Graduate Certificate Graduate Certificate Enhanced Practice
- Course type
- Undergraduate
- Course qualification
- Graduate Certificate
Course summary
What is the fee?
For all course options, see fees and funding
How long will I study?
Part-time: One year
Part-time: 19 months
Overview
Please note that this apprenticeship is subject to academic approval.
The Graduate Certificate in Enhanced Practice is designed for registered health and social care professionals who are ready to develop their practice to an Enhanced Practice level.
Aligned to the Level 6 Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard, the NHS England Schema for Enhanced Practice and profession-specific curricula, this programme develops your knowledge, skills and behaviours across the four pillars of enhanced practice: clinical practice, leadership, education and research.
The programme combines flexible online delivery with work-based learning, enabling you to apply your learning directly within your own specialist area of practice. Alongside the core curriculum, you'll have the opportunity to personalise your learning through bespoke study days and bespoke workplace learning, ensuring the programme reflects your professional role and service need.
Whether you work in diagnostic radiography, dietetics, occupational therapy, orthoptics, physiotherapy, podiatry, prosthetics and orthotics, speech and language therapy, or another health profession, you'll develop the confidence to manage complexity, influence practice and deliver high-quality, person-centred care within your scope of practice.
Please note, there are two intakes for this apprenticeship:
- A January intake, which has a 12-month duration
- A September intake, which has a 19-month duration
You will:
- Develop the knowledge, skills and capabilities required for Enhanced Practice
- Apply learning across the four pillars of clinical practice, leadership, education and research
- Personalise your learning through bespoke study days and bespoke work-based learning aligned to your specialist area of practice
- Develop enhanced clinical reasoning, communication and decision-making skills
- Learn alongside a range of health and social care professionals, sharing expertise and experiences across professions
- Complete a programme aligned to the Level 6 Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard, the NHS England Schema for Enhanced Clinical Practice and profession-specific Enhanced Practice curricula.
This is for you if...
you are a registered health or social care professional looking to develop your practice to an Enhanced Practice level;
you have completed foundation or preceptorship training and are established within your specialist area of practice (minimum of 12 months post registration);
you want to develop your leadership, education and service improvement skills alongside your clinical expertise;
you are looking for flexible, work-based continuing professional development that can be tailored to your role.
The School of Health and Society
The School of Health and Society is a forward-thinking, dynamic school with a commitment to lifelong learning and real-world impact.
Our courses are informed by the latest research, and we work closely with organisations from both the public and private sector to ensure our teaching is at the forefront of practice. The University has received approval for a new health building on the Frederick Road campus which will create brand new teaching spaces, including new Podiatry spaces. Construction will begin in late 2024, with completion expected by Autumn 2026. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a health and wellbeing hub, supporting popular healthcare courses and community services. It will feature sustainable design elements and provide modern clinical facilities to enhance student learning and community engagement. Find out more about our new Health Building.
In time community healthcare clinics will also take place there as partnerships are developed to explore research opportunities and to provide a range of therapeutic sessions.
How you'll learn
Future careers
This programme prepares you to practise confidently at an Enhanced Practice level within your profession. Enhanced Practice is a recognised level of practice that enables experienced registered professionals to work with greater autonomy and confidence when managing complexity, while remaining within their professional scope of practice.
You'll develop the knowledge, skills and capabilities to assess and manage people with complex needs, contribute to service improvement, educate others and apply evidence to enhance patient care.
The Graduate Certificate also provides a strong foundation for those who wish to continue their professional development through further postgraduate study, including progression towards Advanced Practice or other level 7 (Masters level) study where appropriate.
Modules
Depending on which route you take, you will either study the three modules below across 12 months or 19 months.
The Graduate Certificate comprises three 20-credit Level 6 modules.
You will study the following:
Enhanced Clinical Practice
Develop your clinical reasoning, communication and person-centred assessment skills through authentic case-based learning and flexible work-based experiences tailored to your specialist area of practice.
This module allows for a bespoke professional pathway to be taken either through optional days or a Work-Based Learning route.
Assessment
- Case studies & professional discussion
Leadership and Service Development
Explore leadership approaches that support service improvement, workforce development and person-centred care, applying leadership principles within your own workplace.
Assessment
- Reflective portfolio including a quality improvement proposal
Education and Evidence Based Practice
Develop the knowledge and skills to support learning, supervision, coaching and evidence dissemination within your professional role.
Assessment
- Academic poster & professional discussion
We take a flexible approach to our course delivery that promotes diversity and inclusivity and provides a blended learning experience, which will vary to meet specific programme requirements. This learning time includes formal lectures and interactive activities such as seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, laboratory and studio learning. Smaller classes may be used to support collaborative activities such as project and group work and presentations. A range of different assessments and feedback is offered to meet the needs of both our diverse student body and specific subject needs.
