Medical physicist
Medical physicists design, develop and test the scanning and imaging equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Also known as: Clinical scientist, healthcare scientist
- Starter salary£40,000 a year
- Experienced£65,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 42 a week
What you'll do
As a medical physicist, you could:
- design and develop systems to diagnose and treat health conditions
- monitor equipment to make sure it's accurate, safe and well-maintained
- plan treatment programmes and explain procedures to patients
- carry out procedures and analyse test results
- do research using computer simulations and mathematical modelling
- write reports and present to scientific and non scientific audiences
- train hospital staff in the safe use of equipment
Working environment
You could work in an NHS or private hospital or in a laboratory.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- science skills
- knowledge of medicine
- analytical thinking skills
- maths knowledge
- complex problem-solving skills
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- excellent written communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a medical physicist
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- a trainee scheme
University
To become a medical physicist, you'll need a degree that includes a high level of physics, for example:
- applied physics
- physics and mathematics
- astrophysics
- physics with nuclear technology
You would then move on to the the 3-year NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) .
You'll need a first or upper second class honours degree to apply for the STP, or a postgraduate master's qualification in a relevant subject like theoretical physics.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and physics
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Apprenticeship
You can train for this job by applying for a place on a Healthcare Science Practitioner Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
This combines work-based learning with study at university.
The first 2 years cover broad based science. In your third year you can specialise in medical physics.
Entry requirements
To do this apprenticeship, you'll need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
Work
You might be able to start work as a healthcare science assistant or associate and with experience, move on to a degree apprenticeship.
Other routes
You could apply for a place on the NHS Practitioner Training Programme without a degree.
You would study for a degree in healthcare science, which includes work-based training. You could then go on to specialise in medical physics.
To apply, you'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English, maths and a science
- at least 2 A levels including maths or a science
Career path and progression
With experience, you could:
- become a principal medical physicist
- manage a hospital department
- work in higher education and research
- move into the medical equipment manufacturing industry
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine , for professional development and training opportunities.
Guides for this industry
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