VRCT Voluntary
Register of
Clinical
Technologists
Regulating the Clinical Technologist Profession

The Clinical Technologist: Scope of Practice

Clinical Technologists are Healthcare Scientists specialising in the practical application of physics, engineering and technology to clinical practice.  They work in NHS hospitals, private health care, academic institutions, and, the medical device industry. 

Clinical Technologists perform invasive procedures on patients, or, make clinical interventions, or, exercise judgement that can substantially impact on patient health or welfare.  When acting autonomously within their area of expertise they have potential to cause harm to patients.

The practice of Clinical Technologists is divided into Clinical Physics and Clinical Engineering.  They work in the following disciplines:

Clinical Physics Technologist

Nuclear Medicine:-                     Practiced by Nuclear Medicine Technologists
Radiotherapy Physics:-              Practiced by Radiotherapy Physics Technologists
Radiation Physics :-                   Practiced by Radiation Physics Technologists

Clinical Engineering Technologist

Medical Engineering:-                 Practiced by Medical Engineering Technologists
Radiation Engineering:-              Practiced by Radiation Engineering Technologists
Rehabilitation Engineering:-        Practiced by Rehabilitation Engineering Technologists
Renal Technology:-                     Practiced by Renal Technologists

The scope of practice of each of these disciplines is described in the attached document.  For each discipline there is an introduction, a broad overview, and, a description of the specialised tasks practiced.  The scope of practice statements describes the attributes that would be expected from a newly qualified Clinical Technologist at the point of registration. This document is considered to be in draft format until the regulation process is formally accepted and becomes statutory

Scopes of Practice (Draft)