Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Critical Care Degree Apprenticeship

Enabling healthcare professionals to prepare for advanced clinical roles while in employment
ACCP

Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Critical Care Degree Apprenticeship

Enabling healthcare professionals to prepare for advanced clinical roles while in employment
As of 1 January 2026, government funding for Level 7 apprenticeships is restricted to learners aged 16-21, and under 25 for care leavers and those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) at the start of their apprenticeship in England.
NHS England has announced a mitigation fund to support training for this programme.
Organisations should submit expressions of interest to NHS England. For more information on this new funding route, please contact your local NHS England contact.
Applications for September 2027 will open Monday 8 February 2027. 
If you have an enquiry about any of the apprenticeships at the University of Plymouth, please complete the below form.
Enquiry form
The total course cost for the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Critical Care is £12,000. 
Year One
You will study two core modules in your first year:
  • Core Skills for Advanced Critical Care Practitioners 1: This module aims to equip the Advanced Critical Care Practitioner trainees with the core skills in clinical history taking, examination and applied anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of critical illness. The ACCP will develop advanced clinical decision making skills in the critical care setting to facilitate a high degree of autonomous practice.
  • Advanced Concepts in Research - Methodology and Methods: The aim of this module is to enable students to build on their undergraduate research knowledge to develop a deeper understanding of research methodologies and research methods. The module will also prepare students for their chosen form of final programme module. The module is designed to be delivered face-to-face, blended learning and/or via distance learning approaches.
Year Two
In your second year, you will study two core modules:
  • Core Skills for Advanced Critical Care Practitioners 2: This module extends the knowledge, skills and competencies learned in Core Skills for Advanced Critical Care Practitioners 1. New concepts of specialist intensive care and dealing with complex patients with multiple pathologies will be acquired. The ACCP will develop higher level decision making and diagnostic skills, to enable independent autonomous practice.
  • Independent and Supplementary Prescribing: This module will enable health care professionals to apply theoretical, analytical and clinical principles of prescribing within their field of practice.
Final Year
In your final year, you will work towards:
  • Substantive professional project
  • End point assessment

Introduction

We are delighted to be offering the first Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Critical Care apprenticeship in the South West. 
This is a valuable opportunity for registered nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals to prepare for work in an advanced clinical role by studying for a work-integrated masters degree in Advanced Clinical Practice in Critical Care while in employment.
This programme has been designed by sector specialists to meet the needs of health professionals across all healthcare sectors, allowing your employees to lead and transform service delivery through research-informed clinical practice. 
As an advanced clinical practitioner in critical care, you'll confidently drive service improvements, provide professional leadership and supervision in complex situations, and manage defined episodes of critical care and treatment independently from beginning to end. 
This contemporary and flexibly-focused programme will equip the clinician to take on a lead role in supporting and meeting the demands of the ever-changing health service.

Programme overview

  • Apprentices will be employed as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Critical Care Trainee throughout the duration of the programme.
  • This is a Level 7 programme – apprentices will graduate with an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice in Critical Care
  • Apprentices will remain as part of the workforce and continue to contribute to patient care while working towards their qualification.

Advanced Clinical Practitioner Pathways

Advanced Clinical Practice

Who is this programme for?

This is an exciting opportunity for registered nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. 
This programme is aimed at multi-professionals from a variety of clinical settings who wish to develop their research and leadership skills and clinical expertise at masters level.
This programme will be of interest to those wishing to work at advanced levels of practice or those who are currently working as specialist practitioners in bespoke clinical areas.
 

Course facts

Duration: 3 years, plus apprenticeship assessment
Study expectations per week: 
Employees will have seven and a half hours of protected study time per week.
Delivery type: 
Full-time programme with a blended approach to learning with face-to-face study days at the University and highly directed online study resources.
Entry requirements:
  • GCSE English Grade C/4 or accepted equivalent*
  • GCSE Maths Grade C/4 or accepted equivalent*
  • First degree at 2:2 or above
  • A minimum of three year's post-registration experience and currently working in a role that facilitates advanced clinical practice
  • The apprentice must be on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register or the Allied Health Professionals Council register
  • Must be older than 18 years and have legally left school on the start date of the apprenticeship
  • Must have lived in the UK/EEA for the last three years
  • Must spend at least 50% of the working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship
*Other alternative qualifications may be considered please contact us for more information.
 

Key benefits

  • @Support – Apprentices will be supported by experienced academic clinicians who all currently work in clinical practice.

  • @Flexibility – a contemporary and dynamic programme which can be linked to the apprentice's current practice area and is responsive to the changing healthcare environment.

  • @Highest quality education – teaching is always current and integrates best practice, through internationally renowned research and national frameworks and policies.

  • @An education provider you can trust – we’re one of the largest providers of healthcare education in the South West, with an excellent reputation for delivering healthcare study at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Assessment

The apprentice will be assessed utilising a diverse range of assessment methods which will be linked to their own practice.
Throughout the programme apprentices will also be required to maintain an electronic portfolio of evidence of learning, which on successful completion of the programme will become a lifelong source to evidence your professional practice.

Support

Our experienced clinicians will be there to support the ACCP trainees every step of the way; they will receive 12 weekly tripartite meetings with their workplace mentor and a member of our apprenticeship team to discuss their progress, as well as receiving visits from their academic tutor once every semester.
Advanced Clinical Practice
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