Apprenticeships


You can train as a pharmacologist through an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is a job that combines studying with on-the-job training. Your employment starts from the day that you begin your apprenticeship. There are benefits to training in this way. For example, you will:

  • Gain a qualification and job-specific skills
  • Earn a salary and get holiday pay 
  • Have study time away from your job
  • Avoid student loans or tuition fees
  • Gain hands-on training in a real working environment
  • Enjoy a varied learning experience

What skills do I need?

There are different levels of apprenticeships. The entry requirements for an apprenticeship vary depending on the level you apply for. For example, a level two (intermediate) apprenticeship requires five GCSE passes at grades A*-C or 9-4. 

Apprenticeships are advertised on employer websites and details of the level and entry requirements are included in the vacancy details.

Apprenticeship examples

Integrated Apprenticeship in Clinical Pharmacology - King's College London

King’s College London is the first and only UK university to be approved as a training provider for Level 7 Apprenticeship Standard for Clinical Pharmacology Scientists. This career development apprenticeship is intended for all those involved in clinical pharmacology studies and early stage clinical research in both the public and private sector.

This apprenticeship follows the Clinical Pharmacology Scientist apprenticeship standard, developed by the Clinical Pharmacology Skills Alliance (a partnership between the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, the British Pharmacological Society, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine and Health Education England). Find out more below.


Health Science Practitioner Apprentice Scheme - Richmond Pharmacology

This entry-level apprentice scheme is offered by Richmond Pharmacology. In this video, you can hear from Jedi Perkins, a Clinical Trials Associate who first joined Richmond Pharmacology as an apprentice (relevant sections starts around 1 min 8 secs).

 


 

Clinical Pharmacology Scientist apprenticeship standard

The Clinical Pharmacology Skills Alliance (a partnership between the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, the British Pharmacological Society, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine and Health Education England) worked with employers, setting up a Trailblaxer Group to develop the Clinical Pharmacology Scientist apprenticeship standard

The broad purpose of the Clinical Pharmacology Scientist occupation is to design, analyse, interpret and report clinical research and clinical trials aimed at understanding what a drug is doing to the body (pharmacodynamics), what happens to the a drug in the body (pharmacokinetics) and how it works in terms of treating a particular disease. They will also offer clinical pharmacology expertise to resolve issues that arise during conduct of studies. It is a varied role, supporting the discovery and development of new medicines, and improving understanding of existing ones. 

The apprenticeship is intended for practicing Clinical Pharmacology Scientists working in one of the following settings: the NHS, academia, regulatory authorities, Clinical Research Facilities, Clinical Research Organisations and the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries. 

The scheme is currently offered by King's College London as their Integrated Apprenticeship in Clinical Pharmacology.



Find out more about apprenticeships