Operating Department Practice
Graduate Apprenticeship
What's Operating Department Practice like?
Operating Department Practice is providing care and skilled support alongside medical and nursing colleagues in a surgical environment. With this Graduate Apprenticeship, you’ll prepare for a career in the healthcare sector.
We've worked with universities and industry employers to create this degree-level qualification. You'll gain the skills and knowledge an Operating Department Practitioner needs – and earn yourself a degree.
You'll gain a Graduate Apprenticeship at SCQF Level 9. When you complete it you'll achieve the following qualification(s):
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Operating Department Practice, SCQF Level 9
A Graduate Apprenticeship is much more than getting a degree. It’s work-based, so you’ll also gain a range of useful experience and skills, such as:
applying legislation, policies and guidance that's relevant to your practice
taking part in team briefings and debriefings following treatment or procedures
doing and recording sensitive and detailed assessments
providing pre-assessment, anaesthetic, surgical and post-anaesthesia care
cannulation and blood sampling
maintaining safe environments for practice
After you complete your Graduate Apprenticeship, you could progress to roles in some of these areas:
advanced clinical practice
education
research
management
clinical governance
health informatics
If you're interested in further professional learning and development, you might progress to:
MProf in Professional Practice
MSc Health Studies
Master of Public Health
Doctor of Professional Studies (DProf)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for Graduate Apprenticeships vary, depending on the course and where you study.
Each vacancy advert says what qualifications are needed to start each Graduate Apprenticeship. You can also contact the university directly for guidance on entry requirements.
How does it work?
You’ll learn in a real-world environment and earn a wage. You’ll study at university about 1 day a week. When you complete the apprenticeship you’ll have achieved an honours degree.
How long will it take?
This is a Graduate Apprenticeship at SCQF Level 9 (Bachelors or Ordinary degree level) and will take up to 3 years to complete.
You might complete the apprenticeship in a shorter time. That’s because you might have prior learning or experience that can be taken into consideration. This means you don’t have to repeat some parts of the qualification.
How to apply
Use the 'Find vacancies near you' search at the end of this page to look for vacancies, then you can apply online.
You'll apply on Apprenticeships.scot or the company’s own website – there are details on the vacancy advert.