How to become a medical physicist in the NHS

Medical physicists design, develop and test the scanning, imaging and treatment equipment used to diagnose and treat patients. The usual graduate route is a physics-heavy degree followed by the three-year NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP). The National Careers Service gives typical pay of £40,000 for a starter to £65,000 with experience, and NHS Health Careers says qualified clinical scientists are generally appointed at band 7.

What the job involves

The National Careers Service lists designing and developing systems that diagnose and treat conditions, monitoring equipment to make sure it is accurate, safe and well maintained, planning treatment programmes, analysing test results, running computer simulations and mathematical models, writing reports, and training hospital staff in the safe use of equipment. Hours are 37 to 42 a week, with evening, weekend and bank holiday work on a rota.

Radiotherapy physics is one branch. NHS Health Careers describes it as responsible for the precision and accuracy of radiotherapy treatment: creating treatment plans from computer calculations, planning beams to limit dose to surrounding tissue, and making sure equipment is calibrated and used safely. Other branches include imaging, nuclear medicine and radiation safety. You work alongside therapeutic radiographers, oncologists and other healthcare scientists, and the radiography assistant guide covers a support role in the same imaging teams.

Routes in

The National Careers Service gives four.

• University: a degree with a high level of physics, then the three-year STP. The STP asks for a first or upper second class honours degree, or a relevant master’s such as theoretical physics. Entry to the degree is usually five GCSEs including English, maths and science, and two or three A levels including maths and physics.
• Apprenticeship: a Healthcare Science Practitioner level 6 degree apprenticeship combining work and university study. Years 1 and 2 cover broad science and you specialise in medical physics in year 3.
• Work: start as a healthcare science assistant or associate and move to a degree apprenticeship with experience.
• NHS Practitioner Training Programme: a healthcare science degree with workplace training, entered without a prior degree, then specialising in medical physics. It asks for five GCSEs and at least two A levels, including maths or a science.

Our NHS apprenticeships guide explains how degree apprenticeships are advertised.

The Scientist Training Programme

STP recruitment runs on an annual cycle. NHS Health Careers says applications usually open in early January for the following autumn intake, through the National School of Healthcare Science, and that competition for places is strong. Our clinical scientist guide sets out what the programme involves and how it leads to Health and Care Professions Council registration for clinical scientists. The National Careers Service page for medical physicists does not mention registration, so check the advert for the post you want.

Bands and pay

NHS Health Careers says healthcare science practitioners usually start on band 5, trainee clinical scientists train at band 6, qualified clinical scientists are generally appointed at band 7, and posts up to band 9 are possible with experience and further qualifications. In England from 1 April 2026 band 7 runs from £49,387 to £56,515; see the band 7 guide. The standard week in the NHS is 37.5 hours and shift patterns are common. Terms outside the NHS can differ.

Progression

Typical next steps are principal medical physicist, hospital department manager, higher education and research, or medical equipment manufacturing. The Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) offers membership with professional development and training.

Skills the role calls for

The National Careers Service lists science and medical knowledge, analytical thinking, maths, complex problem solving, teamwork, logical reasoning, strong written communication and competent use of computers and software. Your reports and presentations go to scientific and non-scientific audiences, so you need to explain technical results plainly. Work is based in NHS or private hospitals or laboratories, and protective clothing may be needed. NHS Health Careers adds that most medical physics work is based in a hospital medical physics department, though roles can be found across the hospital, often alongside healthcare scientists and doctors.

Applying

Hospital medical physics departments advertise on NHS Jobs, and the STP is applied for separately each winter. A strong physics and maths record counts, so say which modules, research projects and placements are relevant to a hospital physics department.