Operating department practitioner

You'll need to study a diploma of higher education which takes 2 years or a degree in operating department practice which takes 3 years.

The course has to be approved by the Health and Care Professions Council .

You can do further study to top up your diploma to a degree after you qualify.

Work experience

You'll find it helpful to get some work experience in healthcare before you apply for a course.

NHS Learning Support Fund

During your studies, you might be eligible for financial support from the NHS Learning Support Fund .

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You could do an Operating Department Practitioner Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

This usually takes 4 years to complete and is a mix of learning on the job and academic study at an approved university.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
• search for apprenticeships on NHS Jobs|https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate

Registrations

you'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council

Career Tips

When applying for courses and jobs, you'll be expected to have an understanding of how the NHS values apply in your work.

Further Information

You can find more details about how to become an operating department practitioner from Health Careers .

You'll support patients of all ages in the anaesthetic, surgery and recovery phases of an operation.

As an operating department practitioner, you could:

• help patients who are anxious or vulnerable get ready for surgery
• prepare the operating theatre and make sure drugs and specialist equipment are available
• monitor instruments and how clean the theatre is
• provide the surgical team with any items they need during an operation
• talk to other hospital staff for the surgical team
• support patients after their operation and assess when they are ready to move to a ward

You could work in an NHS or private hospital.

Your working environment may be hot and physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.