Medical physicist

Medical physicists apply the principles of physics to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. They might work on equipment that forms images of the body, such as ultrasound, or that treats patients, for example, in radiotherapy. They also work on physiological equipment, which measures processes in the body.

Work activities

Medical physicists’ work varies widely. It can include:

Researching, designing and developing new equipment to aid diagnosis and treatment.
Working in a team to plan treatment that includes using equipment, for example, in radiotherapy or laser treatment.
Setting up, testing and preparing new equipment.
Using mathematical and computer models to solve clinical problems.
Advising medical staff on the results of patient tests.
Having patient contact in some areas of work, for example, explaining procedures to patients.
Providing radiation protection advice and services.
Maintaining hospital equipment.
Training medical and non-scientific staff to use equipment.
Teaching new medical physicists.

Medical physicists are often part of a multi-disciplinary team with other clinical scientists, clinicians and technologists.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a medical physicist, you’ll need:

A high level of ability in physics.
Computer skills.
An enquiring mind.
The ability to lead research and development work.
Teamwork skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
The ability to cope with high levels of responsibility, as patients’ lives or safety might depend on your decisions and advice.
A professional approach to your work, with high ethical standards.
The ability to put patients at their ease.
Accuracy and attention to detail.
High levels of concentration.
Good problem-solving skills.

Pay and opportunities

The pay rates given are approximate. In the NHS, medical physicists train at band 6 of the Agenda for Change payscale, starting on around £35,392 per year. You could progress up to band 9, earning £99,891.

Medical physicists usually work a 37.5-hour week, Monday to Friday. Some need to work shifts on a rota basis.

Employers include the NHS, private hospitals and the armed forces. Opportunities for medical physicists occur in hospitals in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on the NHS Jobs website, in local/national newspapers and on job boards.

Entry routes and training

To become a medical physicist, there are three possible entry routes.

The Practitioner Training Programme (PTP) involves a BSc degree in healthcare science. You can choose to follow a specialist pathway: radiotherapy physics, radiation physics or nuclear medicine. The degree combines academic learning and workplace-based training. It includes 50 weeks of work-based training in the NHS over the three years of the course.

Entry is also possible through the graduate-entry Scientist Training Programme (STP). For this, you’ll usually need at least a 2:1 in a degree subject that’s relevant to medical physics. Entry can be possible with a 2:2 if you also have a relevant postgraduate qualification. Medical physics training includes topics such as radiation safety physics, radiotherapy physics and imaging science. You’ll be employed by an NHS Trust throughout your training and work towards an accredited Master’s degree.

A third option is to complete a level 6 (degree) apprenticeship in the role of healthcare science practitioner. This way you will gain relevant qualifications while completing most of your training on the job. You will specialise in medical physics in your third year after studying the physics more broadly in your first two years.

Medical physicists can specialise, in areas such as radiation protection, nuclear medicine or physiological measurement. They can also progress to management, research or teaching posts.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: In the NHS, this career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

For entry to an accredited course in healthcare science (nuclear medicine or radiotherapy physics), you’ll typically usually need:

Three A-levels, with at least one in maths or physics.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in your A-level subjects.
A further two to three GCSEs at grades 9-4, including maths and English.

Alternatives to GCSE Physics are:

Science and Additional Science.
Science and Additional Applied Science.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

Entry to the NHS Scientist Training Programme is usually with at least a 2:1 degree in a subject relevant to medical physics.

To begin a degree apprenticeship, you will typically need two relevant A-levels/equivalent. Consider studying physics and other science subjects to give yourself the best preparation.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have industrial experience and/or a postgraduate qualification.

If you don’t have the qualifications you need to enter a degree course, you might be able to start one after completing a college or university Access course, such as Access to Science. You don’t usually need any qualifications to start an Access course, although you should check this with the course provider.

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