Apprenticeship Standard: Operating Department Practitioner L6

The End-Point Assessment (EPA) is a crucial component of apprenticeship standards, designed to evaluate an apprentice’s knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) acquired during their training. The EPA typically includes a combination of practical assessments, professional discussions, and portfolio reviews, ensuring apprentices are fully prepared for their chosen career. This assessment is carried out independently by an End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO), ensuring impartiality and fairness. Employers play a key role in confirming readiness for the EPA, supporting apprentices throughout the process to achieve successful outcomes.

EPA (End Point Assessment) methods

• This apprenticeship has a fully integrated EPA.
• The EPA starts with the examination board and finishes when the AEI makes the required declarations to the NMC. The apprentice is not required to carry out any additional assessments.
• This process typically takes place within 1 month of the training plan being completed by the apprentice.

From the start of your apprenticeship, you will need to be employed full-time (30 hours or more per week) in an appropriate healthcare setting.

If you are not already employed in a health or social care setting, you should contact NHS Trusts and other healthcare organisations in your area to check if they are recruiting apprentices.

For entry, you will need to have 112 UCAS tariff points made up from:

• A-Levels
• BTEC National Awards
• International Baccalaureate
• Access to Higher Education Diploma

Or

• Diploma in Health and Social Care (level 3)/NVQ (level3)

Or

• Foundation Degree

You will also need at least three GCSEs at grade 4/C or above including mathematics and English or a recognised level 2 equivalent.

Where English is not the applicant’s first language, the applicant should have successfully completed an IELTS test with a score of 7.0 and no element below 6.5.

Consideration will be given to applicants with substantive and relevant work experience.

Occupational health and DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks are carried out by the employer. Completion of the Care Certificate is desirable prior to starting the programme, as completion of the Care Certificate within 3 months of commencing the programme is a requirement of the Apprenticeship Standard.

The course fees are shared between the government and employers

Further costs may include (but are not limited to):

• Resources: you may need to purchase books for your studies, as well as specific computer software (estimate, £150 per year)
• Memberships: applying for membership of a professional body at the end of the course may incur further costs.

During the programme you will complete a minimum of 1800 hours in practice during the 3-years full time.

Placement is an opportunity to relate theory learned in the programme to practice and to develop the professional, team working decision-making skills which are required of an Operating Department Practitioner.