Advanced Practice.
This a non-credit bearing module that will enable apprentices to develop a foundation for further study.
History Taking, Physical Examination and Clinical Decision Making 1
This module considers:
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Normal anatomy and physiology: cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal and endocrine system
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Mental health assessment, identification and management
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Common diseases and their clinical presentations
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How to take and present a systematic clinical history
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How to conduct a comprehensive physical examination and present the findings
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The abnormal clinical signs following a comprehensive clinical assessment
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Epidemiological, demographic, social and political influences on health
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Health promotion, behavioural change and wellbeing
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Cognitive bias
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Scope of practice
History Taking, Physical Examination and Clinical Decision Making 2
This module considers:
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Normal anatomy and physiology: musculoskeletal and nervous systems.
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Common diseases and their clinical presentations.
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How to develop systematic clinical history taking.
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How to conduct a comprehensive physical examination and present the findings.
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The abnormal clinical signs following a comprehensive clinical assessment.
This module enables apprentices to study one of the following options, dependent on their profession:
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Independent and supplementary prescribing
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Supplementary prescribing
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Preparing to prescribe for non-prescribing professionals
Topics covered include:
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law, accountability and ethics of prescribing
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prescribing in a public health context
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psychology of, and influences on prescribing
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prescribing in a team context
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consultation, decision making and therapy including referral
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pharmacology and therapeutics
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organisational leadership concerning prescribing
Read more about our non-medical prescribing modules.
Advanced Clinical Practice Portfolio Project
This module runs throughout the second year of the apprenticeship.
Apprentices are expected to engage in critical thinking and reflection to enable the integration of theory and practice to support competent, safe, high-quality healthcare delivery at an advanced level. They will critically evaluate current evidence to demonstrate advancement in clinical skills and knowledge including:
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data collection
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assessment and therapeutic modalities
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leadership and collaborative practice
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improving quality and developing healthcare practice for the self and others
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gaining experience in integration of theory, research and clinical knowledge related to the goals of interdisciplinary health services and systems
Transition to Advanced Clinical Practice (Integrated End Point Assessment)
This module concerns the integrated End Point Assessment (EPA) which is the final assessment in the apprenticeship.
The EPA aims to support your transition into advanced clinical practice. It recognises that there are regional, national and international variations in how advanced practitioner roles are articulated and enacted, as well as variations across the different healthcare professions. Associated with these variants are also differing levels of professional autonomy.
The module will enable you to identify what advanced practice means within the context of your professional practice role, and how your advanced clinical practitioner role can improve the health outcomes of your specified client group.
Why choose the University of Nottingham?
The University of Nottingham is a pioneering university providing an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience for its 45,000 students.
Built on the ethos that education can unlock potential and transform lives, our graduates are among the most sought-after in the UK, consistently targeted by leading graduate employers.
Working together, we equip your apprentices with the core knowledge, skills and behaviours your industry needs to compete and succeed at the highest level.
Apprentices will be taught by experts in their field who are passionate about advanced practice. Apprentices will be supported throughout the programme to aid their professional development into clinically competent practitioners
Benefits of our Degree Apprenticeships
Supporting your strategic priorities
We work with local, regional and national businesses to understand strategic priorities and challenges. We develop specialist programmes that cost-effectively address industry skills gaps.
Increase productivity
Develop knowledge, skills and professional behaviours in your workplace with programmes that are backed by world-leading research. We are ranked 7th in the UK for research power, showing the strength and power of our research.*
*Research Excellence Framework 2021
Attracting and retaining talent
As one of the world's top 100 universities (QS), and part of the Russell Group, we support you to attract, develop and retain exceptional talent, whether new recruits or your existing workforce. Our apprenticeships offer exceptional early and mid-career employees the prospect of a world-class degree without the debt.
Careers and professional development
Invaluable to career progression this degree apprenticeship will enable apprentices to demonstrate expertise within the scope of practice, combining expert clinical skills with research, education and clinical leadership. Successful completion of the degree apprenticeship programme will enable apprentices to demonstrate their skills as autonomous practitioners to lead, educate and develop the research skills synonymous with working as an advanced clinical practitioner.
Build networks
Allow apprentices to develop their networks by studying alongside apprentices from other leading UK businesses, and by joining the University of Nottingham alumni network.
We have over 270,000 alumni in 190 countries, many of whom hold positions of influence all over the world. Our staff and students benefit from continuous investment in a world-class environment, which includes award-winning campuses and unrivalled facilities in both the UK and Asia.