How to become an associate practitioner in life sciences
To become an associate practitioner in life sciences, you’ll need an HND in Applied Biological Sciences or an equivalent qualification at SCQF level 8.
What is an associate practitioner in life sciences?
Associate practitioners in life sciences work in one of four areas of the clinical laboratory service, including:
- infection sciences
- blood sciences
- cell sciences
- gene sciences
They provide technical and analytical support to healthcare science practitioners, biomedical scientists, and clinical scientists in hospital laboratories.
Starting your career as an associate practitoner in life sciences
Choosing subjects at school
To become an associate practitioner in life sciences, useful school subjects include:
- English
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Maths
Speak to your guidance teacher or careers adviser about subjects offered at your school.
Work placements and volunteering
You may find it helpful to get some healthcare experience by doing a work placement or volunteering. You’ll get training, increase your knowledge, and learn new skills. This could help you when applying to college or a new job with NHSScotland.
Education and training pathway
Some healthcare science associate practitioners start their careers as assistant practitioners in the lab. You can also apply for our associate practitioner vacancies if you have an HND in Applied Biological Sciences or an equivalent qualification at SCQF level 8.
You’ll find more information about SCQF levels on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) website. You can also search for college courses and university degree programmes on My World of Work.
Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) Certificate of Achievement
As an alternative route, you could complete Part 2 of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) Certificate of Achievement.
The certificate is a portfolio-based professional vocational qualification. It will allow you to demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and evidence of laboratory training when applying for associate practitioner roles.
Get to know the role
In the laboratory, you’ll process and test biological samples using a range of technologies and send results to biomedical scientists for validation and authorisation. You’ll also calibrate, operate, and maintain specialised testing equipment, including automated analysers.
Your main tasks may include:
- Process and test biological samples using a range of technologies and send results to biomedical scientists for validation and authorisation.
- Calibrate, operate, and maintain specialised testing equipment, including automated analysers.
- Supervise and plan the workload of biomedical science support workers.
- Carry out quality control audits and report results to biomedical scientists.
You'll need these skills:
- communicating
- collaborating
- focusing
- decision-making
- sense-making
You could work with the following:
- biomedical scientists
- clinical scientists
- biomedical science support workers
- healthcare science practitioners
- specialist nurses
- clinicians
- hospital porters
As an associate practitioner in life sciences, you’ll work in a hospital laboratory.
Learning and development
You will be encouraged to develop your career in NHSScotland. You'll receive training on the following:
- standard operating procedures
- quality management policies
- external quality assessment and internal quality control
- laboratory and hospital health and safety
- risk management
Career progression
You could become a biomedical scientist by completing a part-time IBMS-accredited honours degree programme.
Professional bodies
As an associate practitioner in life sciences, you can join the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).
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