T Level industry placements in the NHS

A T Level industry placement is a block of at least 315 hours (about 45 days) with an employer, and in health many of those employers are NHS trusts. It is a compulsory part of the qualification for students aged 16 to 19 and is arranged through the school or college. That sets it apart from hospital work experience, which you apply for yourself.

What a T Level is

T Levels are two-year courses taken after GCSEs and are broadly equivalent in size to three A levels. Each combines classroom study with an industry placement. GOV.UK says the placement must last at least 315 hours and that employers can offer more, with typical placements running to around 350 hours. NHS Employers says placements usually take place in the second year and include no formal study time.

The NHS Employers guidance does not describe how students find a host, and it is written for employers. The practical starting point is your course tutor or the college’s placement team.

How the hours are split up

The 315 hours do not have to be one stretch. GOV.UK lists a single block, a series of blocks, day release or a mix. NHS Employers gives examples from trusts: three blocks of three weeks over the two years, a simulated health week followed by a community block and an acute block, or a fixed placement day each week across the college year.

There are limits on how the hours are made up. According to the NHS Employers FAQs:

• up to 35 hours can be work taster activities, such as a site visit or mandatory training;
• no more than 20 per cent can be done remotely;
• no more than a third can be in a skills hub or training centre;
• two employers is the recommended maximum, unless there is a specific reason for more.

Students can also spend part of the time on a small team project with peers, supervised by the employer.

What students do in an NHS setting

The guidance lists the kinds of area a health T Level student might work in: frailty and elderly care wards, theatres, outpatients, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, audiology, radiography, pharmacy, midwifery, community nursing and mental health nursing teams. Which of these you see depends on the trust and on your course. Employers may also add the Care Certificate, but it is optional.

Students are not staff. Employers are not responsible for teaching new skills, examining students or making sure students attend. They are expected to supervise, report absence to the provider and give feedback.

Age, checks and safety

NHS Employers says typical students are 16 to 19 and that under-18s can do clinical placements, with each organisation setting its own local policy. Some clinical areas may not suit a younger student, though other tasks in the same area might.

Checks are agreed between your provider and the trust. In one example from the guidance, the education provider completed DBS and occupational health checks before the first placement, and also delivered manual handling and basic life support training. The employer sets the DBS level according to what the student will do. The page on DBS check levels explains what each level covers.

Pay and expenses

Placements are part of a course, so there is no legal requirement to pay students. An employer can choose to pay or to cover travel, and some offer bank work once a student is competent. A contract is not required, although NHS Employers recommends a document setting out expectations, and bank roles need a contract. Check with your school or college what support exists before you start.

Where it can lead

After a health T Level, students can go straight into work or on to higher education. NHS Employers says some employers see graduates as ready for healthcare support worker roles or for level 4 or 5 apprenticeships. The NHS apprenticeships guide covers those routes, and public sector jobs for school leavers lists other starting points.

NHS Employers advises employers to encourage part-time or bank work during study. Placements that start between 23 April 2026 and 31 March 2027 are eligible for the Employer Support Fund, a fixed £800 per health T Level student shared between employers, and NHS Employers says there is no confirmation the fund will continue after that date.