Description
This qualification is no longer available to new students. You must complete your study by 31 December 2026. If you would like to discuss your options with one of our advisers, please contact us.
This qualification will prepare you for an advanced clinical practice role by developing your knowledge and critical understanding of advanced clinical practice, leadership and management, research and education - the four pillars that underpin advanced practice - and developing skills that enable you to act with a high level of autonomy. You’ll enhance your skills in holistic and systematic assessment, complex decision making, and the provision of high-quality evidence-based interventions for patients, clients and their families. You should be supported by your healthcare employer, and, by studying while you work, your learning will be strengthened by applying theory to your scope of practice.
Key features of the course
- Encompasses the four pillars that underpin advanced clinical practice - clinical practice, leadership and management, research, and education.
- Develops your core capabilities for Advanced Clinical Practice and area-specific clinical practice.
- Provides learning and development of your leadership skills at a clinical and strategic level to inform people management and service development.
- Learn to critically appraise, evaluate, implement and disseminate research to support professional practice in your clinical environment.
Planning your studies
You will need to:
- hold a degree in a health-related discipline. Applicants with evidence of equivalent professional development or academic proficiency will be considered. Applicants with non-European academic qualifications will need to supply evidence of equivalency through UK ENIC (formally NARIC).
- be currently registered with one of the statutory regulators of health and care professions.
- be employed as a health care professional.
- provide evidence of your employer’s recommendation for your application for a programme of study leading to an Advanced Practice role, including a formal reference from the employer confirming the applicant demonstrates professional values and behaviours, respecting people’s diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values and preferences, and shows respect and empathy acting as a role model for others. It should also confirm your ‘clinical readiness’ to undertake the programme.
- show evidence of employer support to undertake the programme including; the provision of a mentor to ensure appropriate learning in practice; the availability of appropriate supervision in clinical practice; and the provision of a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) with evidence of a qualification at level 7 during the Non-Medical prescribing module.
- have relevant post-qualification experience, as specified by the appropriate regulatory body.
How to apply
Applications to study this qualification in September 2023 are now closed.
Employers
If you're interested in this programme for your staff, you can find out more employer related information here.
How long it takes
This qualification is no longer available to new students. You must complete your study by 31 December 2026. It is expected that most students will complete the qualification in the minimum time of approximately 2.5 years by studying 60 credits a year.
Career relevance and employability
You’ll be employed as a health professional when you start the course and have approval from your designated employer to undertake the qualification.
Once qualified, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to work as an advanced clinical practitioner in a wide variety of clinical settings across primary and secondary care and other health and social care providers.
Please note that this masters degree does not qualify you for HEE accreditation.
Modules
To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits by completing three modules in the order specified below.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you’ve successfully completed some relevant postgraduate study elsewhere, you might be able to count it towards this qualification, reducing the number of modules you need to study.
You should apply for credit transfer as soon as possible, before you register for your first module. For more details and an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.
On completion
On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice. You’ll be entitled to use the letters MSc ACP (Open) after your name.
If your masters degree is awardable with a distinction or a merit, the qualification regulations explain how you can achieve these.
You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification