Clinical technologist

Clinical technologists ensure that the technology and equipment used to diagnose and treat patients in hospitals and other medical settings is safe, accurate, well-maintained and monitored to a high standard

As a clinical technologist you'll use your knowledge of physics or engineering to operate, maintain and monitor hospital equipment and clinical materials. This is a practical role, and your work ensures that every patient receives accurate, safe and efficient diagnosis and treatment.

You'll perform tests on a range of medical equipment to ensure it's working properly and will fix any problems. Once you've carried out the necessary checks, you'll record the results.

You'll typically work as part of a multidisciplinary team that can include clinical scientists, radiologists and radiographers. Depending on your area of work, you may also have contact with patients.

Clinical technologists are sometimes referred to as healthcare science practitioners.

Types of work

Clinical technologists can work in a range of medical physics or clinical engineering areas, including:

• radiation physics - monitoring the health and safety of hospital staff, patients and the public who come into contact with ionising and non-ionising radiation during medical diagnosis and treatment
• radiotherapy physics - maintaining specialist devices, treatment planning, dosimetry calculations and monitoring equipment used in radiotherapy treatment
• nuclear medicine - preparing radioactive substances used in therapy or diagnosis (radiopharmaceuticals), communicating directly with patients, taking readings and measurements (for example, using gamma cameras), and disposing of waste safely
• medical engineering - testing, maintaining, repairing and calibrating medical devices in a wide range of clinical areas using electronic or mechanical engineering skills
• radiation engineering - using your engineering skills to repair and service radiotherapy equipment such as x-ray, ultrasound and MRI machines
• rehabilitation engineering - maintaining, designing, fitting, adjusting, servicing and repairing equipment used to support patient recovery (usually working closely with patients, therapists, technicians and other staff)
• renal technology - ensuring the safe and effective working of dialysis equipment, both in hospital and where patients use dialysis equipment at home.

Responsibilities

Activities vary depending on the area of clinical technology you work in. However, as a clinical technologist, you'll typically need to:

• monitor and test medical devices and equipment
• calibrate devices, take measurements and readings
• ensure that equipment and devices are safe to use
• service and repair specialist, and often complex, equipment and/or materials
• assist in the design, development and manufacture of new medical devices
• maintain accurate records about the condition of specialist medical devices and any safety checks, repairs and tests that have taken place
• contribute to technical problem solving so that any device/equipment issues can be quickly resolved
• plan and carry out quality assurance checks and draft reports
• provide scientific and administrative support to the department in your area of work
• attend multidisciplinary meetings
• in some roles, such as nuclear medicine, provide training on the safe use of specialist medical devices to staff and, in some cases, patients and carers
• work closely with other professionals (such as technologists, radiographers, radiologists, nurses and clinical scientists)
• communicate clearly and accurately (mainly to colleagues, but in some areas of work to patients) to ensure that equipment and materials are used safely and processes are understood
• take a proactive approach to professional development.

In some roles, such as nuclear medicine, you may be directly involved in patient care. For example, a clinical technologist working in nuclear medicine may be involved in the production and delivery of radioactive medicine to patients.

Experienced clinical technologists may also:

• supervise junior staff and trainees
• teach and train staff
• support research and development activities and projects
• assist with audits and service improvement initiatives.

At consultant clinical technologist level, you may be responsible for running a whole department.

Job descriptions for clinical technologists can vary significantly and it's a good idea to look at the job description closely to identify the nature of the role available.

Salary

• Most clinical technologist roles are in the NHS and are usually linked to an NHS pay band. Salaries for trainee clinical technologists typically range from £27,485 to £30,162 (Band 4 of the NHS Agenda for change pay rates) or £31,049 to £37,796 (Band 5).
• Once you've completed training and are a registered clinical technologist, you can expect to be employed on Band 5 or occasionally Band 6 (£38,682 to £46,580). Experienced and senior clinical technologists are typically employed on Band 6.
• Principal clinical technologists may be employed on Band 7, with salaries ranging from £47,810 to £54,710. Senior roles such as consultant clinical technologist, chief clinical technologist or head of clinical engineering will attract higher salaries.

Salaries can vary significantly depending on a range of factors including your experience and area of specialism, as well as where in the UK you work.

Income data from NHS Agenda for change pay rates. Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Full-time clinical technologists usually work 37.5 hours a week. In some areas jobs may follow a rota or shift pattern, whereas in others there are core office hours (for example, 9am to 5pm) with some occasional work outside of these times.

Some jobs offer opportunities for flexible working, part-time hours, short-term contracts and job sharing.

What to expect

• You'll usually be based in a hospital or clinical engineering department, although you could work in other parts of the hospital, for example on wards and clinics or in treatment or scanning departments. In some roles you could also visit patients in their homes.
• The skills you use and the level of contact you have with patients varies depending on your area of work and whether you're working in a laboratory or workshop, travelling around a hospital to work or visiting other sites and patient homes.
• Most jobs are in NHS trusts across the UK, with larger hospitals and regional centres offering the widest range of opportunities.
• The work can be rewarding, combining technical expertise with a direct impact on healthcare. NHS roles typically offer good job security and structured career progression.
• You may need to travel during the day to visit patients, other sites and external customers. A full driving licence may be required.

