About the course

On this course, apprentices will develop the skills they need to become a qualified operating department practitioner (ODP), able to offer coordinated, patient-centred perioperative care alongside surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre nurses.

With an emphasis on reflective, practice-based development, apprentice's studies and training take place both at the university and in clinical practice, where they work alongside a qualified mentor in a range of perioperative care settings: anaesthetics, operating theatres, emergency departments, intensive care and recovery.

Entry requirements

• A minimum of three GCSEs (or equivalent including functional skills) at Grade 4 or above (formerly C) - to include English Language and Mathematics
• Completion of the Care Certificate Standards
• Either relevant level 3 qualification[s] equivalent to a minimum of 112 UCAS points or a portfolio of experiential evidence assessed by the teaching team and accepted through RPL process

For Access Course Apprentices:

• Full award (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3, including 24 at Merit or Distinction, of which a minimum of:
  • 18 credits must be in a Science or Health related subject, and
  • 15 credits at Level 2, which must include Mathematics and English Language GCSE equivalent, if not already achieved
• If an applicant is studying an Access qualification or has already achieved an acceptable Level 3+ qualification, but is missing an acceptable Level 2 qualification, then they will be asked to successfully complete Functional Skills Level 2 Maths and/or English Language (as applicable) before enrolment, alongside the GCSE they are studying

Contact us for additional guidance on whether the qualifications the candidate currently holds or are taking would be suitable for entry.

Qualifications

On successful completion of the course, graduates will achieve a BSc (Hons) in Operating Department Practice and a Level 6 Apprenticeship.

Subsequently, they will be eligible to apply to register with the Health and Care Professions Council as an Operating Department Practitioner. In addition, the graduates will be able to seek employment in a role of an Operating Department Practitioner within the NHS Trusts, as well as the private, voluntary and independent sector.

The range of perioperative care settings can include anaesthetics, operating theatres, emergency departments, intensive care and recovery.

Fee - Companies with a wage bill less than £3m will just pay £1,300 over three years, this is because the government funds 95% of the full fee. If you are a levy-payer then this apprenticeship will be £26,000 from your levy. As a business of any size, you can also use Manage apprenticeship service to apply for funding from large businesses that want to fund 100% of your apprenticeship training and assessment costs.