·         A defined body of knowledge

·         Establishing that the practice of the profession is based on evidence of efficacy

·         The establishment of a Voluntary Register

·         The establishment of a body to oversee the Voluntary Register

·         Defined routes of entry into the profession

·         Independently assessed entry qualifications

·         Standards relating to conduct, performance and ethics

·         A disciplinary procedures to enforce standards

·         A defined scope of practice for the profession

·         A commitment from all in the profession to be committed to, and undertake, continuous professional development

With the support of the Department of Health, an application to the Health Professions Council was made in May 2004.  The application process involved the collection and collation of a vast amount of information regarding the profession.  This information was presented to assist HPC Council members to make a decision on the VRCT application.  In October 2004 the HPC agreed to regulate the profession.  Following that decision the VRCT has been working with the Department of Health in order to resolve a number of issues before regulation can take place.  The decision to regulate the Clinical Technologist profession will lead to a number of ramifications for all working in the profession.

HPC Registration will be more expensive than membership of the Voluntary Register; each individual will be required to pay £72 per year (based on current HPC registration fees which are tax deductible).  However there are significant benefits to accrue from being registered, amongst these are: -

• Each Registrant has the opportunity to contribute to the development of the profession
• Clear guidance on standards of conduct, performance and ethics
• Clear guidance on the expected standards of proficiency for the profession
• Professional recognition by all other regulated health professionals
• The protection of professional title - only those legally registered as Clinical Technologists will be able to practice as such
• Protection against rogue practitioners - the HPC can prosecute those who illegally use professional titles
• Regulation is independent of Government
• Freedom of movement to work elsewhere with the European Economic Area

If you wish to find out further information about the benefits of registration or about the Health Professions Council follow this web link: Health Professions Council or you can contact them at:

Health Professions Council,
184 Kennington Park Road,
London,
SE11 4BU

There have been a number of delays to this process mainly to do with the Shipman Enquiry and the subsequent ramifications for regulating health professionals.  The Department of Health has now published a consultation document which can be found at the following link:-  Healthcare Professional Regulation: public consultation on proposals for change

It is anticipated that once this public consultation process is completed the application from the VRCT, along with applications from other Healthcare Scientist Groups including; Clinical Physiologists, Clinical Perfusionists and Clinical Photographers, will then be subject to a further public consultation process.  Once that process is completed we will know what the outcome will be.

Why join the Voluntary Register of Clinical Technologists now?

The experience of other professions recently registered, and now under the regulatory regime of the HPC, indicates that some form of grandparenting arrangements will be introduced to facilitate the initial establishment of the legal register.  Professions that had voluntary registers of good standing have been able to have their registrants transferred to the new register as one group. It is hoped that similar principles will apply to those who join the VRCT before a date yet to be specified when a new HPC register is formed that will include Clinical Technologists.

Guidelines for VRCT applicants

To apply for the Voluntary Register you need to email requesting an application form or you may print a copy using the following link: VRCT application form and downloading the form and guidance notes. Please note this is not an application for membership of IPEM or its two partners in the Voluntary Register, ART and IET. 

If you are not already a member of one or more of the three VRCT partner organisations, they would welcome your interest in membership.  Details of IPEM membership can be obtained here.  For ART go to www.artery.org.uk and for IET go to www.theiet.org

Criteria for entry on to the Register

The Voluntary Register of Clinical Technologists is open to all working in a technical role in the field of medical physics, clinical engineering, medical equipment maintenance or medical equipment manufacturing.  Individuals who wish to join the Voluntary Register are likely to come from the following settings: -

1.   Those employed in the public or private health care sectors, and, who work in medical physics, clinical engineering, medical equipment maintenance or medical equipment manufacturing.  Job titles may vary significantly but may include:-

Clinical Technologist, Dosimetrist, Medical Technologist, Nuclear Medicine Technician, Biomedical Repair Technician, Medical Physics Technician, Medical Electronics Technician, Mould Room Technician, Medical Technical Officer,  X-ray Engineer, Rehabilitation Engineer, Medical Equipment Technician, Service Engineer, Renal Technician.  This list is not exhaustive. 

