Education Pathways

Scottish Government (2017) Transforming Roles Paper 5

Advanced Practice Career

Healthcare professionals can commence the various advanced practice pathways to gain the recommended post graduate masters (SQCF Level 11) diploma and demonstrate competence in advanced level practice.

Depending on your advanced practice career will determine the post graduate qualifications credits required, and recommend discussing your advanced practice career with your employer to confirm commitment, study leave and support as below;

  • 60 credits: Post graduate Certificate (PgDip)
  • 120 credits: Post graduate Diploma (PgDip)
  • 160 credits: Post graduate Masters degree (MSc)

Financial support: review your employer, professional body, and HEI links to apply for financial support during your studies and recommend contacting the appropriate advanced practice programme for further information.

Higher Education Institutes (HEI) Scotland

Ten Higher Education Institutes (HEI) in Scotland offering various post graduate advanced practice programmes for wide range of health care professionals aligned to Scottish Government and NHS Education for Scotland Advanced Practice recommendations (click direct link to programmes).

Advanced Nurse Practitioner Regulation

The Scottish Government (2021) Advanced Nursing Practice & Advanced Practice Academies jointly agreed a position statement for register nurses to complete the final sign off portfolio which included evidence of academia to be registered on the Scotland’s Official Workforce Data. 

Nursing and Midwifery Council recently published advanced practice definition and principles as part of the advanced practice review

Please note: Midwifery and Allied Health Care professional bodies are currently reviewing standardisation of advanced practice.

National Health Service (NHS) Education for Scotland

Academic/theoretical preparation for our autonomous advanced clinical practice roles is a key element of the triangle of capability work articulated within Transforming Roles Papers in Scotland.

Our application of the theory to clinical practice needs both initial and ongoing assessment to assure competency in practice and robust role development. 

The NHS Education for Scotland Turas Professional Portfolio now plays a key role in allowing us a “one stop shop” for collating and sharing that evidence: for initial qualification, annual appraisal, and meeting revalidation requirements. 

NHS Education for Scotland (2025) TURAS

Professional Bodies

Some links to advanced practice professional bodies guidance;

Continuous Practice Development

Numerous areas have access to continuous professional development (CPD), click on exemplars for further information;

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