Apprenticeships at Royal Cornwall Hospitals
This page was last updated: October 31st, 2022
- work alongside experienced staff
- learn job-specific skills
- learn on the job and in classroom training
- get a wage and holiday pay
- get paid study time related to your role (equivalent to one day per week)
- finish with industry-recognised qualifications.
Apprenticeships are nationally recognised training programmes and open to people from the age of 16. There’s no upper age limit. They’re a fantastic way to set yourself up for the future.
What can I do an apprenticeship in?
At Royal Cornwall Hospitals, we offer apprenticeships in the following roles:
- Senior Healthcare Support Worker (Level 3)
- Healthcare Science Associate (Level 4)
- Diagnostic Radiographer (Level 6)
- Therapeutic Radiographer (Level 6)
- Dietician (Level 6)
- Occupational Therapist (Level 6)
- Operating Department Practitioner (Level 6)
- Physiotherapist (Level 6)
- Podiatrist (Level 6)
- Speech and Language Therapist (Level 6)
- Mammography Associate (Level 4)
- Assistant Practitioner (Level 5)
- Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Level 7)
How does an apprenticeship work?
Most of the training is on-the-job, working with a mentor to learn job specific skills in the workplace. You’ll also learn with a training organisation – a college, training provider or university. Around 6 hours per week is off the job training.
Your training will depend on your role, but it may be delivered in the workplace, through ‘day release’ or away from the working environment.
When you finish your apprenticeship, you’ll have an independent assessment (known as an end-point assessment). This assessment will look at your to assess your skills, knowledge and behaviours, and make sure you can competently and confidently carry out the role to the required industry standards.
How long does an apprenticeship take?
Apprenticeships take between one to four years to complete depending on their level.
Apprenticeship levels and entry requirements
Intermediate level
Work-based learning towards level 2.
Equivalent to 5 GCSE’s at Grade A.
Gives you entry to advanced level.
Advanced level
Work based learning towards level 3.
Equivalent to 2 A levels.
To apply you need five GCSE’s at grade 5 or above or completion of an intermediate level apprenticeship.
Higher level
Higher level apprentices follow work-based learning towards levels 4, 5, 6 and 7 and are equivalent to a foundation degree and above.
To start this level of apprenticeship, you should ideally have 2 A-levels or have completed an advanced level apprenticeship.
Degree level
Degree level apprentices follow work-based learning towards levels 6 and 7 and are equivalent to a full bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Apprenticeship vacancies
You can see our current apprenticeship vacancies here.
More information
Nikki Pryke is our Apprenticeship Lead. If you have any questions you can send Nikki an email at: rcht.apprenticeships@nhs.net.