Qualifications

The role of a clinical technologist is not protected in law, so you aren't required to have a particular level of education, experience or registration and it is up to the employer to decide on what qualifications and experience they're looking for.

However, the IPEM advocates registration through the Register of Clinical Technologists, a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, and this is the industry standard.

The most common route to joining the register is to apply for a trainee clinical technologist job in the NHS and then complete a training scheme on the job. One you're working as a trainee clinical technologist, you'll follow either the IPEM Clinical Technologist Training Scheme or The Association of Renal Technologists Training Scheme, which provide structured clinical workplace experience at a level equivalent to a degree.

To get a place on a scheme you'll need:

• at least two A-levels (preferably three), including a science subject
• a minimum Level 4 qualification or higher in a relevant subject. This can include a degree or HND in physics or engineering (or a degree with a large component of these subject areas).

An alternative route to qualification is to complete the NHS Practitioner Training Programme (PTP), which provides undergraduate training that leads to a BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science. This can be achieved either through a traditional undergraduate degree or degree apprenticeship.

Once you have successfully completed one of these training routes, you should be eligible to join the Register of Clinical Technologists.

It's also possible to get a job as a clinical technologist with a degree in a subject such as physics, clinical technology or electronic/electrical engineering and some relevant experience of working in a hospital. To be eligible for registration, you'll need a portfolio of evidence showing you have all the skills, knowledge and competence required.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• strong communication skills for effective teamwork and reporting
• the ability to produce clear and accurate technical documentation and reports
• excellent problem-solving skills and a methodical approach to complex tasks
• high levels of concentration and the ability to manage interruptions and setbacks
• a flexible approach to work and the ability to adapt your knowledge to changing or unpredictable situations
• attention to detail and a commitment to precision and safety
• strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise your workload
• initiative and sound judgement within your scope of practice
• confidence to seek guidance when necessary, recognising the impact of your work on patient care
• IT skills and the ability to handle data using a range of software packages
• manual dexterity and practical skills for handling equipment or specimens where required
• reliability and professionalism, with a commitment to maintaining high standards in all areas of work.

A driving licence is sometimes required for travel between hospital sites.

Work experience

Previous work experience in clinical technology is not usually essential. Experience in technical, scientific or healthcare-related environments can be beneficial, although any form of work experience can help demonstrate key transferable skills such as communication, attention to detail, problem solving and reliability.

Work shadowing a clinical technologist or gaining short-term experience with a relevant hospital department can provide a valuable insight into the role. Contact the medical physics, clinical engineering or rehabilitation engineering departments at your local NHS trust to find out about opportunities.

Some hospitals advertise work experience opportunities on their websites, while others may offer informal placements upon request. When applying, it helps to show that you understand the different areas of clinical technology and can explain why you're interested in a specific department or specialism.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Many clinical technologists work in NHS hospitals or private healthcare. There are also opportunities in industry (for example, with medical device companies) and in research.

Look for vacancies at:

• IPEM Jobs
• Jobs.hscni.net - for roles in Northern Ireland
• New Scientist Jobs
• NHS Jobs and NHSScotland Jobs
• The Association of Renal Technologists - for renal technologist opportunities.

Jobs may be advertised under a range of titles, including clinical technologist, medical technologist or healthcare science practitioner.

Professional development

Once you've completed your training and are registered with the Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT), you'll be expected to maintain and enhance your knowledge and skills through continuing professional development (CPD). CPD is essential to maintaining your RCT registration. You must also abide by their professional code of conduct.

CPD can take many forms, including:

• training on new equipment or techniques
• mentoring junior staff
• engaging in reflective practice
• attending conferences
• undertaking short courses and workshops.

You may also have opportunities to take on secondments in other teams or services, or contribute to quality improvement projects, for example.

Some clinical technologists also choose to study at postgraduate level to specialise in a particular area of clinical technology.

Professional bodies that support clinical technologists include:

• Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)
• The Association of Renal Technologists (ART)

Membership provides you with access to valuable CPD resources, including professional journals, webinars, conferences and events, as well as networking opportunities.

Career prospects

In the first few years, you'll typically focus on completing formal training and gaining registration with the Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT). Once registered, you'll concentrate on consolidating your practical experience, developing your skills further and building confidence in your chosen specialism. Specialist areas include radiotherapy physics, nuclear medicine, renal technology and clinical engineering.

There is a defined career structure within many NHS trusts. As you continue to develop your skills and experience, you can apply for a Band 6 role. How quickly you progress depends on when and where roles become available and what skills and experience you have.

With further experience and training, there are opportunities to move into more senior roles such as senior or principal clinical technologist, team lead or service manager. These roles often involve a mix of clinical work and leadership responsibilities, with responsibility for the supervision and development of junior staff. Roles at this level may require a postgraduate qualification.

There are a small number of very senior roles available at deputy chief and chief clinical technologist level, for example, with responsibility for managing a team or training area. You will need specialist skills, as well as leadership, supervisory, teaching and training experience, for these types of roles. There are also some opportunities to move into service development or clinical governance and safety.