We are proposing to retire this apprenticeship for new starts due to no/very low starts. If you would like to feed in any views on this intention, please email healthsciencecare.skillsengland@dwp.gov.uk by 19th October 2026. Please note that retirement of this standard has not yet been authorised.
Rigorous robust and independent assessment undertaken by an apprentice at the end of training to test that the apprentice can perform in the occupation they have been trained in and can demonstrate the duties, and knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) set out in the occupational standard
End-point assessment organisation (EPAO)
An organisation approved to deliver end-point assessment for a particular apprenticeship standard. EPAOs must be on the register of end-point assessment organisations
Holistic or synoptic
Assessment of an apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours in an integrated way i.e. assessing several KSBs at the same time
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB)
What is needed to competently undertake the duties required for an occupational standard
Valid
Referred to in relation to assessment methods; fit for purpose
Change request policy
Most changes to an apprenticeship are made as a result of a holistic review of it. We prioritise the need for such reviews based on a range of factors. These include:
the time since the apprenticeship was developed or last reviewed (taking account of its typical duration)
the existence of any known problems with it (e.g. lower than expected starts, low achievement rate, high withdrawal rate, any issues with the availability of training or end-point assessment provision)
whether the apprenticeship is currently subject to a dispensation
the relative significance of the apprenticeship based on how many users it has
The availability of an employer group to support a review and its potential impact on any related technical education product also inform the timing of a review.
Details of apprenticeships that are currently being revised or adjusted are available in our revisions and adjustments status report.
Employers involved in creating the standard: Applebee Advisory, Mary Lyon Centre, UKRI MRC Harwell, The Francis Crick Institute, Venture Forward, Labcorp, Babraham Institute, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cancer Research UK, IAT Education, Imperial College London, Kings College London, Sanger Institute, S3 Life Sciences
