Pathology Level 2

The Level 2 Healthcare Science Assistant apprenticeship is designed to introduce apprentices to the foundational knowledge and skills of working within the healthcare science environment. On the pathology pathway, we focus on laboratory skills and safe specimen handling so that apprentices can explore the role the laboratory plays in the patient care pathway.

You will complete seven core units alongside other healthcare science apprentices who may come from roles such as ophthalmology, decontamination science or cardiac physiology. These lessons allow for collaboration between different disciplines and an introduction to the wider healthcare environment.

Core units include topics such as:

• Health and Safety  
• The Role of the Healthcare Scientist 
• Principles of patient care 
• Health and Disease 

Pathology apprentices will then go on to complete an additional specialised unit titled “Receiving, Sorting, Transporting and Storing Laboratory Specimens” which will allow them to develop key skills in the specimen reception environment.

Through work based assessment and knowledge based tasks apprentices will show their skills in areas such as:

• Handling hazardous material correctly 
• How to process sensitive information following data protection laws 
• Correct separation and storage of specimens 
• When to reject specimens 
• Correct transport of specimens, and more

Upon completing the level 2 programme, you may progress onto the level 4 healthcare science apprenticeship to continue developing your role. This can open up options to become a band 4 associate practitioner and eventually complete the level 6 biomedical science degree apprenticeship.

There is growing demand for pathology services and staff with the expertise to maintain laboratory efficiency through technical competence and theoretical knowledge. According to the Royal College of Pathology, over 300,000 pathology tests are performed across the UK every day. Pathology is an important part of the patient pathway, providing diagnostic investigations and monitoring for over 95% of patients receiving care.

Taught lessons take place once a month, followed by 4-weeks to complete the assignment tasks.  

Assessment is split into knowledge and skills, with knowledge tasks giving apprentices time to research and develop academic writing skills alongside an understanding of the topic. Skills assignments are where apprentices can show how they meet the criteria in the workplace, completing tasks such as photo diaries, annotated forms and witness testimonies.

Our Health and Disease unit introduces apprentices to the concept of general health, national health organisations and the principles of health management. Apprentices will also explore the different types of disease, including causes, symptoms, and infection prevention. This provides apprentices with excellent foundational knowledge for how pathology plays a role in disease diagnostics and infection control.  

Our unit on specimen reception also allows apprentices to look into their own working practice and develop the confidence and skills to work in a specimen reception based role safely, with good scientific practice. Apprentices will have the chance to showcase their work based achievements for evidence including competency assessment, signed checklists and witness testimonies.