Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship
Please note: This page is for 2027 entry. Click here for 2026 entry.
| UCAS code | |
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| Duration | |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus |
| Typical offer | |
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Final award:
- Skills England Level 7 Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship
- MSc Advanced Clinical Practice
| Duration | 3 years |
|---|---|
| Entry point(s) | September |
| Application deadline | Dependent on employer, see How to apply |
| Campus | St Luke’s Campus, Exeter |
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| Contact |
Why study Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship at Exeter?
- Designed for practitioners from a range of backgrounds including (but not limited to) radiography, nursing, pharmacy, paramedics, occupational therapy and midwifery
- Develops the skills and expertise required to respond to challenges facing our modern day health service
- Provides a strong academic underpinning to the role of the Advanced Clinical Practitioner and encourages apprentices to expand their scope of practice as part of the advanced practice agenda outlined by the Health Education England multi professional framework for advanced clinical practice
- Explores real world cases in problem-based learning groups, developing peer support networks and the opportunity to share clinical experiences
- Successful completion of the programme will result in the award of the Level 7 Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship and a University of Exeter MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice
Top 10 in the UK for our world-leading and internationally excellent Clinical Medicine research
Based on 4* + 3* research in REF 2021
Our Public Health research is 11th in the UK for research power
Submitted to UoA2 Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care. REF 2021
Major capital investment in new buildings and state-of-the-art facilities
Vibrant and active research student community supported by excellent pastoral and academic staff
This programme is accredited by NHS England’s Centre for Advancing Practice.
Entry requirements
A minimum second-class Honours degree (or a Professional Diploma for older qualifications) in a healthcare related discipline.
There is a requirement from the Education and Skills Funding Agency that apprentices hold a level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics.
Find out more about how we support Functional Skills.
It is also a requirement of the programme that all applicants are registered with the appropriate statutory regulatory body for the profession (such as the HCPC or NMC) and have two years post-registration clinical experience.
Relevant clinical experience or previous postgraduate qualifications will also be considered as part of the admissions process.
Individual employers will set selection criteria for their apprenticeships in discussion with the University.
The apprentice must have a valid and eligible residency status to gain entry onto the apprenticeship – please see the ESFA guidance for further information.
How to apply
Selection to this programme is made by employers; applicants will already hold a relevant post working with an NHS service or independent provider. Apprentices will continue working for their employer throughout the duration of this apprenticeship. Applicants will need to speak to their HR department and/or manager to gain sign off to undertake this apprenticeship.
Once an employer agrees to the apprenticeship, applicants will then be required to undertake an application for the University. If successful, they will be offered a position. A place will be confirmed by us, and we will send further information about how to enrol as an apprentice.
Funding
Full programme cost: £12,000
The employer fully covers the cost of the apprenticeship; apprentices do not pay for any of the eligible training costs. The apprentice will be an employee of the organisation, gaining a University of Exeter award alongside working and earning a salary.
Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy will pay for the apprenticeship fees directly through that contribution. See further information about the Apprenticeship Levy funding.
Employers must pay their apprentices a salary at least consistent with national legislation.
Funding eligibility criteria
- To be eligible for funding apprentices must meet the criteria listed in the ESFA guidance.
- The apprentice must have a valid and eligible residency status to gain entry onto the apprenticeship – please see the ESFA guidance for further information.
Course content
With ever growing demand on our healthcare services, there is a need for highly skilled professionals to utilise research-informed practice to lead and transform healthcare. This programme has been designed to meet the needs of our healthcare sector to deliver a high standard of care that puts the patient first. Apprentices will be able to lead from the front to tackle the complex problems encountered in modern healthcare.
Throughout this course apprentices will:
- Develop their clinical practice, enabling them to work autonomously and flexibly in order to make complex decisions about how people should be cared for and treated
- Understand the relevant professional, legal and ethical issues that apply to their work
- Promote multidisciplinary practice by involving clinicians and practitioners from a variety of disciplines to understand the wider clinical context of health care service needs
- Gain a sound educational grounding that will encourage critical analysis of literature, documents and policies associated with advanced practice
- Undertake research, audit and evaluative activities that develop personal knowledge and expertise and can be disseminated in a community of practice, improving evidence-based patient care across systems
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
60 credits of compulsory modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Principles of Advanced Clinical Practice | 30 | |
| Advanced Clinical Assessment and Decision-Making Skills | 30 | |
| Transitioning to Advanced Clinical Practice | 0 | |
HPDM128DA: Principles of Advanced Clinical Practice
*Please note that Degree Apprenticeship programmes have variable start dates and modules are taught across the full year.
