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Transitioning to a healthcare student

Transitioning to a healthcare student

There are a number of opportunities for you to use your valuable experience as a Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) to become a registered practitioner. All of these routes involve formal education with a university or College to gain the underpinning knowledge and skills required to be registered. Some programmes will allow you to remain in post as a HCSW, for example the Open University nursing programmes.

It is a big step to take, therefore speaking to HCSWs who have taken this route, your line manager, practice educators and practice development teams to gain as much information is important. Your local College or University will give you a clear idea of what your options are for developing your career into a registered healthcare role. Discussing your aspirations and seeking support from family and friends can be helpful.

The HCSW Development and Education Framework sets out the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) qualifications for levels 2-4 HCSW (See Appendix 3). 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) supports the use of evidence of work-based experience and learning to support personal and career development.  Learning providers such as Colleges and Universities can assess your evidence to see how much academic credit you can use towards your planned learning.

RPL can help value and build on the learning achieved informally and to use this to:

  • Build confidence and motivate staff to apply for jobs
  • Provide evidence to support a qualification or training course
  • Provide evidence towards a qualification or for a job application
  • Map prior learning to the HCSW Development and Education Framework, if transferring from another Board area or previous employment

More information about RPL can be found:

RPL Guiding Principles
RPL Manager Guide
RPL User Guide
RPL short animation

An effective way to record learning and development is to use the Turas Learning Portfolio (Recognition of Prior Learning, RPL). The Learning Portfolio is available free to all HCSWs who wish to use an individual electronic Portfolio to record evidence of their previous, current or new learning. Other options are available to record your learning such as hard copy and Word versions.