2.   Those working in academic organisations dealing with biological science, physical science or engineering who are involved in providing a technical or educational service to health care.

The Primary Criterion for entry onto the Voluntary Register is as follows:

Successful completion of an approved vocational degree programme, or, an approved training scheme.  Training schemes currently available are: 

The Training Scheme for Clinical Technologists specialising in Physics and Engineering in Health Care organised by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

Alternatively, candidates may apply through the Grandparenting Provision.  The criteria for entry onto the Voluntary Register through Grandparenting provision are as follows:-

1.    There must be evidence of employment in a technical role involving work in health care areas such as medical physics, clinical engineering, medical equipment maintenance or medical equipment manufacturing, or, biological science, physical science or engineering related to health care within an academic institution, and,

2.    There must be evidence of not less than three years work experience in a technical role in health care (as in 1 above) including at least two years appropriate, formal in-service training provided by a suitable organisation, or, in lieu of the formal in-service training, evidence of not less than four years relevant work experience, or, registration as an Incorporated Engineer or Engineering Technician.

All individuals who meet the conditions of the Grandparenting provision and who were in post on 31 July 2000 qualify for entry onto the Voluntary Register.  All who were in post on 31 July 2000 and who did not meet the conditions of the second point of the Grandparenting provision will be eligible for inclusion on the Voluntary Register once all of the conditions of the second point have been met.  All who were employed between 1 August 2000 and 31 July 2001 will be deemed eligible to join the Voluntary Register once they have met the conditions of the second point of the Grandparenting provision.  The criteria for provision for entry onto the Voluntary Register for those appointed on or after 1 August 2001 and before 1st January 2007 are as follows:

1.    There must be evidence of a pass at BTEC Higher National Certificate or Higher National Diploma or Degree or NVQ/SVQ Level 4 in an appropriate subject or, an equivalent qualification in an appropriate subject.

2.    There must be evidence of not less than three years work experience in a technical role in health care including at least two years appropriate, formal in-service training provided by a suitable organisation, or, in lieu of the formal in-service training, evidence of not less than four years relevant work experience, or, registration as an Incorporated Engineer or Engineering Technician. 

3.    There must be evidence of employment in health care, working unsupervised [[1]], within medical physics, clinical engineering, medical equipment maintenance or medical equipment manufacturing, or, biological science, physical science or engineering related to health care within an academic institution.  

Important Update (September 2006): 

Grandparenting provision will not be available to any individual who commences first employment as a Clinical Technologists on or after 1st January 2007.  Those individuals will only be able to join the Register if they fulfill the requirements of the primary criterion stated above.

Applications

All applications to join the Voluntary Register of Clinical Technologists must be made via the appropriate application form and be accompanied by the application fee.  The candidate should submit the original application form and one copy.  In addition the candidate must also provide: -

1.    Two copies of all educational and training certificates (each copy must be initialled by both the candidate's supporters).  (Note: Do not include certificates relating to short duration courses lasting less than one week.)

2.    Two copies of a detailed curriculum vitae that describes the candidates relevant work experience since leaving full-time education.  This should list all posts held including dates, job title, grade (if appropriate), and brief details of the duties of each post.  It should also include educational and other achievements, and, details of any training undertaken.

3.    Two copies of an organisation chart showing the position of the candidate's current post    within their current place of employment (each copy must be initialled by the candidate's supporters).

Each application to join the Voluntary Register will be treated on an individual basis.

A £30, non-refundable, application fee is payable but will, in the case of applicants admitted to the Voluntary Register, serve as the registration fee for the initial period.  Cheques should be made payable to the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.  Registration is renewable on an annual basis (on 1st January of each year) subject to: -

1.    The registrant continuing to work or seeking work in a technical role within health care or related to health care within an academic institution.

2.    Maintaining competence through continuing professional development (this includes candidates having a recognised career break).  As part of the renewal process the Registrar may request evidence of such activity.

3.    Adherence to the Code of Conduct for Clinical Technologists issued to each registrant.

4.    The payment of the annual registration fee.

All successful candidates will receive a certificate, signed by the Registrar, which will indicate membership of the Voluntary Register.  This certificate will be renewed on an annual basis.