This module will develop your knowledge base and your understanding and appreciation of the impact of advanced practice on your own professional development and within the wider community. You will be able to critically evaluate your own practice and to reflect on the extended role of the advanced practitioner in the wider context of healthcare policy and provision. You will explore the four pillars of advanced practice, which in addition to your own clinical specialty will also encompass leadership and management, education and research and how these elements blend with your own profession and clinical role.
This module will allow you to gain an introduction to the 4 pillars of advanced practice. The learning and teaching will support you in the consideration of current legislation and in your understanding of relevant research and theory in the context of advanced practice. There will be opportunity for collaborative learning and engagement with other allied and health care professionals in a multidisciplinary setting.
HPDM133DA: Advanced Clinical Assessment and Decision-Making Skills
*Please note that Degree Apprenticeship programmes have variable start dates and modules are taught across the full year.
Advanced practice embodies the ability to holistically manage complex clinical care utilising a biopsychosocial approach. It is therefore imperative that Advanced Practitioners (APs) are equipped with knowledge and understanding of pathophysiological processes, advanced patient assessment techniques and complex decision-making theory to support the analysis and synthesis of complex problems and thus enable innovative solutions.
This module therefore aims to prepare you to extend your scope of practice through enhancing your core knowledge and understanding of complex history taking, systems-based physical assessment, diagnostics and decision-making. Using an interactive, multidisciplinary and engaging approach, this module will empower you to work effectively and collaboratively in dynamic clinical environments.
Using a blended learning strategy to include face-to-face workshops, lectures and simulation-based learning sessions alongside a playful and engaging virtual learning environment, you will attend to the 4 pillars of advanced clinical practice through:
HPDM165ADA: Transitioning to Advanced Clinical Practice
*Please note that Degree Apprenticeship programmes have variable start dates and modules are taught across the full year.
This longitudinal module will run for the entire duration of your planned practical period and is designed to support the development of your personal and professional skills that are essential for your role as an advanced practitioner. The module will ensure that you are aware of the responsibilities of advanced practice as aligned to the four pillars: clinical, education, leadership and research.
This module aims to support you in identifying and evidencing a range of knowledge, skills and behaviors (KSBs) implicit to the role and responsibilities of an advanced practitioner.
This module will be delivered through a combination of campus-based workshops and virtual writing retreat style tutorial sessions. Designed to support you in ensuring your Onefile e-portfolio fully evidences the apprenticeship standards. The activities that you undertake as part of your development will be discussed with your academic and clinical supervisors and the methods of evidencing these aspects of the role will be negotiated between the parties but led by you.
You will receive peer and tutor support and feedback throughout this module.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
60 credits of compulsory modules.
a - You must select either HPDM147DA or HPDM132DA which is then deemed compulsory. Previous accredited learning that relates to one of these two professional areas will necessitate the selection of the other compulsory module.
b - You must select one module from a choice of: HPDM166DA, HPDM184DA or HPDM065DA, which is then deemed compulsory.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Transitioning to Advanced Clinical Practice | 0 | |
| Compulsory Choice 2 | ||
| Advanced Skill Development | 45 | |
| Practice Certificate in Independent and Supplementary Prescribing | 45 | |
| Compulsory Choice 3 | ||
| Care of the Older Adult | 15 | |
| Research Skills for Advanced Clinical Practitioners | 15 | |
| Advanced Clinical Practice in Primary Care | 15 | |
HPDM165BDA: Transitioning to Advanced Clinical Practice
*Please note that Degree Apprenticeship programmes have variable start dates and modules are taught across the full year.
This longitudinal module will run for the entire duration of your planned practical period and is designed to support the development of your personal and professional skills that are essential for your role as an advanced practitioner. The module will ensure that you are aware of the responsibilities of advanced practice as aligned to the four pillars: clinical, education, leadership and research.
The aim of this module is to support you in identifying and evidencing a range of knowledge, skills and behaviors (KSBs) implicit to the role and responsibilities of an advanced practitioner.
This module will be delivered through a combination of campus-based workshops and virtual writing retreat style tutorial sessions. Designed to support you in ensuring your Onefile e-portfolio fully evidences the apprenticeship standards. The activities that you undertake as part of your development will be discussed with your academic and clinical supervisors and the methods of evidencing these aspects of the role will be negotiated between the parties but led by you.
You will receive peer and tutor support and feedback throughout this module.
HPDM132DA: Advanced Skill Development
*Please note that Degree Apprenticeship programmes have variable start dates and modules are taught across the full year.
Advanced Practitioners are experienced clinicians who are able to manage defined episodes of care independently within their scope of practice. This module will develop your knowledge and skills to equip you for autonomous practice in areas such as patient assessment, clinical decision-making and exercising professional judgement in planning, delivering and evaluating routine and complex episodes of care based on contemporary and high-quality evidence. Your workplace-based experience will need to include 175 hours of supervised practice in a chosen skill / skill-set.
