Clinical engineer
Engineering and Maintenance

Related videos on a clinical engineer

How to become a clinical engineer

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• go on a specialist training programme run by the NHS

University

You can do a degree to start training as a clinical engineer. Relevant subjects include:

• electrical or electronic engineering
• mechanical engineering
• biomedical science/engineering
• pure or applied physics
• applied maths

Your degree should be accredited by the Engineering Council.

After your degree, you can apply for the postgraduate NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP). During the 3-year programme, you'll be employed and study a postgraduate master's degree at university.

Competition for places on the STP is high, so it helps if you have relevant experience. Try and do some voluntary work in a hospital and get experience of patient contact.

You could also find employment in the private sector and work your way up to chartered engineer status.

University (Entry requirements)

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and physics

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through a healthcare science practitioner degree apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship (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

Other routes

If you do not have a degree, you could apply for the NHS Practitioner Training Programme. During the 3-year programme, you'll be employed and study a degree in healthcare science at university. You'll need 5 GCSE grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including English language, maths and a science subject and at least 2 A levels, including maths or a science to apply.

More info

Registration

• you'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a clinical engineer from Health Careers and Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

What it takes

Skills & Knowledge

You'll need:

• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• maths knowledge
• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
• design skills and knowledge
• knowledge of biology
• knowledge of physics
• the ability to read English
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you'll do

Day to day

Your day-to-day duties may include:

• testing equipment, like walking aids, wheelchairs and speech synthesizers (known as assistive technologies)
• developing artificial limbs that attach to the patient's own tissue
• making artificial joints, heart valves and hearing implants from new materials
• designing equipment that allows doctors to try new medical techniques, like optical instruments for keyhole surgery
• management of medical equipment, like scanners, imaging machines and monitoring systems
• carrying out quality assurance checks to ensure all equipment is working correctly and safely
• working closely with other medical professionals and technical staff

Working environment

You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in a laboratory, at a research facility or in a workshop.

Career path and progression

Career path & progression

With experience and further training, you could become a consultant, specialising in particular clinical areas, or move into management, teaching or medical research.