Frequently asked questions.
Who Are Clinical Technologists?Clinical Technologists are Healthcare Scientists who work in NHS hospitals, private health care, academic institutions, and the medical device industry. Clinical Technology is concerned with the practical application of physics, engineering and technology to clinical practice. These are applied to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human disease, and maintaining and improving the quality of life. Return to FAQ's list Why Regulate?Clinical Technologists perform invasive procedures on an individual basis with patients, or, make clinical interventions, or, exercise judgment that can substantially impact on patient health or welfare. When acting autonomously within their area of expertise they have potential to cause harm. It is the potential to cause harm that is of importance when deciding whether to regulate a profession or not. Accordingly, it follows that there is a need to regulate the profession in order to ensure the protection of the public. Return to FAQ's list Who Are the VRCT?The VRCT is a partnership of three professional bodies: the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), the Association of Renal Technologists (ART), and, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). The VRCT is administered by IPEM. Return to FAQ's list Who Administers the VRCTThe VRCT is administered by IPEM in partnership with the IET and ART. It is managed by a group of experienced VRCT Registrants selected by the professional bodies to form the VRCT Assessors' Panel. The Panel elects the VRCT Registrar who chairs all meetings. This Panel is responsible for managing the Register; assessing all applications and conducting consultations and discussions with other organisations. The Panel consists of three representatives from IPEM, two from IET and one from ART. Return to FAQ's list Why can't the individual Clinical Technologist disciplines each make their own application to become regulated?Clinical Technologists work in a range of disciplines, including non-engineering areas such as; nuclear medicine, radiotherapy physics, and, radiation physics. Those disciplines which involve engineering are; rehabilitation engineering, medical engineering, radiation engineering and renal technology. The historical perspective has been that these groups tend to work together in medical physics and clinical engineering departments, hence, the linkage between non-engineering and engineering disciplines. Over the last fifty plus years the various professional bodies that have represented Clinical Technologists have fought long and hard to raise the profile of the profession and to argue the case for formalising their education and training. In the intervening years there have been many initiatives which have been tried and failed - until recently. The historical perspective for the development of the profession is explained above; hence all of the disciplines are working together under the collective banner of the title Clinical Technologist. Additionally, when the VRCT was first set-up, the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM - the predecessor body of the HPC) indicated that any new applications for professional regulation would require significant numbers in the profession (Our constituent disciplines only have three to four thousand workers). As a result of that advice it was decided to proceed with an application which represented the majority of Clinical Technologists working in physics, engineering and technology related to healthcare. Return to FAQ's list What is the difference between registration with the Health Professions Council and the Engineering Council?The Engineering Council UK (ECUK) exists to regulate the engineering profession in the UK. Its mission is to set and maintain realistic and internationally relevant standards of professional competence and ethics for engineers, technologists and technicians, and to license competent institutions to promote and uphold the standards. ECUK has around 248,000 registrants. The Health Professions Council (HPC) exists to safeguard the health and well-being of persons using or needing the services of registrants. HPC carries out regulation alone though it does involve stakeholders and others in consultation and practical work on several of its committees. The HPC Register has separate sections for each of the thirteen professions it currently regulates, all at the same level. The levels equate to a basic qualification for entry to each profession and do not equate to the standards required for registration with ECUK. Each profession has its own title protected by the statutes which set up the HPC. HPC has around 158,000 registrants. Return to FAQ's list Why join the Voluntary Register of Clinical Technologists now?The experience of other professions recently registered, and now under the regulatory regime of the HPC, indicates that some form of grandparenting arrangements will be introduced to facilitate the initial establishment of the legal register. Professions that had voluntary registers of good standing have been able to have their registrants transferred to the new register as one group. It is hoped that similar principles will apply to those who join the VRCT before a date yet to be specified when a new HPC register is formed that will include Clinical Technologists. Return to FAQ's list Who is eligible to join the VRCT?The VRCT is open to all working in a technical role in the field of medical physics, clinical engineering, medical equipment maintenance or medical equipment manufacturing. Individuals who wish to join the Voluntary Register are likely to come from the following settings: - 1) Those employed in the public or private health care sectors, and, who work in medical physics, clinical engineering, medical equipment maintenance or medical equipment manufacturing. 2) Those working in academic organisations dealing with biological science, physical science or engineering who are involved in providing a technical or educational service to health care. Return to FAQ's list How to apply to join the Voluntary Register?To apply for the Voluntary Register you need to email enquiries@vrct.org.uk requesting an application form or you may print a copy using the following link: VRCT application form. Work is currently underway to facilitate an online application service. All applications to join the Voluntary Register of Clinical Technologists must be made via the appropriate application form and be accompanied by the application fee (£30). The candidate should submit the original application form and one copy. Please note this is not an application for membership of IET or its two partners in the Voluntary Register, ART and IPEM. Return to FAQ's list What are the criteria for entry on to the Register?The Primary Criterion for entry onto the Voluntary Register is as follows: Successful completion of an approved vocational degree or post graduate diploma, or, an approved training scheme. Training schemes currently available are: The Training Scheme for Clinical Technologists specialising in Physics and Engineering in Health Care organised by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine. Further information is available here. Alternatively, candidates may apply through the Grandparenting Provision. The criteria for entry onto the Voluntary Register through Grandparenting provision are available here. Return to FAQ's list I am already registered with the Engineering Council but have only recently joined the Clinical Technologist profession - can I join the VRCT now?Only those individuals who meet the qualifying criteria can join the VRCT (see above) whether they are registered with the Engineering Council or not! If you have extensive education and experience elsewhere or are registered with the Engineering Council this may shorten the time you need to take before you are eligible to join the Register. Return to FAQ's list Why do I have to pay a fee?It is normal practice to pay a fee to be a member of a register. The Voluntary Register like the formal register costs money to administer. The VRCT has kept the charges to a minimum and they compare very favourably with the other groups in a similar situation who are also running voluntary registers. It is anticipated that charges will rise considerably, although it is expected that as part of the Agenda for Change reorganisation, those on the formal register will be able to get an allowance towards their fees. Return to FAQ's list What about field service personnel - do they need to join the Register?Only those claiming to be Clinical Technologists, or, those who fulfil the scope of practice of one of the constituent disciplines can join the Register. If an individual only undertakes a sub-set of the scope of practice, such as ,repairing and maintaining medical equipment, it could well be that they are not operating as a Clinical Technologist and therefore not eligible to join. It will depend very much on the requirements of individual employers and also the experience of each individual. Return to FAQ's list I am already registered with the Health Professions Council as a Radiographer but I am working as a Clinical Technologist - should I join the VRCT?As you are already registered with the HPC there is no need to join the VRCT. However, it may well be that, once the Clinical Technologist profession becomes regulated by the HPC, you may be required to decide which part of the HPC Register you need to be aligned with. Return to FAQ's list Important Update (September 2006):Grandparenting provision will not be available to any individual who commences first employment as a Clinical Technologists on or after 1st January 2007. Those individuals will only be able to join the Register if they fulfil the requirements of the primary criterion. Return to FAQ's list DownloadsTo view and print any file in Portable Document Format (PDF) downloaded from this site, you need the Adobe Reader free software. It may be downloaded from the Adobe web site (opens in new window). |