The module allows you to explore an area of advanced clinical practice in which you wish to develop. Undertaking a mixture of university-based sessions and workplace-based learning you will identify an advanced clinical skill and work towards developing this under the supervision of a clinical mentor in addition to writing reflectively on this within your portfolio. This module will further develop understanding of the complexities of introducing / advancing knowledge within practice whilst considering any relevant ethical issues and will enable students to explore strategies to improve the integration / translation of knowledge to improve healthcare.
HPDM147DA: Practice Certificate in Independent and Supplementary Prescribing
Prescribing is a key clinical intervention that must be safe, effective and patient‑centred. Decisions about medicines must be evidence‑based and cost‑effective. This interdisciplinary programme brings together pharmacists, nurses and allied health professionals.
This module prepares you to assess patients holistically and prescribe safely as an autonomous practitioner. It supports development as a Supplementary and/or Independent Prescriber.
You will learn to analyse evidence from multiple sources to support shared prescribing decisions with patients and carers.
Successful completion awards the Practice Certificate in Independent and Supplementary Prescribing, mapped to the RPS Competency Framework (2016) and meeting GPhC, NMC and HCPC standards. Completion enables you to apply for Independent Prescriber annotation on your professional register.
You must have organisational support, including clinical supervision, protected learning time, employer approval, a declaration of good character and a valid Enhanced DBS that meets your organisation’s policies. Pharmacists must be GPhC or PSNI registered with relevant UK post‑registration
experience.
NMC registrants (nurses, midwives, SCPHNs) need 1 year of post-qualification experience, previous Level 6 study and confirmed competence in clinical assessment, diagnostics/care management and planning/evaluation of care.
HPDM065DA: Care of the Older Adult
* Please note that Degree Apprenticeship programmes have variable start dates and modules are taught across the full year.
Life expectancy has been steadily increasing. This has led to a population that is ageing. An ageing population has unique needs. This module will cover the relevant biopsychosocial factors of ageing and disease in this demographic group of patients. Knowledge and skills will be developed by reference to suitable learning material, learning activities and skills-based training. You will be encouraged to integrate your clinical experience into your learning.
This module is suitable for healthcare practitioners who wish to develop their skills in delivering holistic healthcare to the older adult patient.
By virtue of the physiology of ageing and the increasing chance of having multi-system disease, the ageing population may have complex needs. This module is intended to develop your knowledge of degenerative disease, their effects and management options. In addition you will further your skills in thinking broadly, assessing patients holistically and considering the risks and benefits of interventions. You will be expected to consider the ethical and social issues relevant to this age group.
HPDM166DA: Research Skills for Advanced Clinical Practitioners
*Please note that Degree Apprenticeship programmes have variable start dates and modules are taught across the full year.
This module will provide you with the opportunity to create your own clinical research proposal to take back into your workplace to implement should you wish to (subject to appropriate ethical approval). It will allow you to build on the knowledge and experience gained in previous modules, focusing on an area of clinical research of particular interest to your clinical specialism. You may choose to focus on an area of clinical need or specific patient group you feel is underrepresented in practice. The module will build on the research basics discussed in HPDM128DA, HPDM165ADA & 165BDA and allow you to demonstrate originality in the application of your research knowledge to your area of clinical practice.
The aim of this module is for you to develop and write a research proposal that you can use in practice. It will give you the skills to become a research confident practitioner who has the appropriate skills to develop clinical research proposals and the knowledge to implement them into your area of clinical practice.
This module will explore the research pillar of advanced practice and ensure that you and your workplace experience the benefits of clinical research within your chosen specialist area.
HPDM184DA: Advanced Clinical Practice in Primary Care
*Please note that Degree Apprenticeship programmes have variable start dates and modules are taught across the full year.
This module focuses specifically on primary care in relation to the Four Pillars of Advanced Practice and how this can innovate and change future primary care.
This module provides all health care practitioners (HCPs) who work in primary care an opportunity to examine the core ideas that underpin daily practice. You will develop a comprehensive understanding of the core principles of primary care in relation to advanced practice and reflect on the importance of cross discipline working and its impact on the patient journey.
The module uses a flipped approach (the course content is online allowing you to prepare much of the material before the contact days). The contact days therefore focus on applying ideas to practice using a combination of small groups, masterclasses and interactive sessions.