Our undergraduate courses are normally made up of 20 credit modules which are equal to 200 hours of learning time. A three-year degree qualification typically comprises a total of 360 credits (120 credits per year).
Entry requirements
This Graduate Certificate in Enhanced Practice is suitable for registered health and social care professionals who have completed their preceptorship or foundation training (normally a minimum of 12 months post-registration) and are currently working within their chosen area of practice. The programme supports your professional development to practise confidently at an Enhanced Practice level.
To undertake this programme, you must have the support of your employer or organisation to enable you to complete the required work-based learning and assessments. This includes access to an appropriately qualified workplace mentor who will support your development throughout the programme.
Applicants must:
• Hold current registration with a relevant professional regulator (e.g. HCPC or NMC).
• Have completed preceptorship or foundation training and have a minimum of 12 months post-registration experience.
• Be working in a role that provides regular, relevant clinical experience within a practice-based setting.
• Have employer support to undertake the required work-based learning and assessments.
• Have access to an appropriate workplace mentor for the duration of the programme.
• Be able to complete a minimum of 439 hours of applied workplace learning across the programme to support development across the four pillars of Enhanced Practice.
Further requirements
Not sure how many UCAS points you have? Use our UCAS Tariff Calculator to find out.
Fees and funding
Apprenticeship Cost and Funding
The cost of the apprenticeship programme is £7,000. You will not be required to pay for the eligible costs of your apprenticeship training or assessment. These costs are normally funded by your employer through government apprenticeship funding arrangements, depending on the employer’s circumstances and the apprenticeship funding rules. You may be responsible for additional personal costs associated with undertaking your apprenticeship, such as travel to and from campus, where applicable, and any study materials or other expenses that are not covered by the apprenticeship funding.
Growth and Skills Levy
The Growth and Skills Levy, formerly known as the Apprenticeship Levy, helps employers fund apprenticeships and other eligible skills training in England.
Employers with an annual pay bill of more than £3 million are required to pay the Apprenticeship Levy at a rate of 0.5% of their annual pay bill, subject to the applicable levy allowance. Eligible levy-paying employers can use funding available through their Apprenticeship Service account to pay for approved apprenticeship training and assessment, subject to the relevant funding rules and funding band.
Employers who do not pay the levy can also access government funding towards the cost of eligible apprenticeship training and assessment. The level of government funding and any employer contribution depends on factors including the employer’s circumstances, the apprentice’s age and the apprenticeship start date.
For apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2026, different funding arrangements apply depending on the employer’s levy status and the apprentice’s age. Eligible apprentices aged 16 to 24 employed by non-levy-paying employers can have 100% of eligible training and assessment costs funded by the government, up to the relevant funding band maximum. For other apprenticeships, an employer contribution may be required in accordance with the current funding rules.
Please note: Apprenticeship funding rules are subject to change. The funding arrangements applicable to your apprenticeship will depend on your employer, your circumstances and the date your apprenticeship starts.
The Enhanced Clinical Practitioner (ST0895) standard has been allocated the following funding:
Funding band maximum: £7,000
The tuition fees shown are for the first year only. If your course lasts longer than one year, fees may increase each year in line with inflation, up to the maximum limits set by the UK Government. We can put this as one pathway is 19 months
The tuition fees shown are for the first year only. If your course lasts longer than one year, fees may increase each year in line with inflation, up to the maximum limits set by the UK Government.
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
How to apply
This apprenticeship is designed for existing employees working in a relevant health and social care care roles. You must be employed by an eligible organisation (NHS or health and social care provider for the NHS) and have the support of your employer to undertake the apprenticeship.
If you are interested in applying, please follow the steps below:
1 . Speak to your employer
If you are interested in undertaking the Enhanced Clinical Practitioner apprenticeship, speak to your line manager, education/training team or organisational apprenticeship lead.
Your employer will need to confirm that:
- you are eligible to undertake the apprenticeship;
- the apprenticeship is appropriate for your role and development;
- they can support you to undertake the programme, including the required off-the-job training; and
- they can access the appropriate apprenticeship funding to support your training.
2. Your employer puts you forward
If your organisation agrees to support you, your employer's apprenticeship or workforce team will liaise with the University to progress your application and confirm the funding arrangements.
3. Apply to the University
Once your employer has confirmed they can support you, you will be directed to complete the University's application process for the programme.
Information for employers
If you are an employer interested in supporting an employee through the Enhanced Clinical Practitioner apprenticeship, please contact us to discuss eligibility, funding and the application process.
If you are interested, please complete the contact form found here : Contact us | University of Salford or email apprenticeships@salford.ac.uk