Overseas Applications:

Only candidates who have trained or worked in the United Kingdom may apply to join the Register. All qualifications gained outside the UK, which are submitted to the VRCT as evidence of educational attainment, must be accredited by UK NARIC. This must be done at the candidates own expense. UK NARIC is the National Agency for the Department for Education and Skills. It is the only official information provider in the UK on the comparability of international qualifications.  Currently, those working outside the UK who wish to come to the UK to work must first gain employment before applying to join the Register.

Contact details for UK NARIC:

Qualifications & Skills Division

UK NARIC

Oriel House

Oriel Road

Cheltenham

Glos GL50 1XP

Tel: +44 (0)870 990 4088

Fax: +44 (0)870 990 1560

Email

Web: http://www.naric.org.uk

Application Fees:

The cost of application is £30.00.  The cost of the yearly renewal fee is £10.00 per year.

All applications should be sent to:

The Registrar Voluntary Register of Clinical Technologists Fairmount House 230 Tadcaster Road York YO24 1ES	Tel:	01904 610821
	Fax:	01904 612279
	Email

The notes below relate to relevant sections on the application form.

1.   Insert the title by which you are normally addressed (Mr, Mrs, Ms, Miss, etc.)

2.   The selected address will be the one used for correspondence.  Please ensure that you inform the Registrar of any future change of addresses.

3.   Two copies of academic qualifications and training certificates must be enclosed with the application form and must be initialled by both proposers.

4.   The Clinical Technologist Scope of Practice has been divided into seven disciplines, listed below.  The draft Scope of Practice document has been published, details can be found here; however, a brief resume of each is presented below.  You should select the discipline closest to your main area of activity and insert that discipline on the application form under the heading "Specialist Area".  In the event that you are unable to choose one of these disciplines, against the word "Other" please write your own description of your specialty. If you practice in more than one discipline please select the main discipline that you practice.  If you still cannot choose, select the discipline in which you were initially trained.

             I.     Medical Engineering:  For those who undertake mechanical, electronic or electrical engineering activities in areas variously described as equipment management, EBME, medical electronics, or, for those involved in clinical measurement, medical device design, or, equipment evaluation.

             II.    Radiation Engineering:  For those who undertake mechanical, electronic or electrical engineering activities involving radiotherapy, imaging or radiology equipment.

             III.   Rehabilitation Engineering: For those who undertake mechanical, electronic or electrical engineering activities involving wheelchairs, assistive technology, communication devices, or telecare.

             IV.  Renal Technology:  For those who undertake mechanical, electronic or electrical engineering involving renal technology equipment. 

             V.   Nuclear Medicine:  For those who undertake clinical physics activities in the field of Nuclear Medicine. These are undertaken in the radiopharmacy, radionuclide imaging or non-imaging environment.

             VI.  Radiotherapy Physics: For those who undertake clinical physics activities in the field of Radiotherapy. These are undertaken in the mould room, dose planning, brachytherapy, dosimetry, computing, or quality control environment.

             VII. Radiation Physics: For those who undertake clinical physics activities in the field of Radiation Physics. These are undertaken in the areas of ionising and non-ionising radiation protection, or, ionising and non-ionising diagnostic radiology, including ultrasound, photomedicine or lasers.

5.   Enter the details of each professional body of which you are a member.  Registrants are not required to be members of a professional body, however it is strongly recommended that you are, in order to demonstrate the requirements for inclusion on the Voluntary Register.  Continue on a separate sheet if necessary.

6.    Your supporters should be Registered Clinical Technologists, Registered Clinical Scientists, or, other appropriate Registered Health Care Professionals, or, Chartered or Incorporated Engineers working in health care, or, Fellows, Corporate or Incorporated Members of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Association of Renal Technologists, or, other appropriate professional body.

Your proposers should know you well and should be able to vouch for the accuracy of all the information you have given on the form.  They may be approached for references.  It is preferable that the person to whom you are directly responsible is named as one of your proposers.

[[1]]   An individual who is working unsupervised takes responsibility for the actions that they perform whilst undertaking the duties of their post.   In this context working unsupervised does not refer to an individual's line management structure.