This module aims to provide a knowledge of why primary care systems are so effective in delivering healthcare and the principles of primary care that underpin this efficacy. It will provide an understanding of primary care systems and the underpinning knowledge necessary to support positive change within your workplace.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
60 credits of compulsory modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| End Point Assessment | 20 | |
| Advanced Clinical Practice Improvement Project | 30 | |
| Transitioning to Advanced Clinical Practice | 10 | |
HPDM120DA: End Point Assessment
This module is the End Point Assessment which is the final requirement for the award of the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice Degree Apprenticeship. The aim of this module is to provide independent synoptic assessment of the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprenticeship standard. As such its assignments are designed to enable you to demonstrate that you have achieved the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Integrated Degree) apprenticeship standard. In this module you will examine aspects of the 4 pillars of advanced practice and critically analyse their application to your own professional role.
HPDM152DA: Advanced Clinical Practice Improvement Project
*Please note that Degree Apprenticeship programmes have variable start dates and modules are taught across the full year.
This module will provide you with the opportunity to create an action plan for change via a service improvement project. This will allow you to build on your experiences gained in previous modules by focusing on an area of service improvement that is particular to your area of clinical specialism.
The project will demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to carry out a quality improvment project of enquiry. You may present your project in the form of a change initiative in practice action plan with appreciation to concepts such as equality, diversity, and inclusion.
You will use both the theoretical knowledge you will acquire, throughout the taught part of the course, and the analytical skills you will develop to create your action plan.
The aim of this module is to:
HPDM165CDA: Transitioning to Advanced Clinical Practice
*Please note that Degree Apprenticeship programmes have variable start dates and modules are taught across the full year.
This longitudinal module will run for the entire duration of your planned practical period and is designed to support the development of your personal and professional skills that are essential for your role as an advanced practitioner. The module will ensure that you are aware of the responsibilities of advanced practice as aligned to the four pillars: clinical, education, leadership and research.
The aim of this module is to support you in identifying and evidencing a range of knowledge, skills and behaviors (KSBs) implicit to the role and responsibilities of an advanced practitioner.
This module will be delivered through a combination of campus-based workshops and virtual writing retreat style tutorial sessions. Designed to support you in ensuring your Onefile e-portfolio fully evidences the apprenticeship standards. The activities that you undertake as part of your development will be discussed with your academic and clinical supervisors and the methods of evidencing these aspects of the role will be negotiated between the parties but led by you.
You will receive peer and tutor support and feedback throughout this module.
Learning
Approximately 20 per cent of an apprentice's contractual working time will be given over to study. Our model is designed to be flexible around the needs of apprentices and workloads. No weekly day-release is required, mitigating disruption of their daily role and ensuring maximum flexibility.
The blended learning format incorporates:
- A multi-disciplinary learning environment giving apprentices the opportunity to engage with a variety of perspectives and experience
- In-person teaching comprising of small group, evidence based learning
- Educators from diverse backgrounds, all bringing strong clinical and academic skills to the classroom
- A range of online resources to support face-to-face teaching
Assessment:
Each module will include both formative and summative elements. Formative assessment will involve opportunities for discussion and feedback from peers and tutors. The summative assessment element for each module will provide apprentices with the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the intended learning outcomes.
Elements of assessment will include:
- Development of knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive and intellectual skills
- Key/transferable Skills
Assessments will be multi-modal (such as portfolios, presentations and OSCEs) and will enable demonstration of alignment with the four pillars of advanced clinical practice.
Our dedicated degree apprenticeship partnerships team liaise closely with employer partners throughout the programme. Each apprentice is allocated an academic mentor to ensure their successful completion of the programme.
Apprenticeship Standard
Alongside working towards their level 7 Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship, gained after completing the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours of the apprenticeship standard, apprentices also study for an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice.
Employer information
This programme has been designed if you are looking to develop your team’s knowledge and skills in Advanced Clinical Practice, or upskill your workforce to be at the cutting edge of clinical, educational, research and leadership-based practice.
Apprentices will develop the ability to respond to modern-day healthcare challenges through cultivation of the knowledge, skills and behaviours that underpin the four pillars of advanced practice: clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research.
A combination of taught theoretical concepts in conjunction with the opportunity to strengthen and consolidate practical skills, ensures graduates of the programme are well-equipped to manage the complex problems encountered in healthcare.
Careers
This programme aims to enable clinicians to practice to their full potential, meeting the healthcare needs of the population through innovative, collaborative and autonomous working. There are a multitude of career opportunities within the advanced clinical practice sphere and these continue to grow on a yearly basis.
Developing your skills and career prospects
A combination of taught theoretical concepts (including: research capabilities, clinical skills development, service improvement and education and leadership concepts) in conjunction with the opportunity to strengthen and consolidate practical skills, ensures graduates of the programme are well-equipped to manage the complex problems encountered in healthcare.