Why study Advanced Clinical Practice Degree Apprenticeship at LJMU?
- Open to current employees of participating organisations*
- Newly validated for 2024 with updated module design to ensure clinical relevancy
- Mix of Core (compulsory) and Option modules reflecting current workforce development needs
- Taught by Advanced Clinical Practitioners and subject experts
- Supports the development of autonomous, evidence-based and holistically patient-focused practitioners
- Underpinned by the four pillars of advanced practice: clinical practice, research, education, and leadership and management
- Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2023 reports 100% of students find the course intellectually stimulating.
*If your organisation does not currently have a contract with LJMU to deliver this degree apprenticeship, please contact your Human Resources officer or NHS Trust training manager
Deadline for applications: 30th June 2025
About this course
Our MSc Advanced Clinical Practice masters apprenticeship allows you to individualise your postgraduate learning journey. Through a mix of core and option modules, reflecting a range of clinical specialties and areas of interest, you can tailor your study to best meet your career aspirations.
This two-year, part-time degree apprenticeship incorporates off-the-job learning to develop your knowledge, skills and the behaviours aligned to the Advance Clinical Practitioner apprenticeship standard (ST0564).
Year 1 of the degree apprenticeship consists of five core (compulsory) modules totalling 90 credits, with Introduction to the Principles of Advanced Clinical Practice as the initial module for all learners.
The following modules reflect each of the four pillars of advanced practice and are evenly weighted. This ensures that you gain a solid foundation of knowledge, skills and attributes in line with the Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice Capabilities (HEE, 2017), with the 'knowledge, skills and behaviours' of the Advanced Clinical Practitioner standard (ST0564) fully reflected.
In Year 2, you will undertake modules worth a further 90 credits, from a combination of core modules and two option modules (20 credits each). You can select either Independent and Supplementary Prescribing as an option module at the start of Year 2, or alternatively a module focussing on the development of advanced practice within your own area of specialist practice.
Following this, you will choose anther option module and undertake the development of your research inquiry.
The final element of the programme is a 20 credit integrated End-Point-Assessment module.
The programme is usually taught over one day a week. Year 1 is delivered on an alternate day to Year 2, providing flexibility within a full-time work basis.
Upon completing your degree apprenticeship, you will graduate with a Level 7 MSc Advanced Clinical Practice masters degree, totalling 180 credits.
Course modules
Discover the building blocks of your programme
In Year 1, all students will undertake five Core (compulsory) modules:
- Underpinning Principles of Advanced Clinical Practice
- Clinical Assessment and Decision Making
- The Research Pillar in Practice
- Multi-professional Leadership and Management
- Principles of Clinical Education and Supervision
This is followed by Option module choices in Year 2, which all have a contemporary focus within current healthcare needs.
Final modules are Core and reflect the requirements to embed learning within the pillars of Advanced Clinical Practice and a with a focus on demonstrating proficiency:
- Advanced Clinical Practice Inquiry
- Advanced Clinical Practice End Point Assessment (EPA)
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Underpinning Principles of Advanced Clinical Practice
10 credits
10 credits
Within this module the content covered will be:
- The role of the ACP within healthcare
- Underpinning legislation, political drivers and healthcare agenda
- Ethical and legal principles relating to the role
- The development of the autonomous practitioner
- Scope of practice and limitations
- Managing complexity, risk and uncertainty within practice
Clinical Assessment and Decision Making
20 credits
20 credits
Module content will include:
- History taking and holistic assessment of physical and mental health,
- Advanced communication skills,
- Pathophysiology,
- Physical examination,
- Interpretation of routine diagnostic investigations
- Clinical decision making incorporating therapeutic interventions.
- Safe, high quality and evidence based patient-centred care
- Typical and complex patient presentations
- Clinical judgement, risk and referrals
- Differential diagnosis
- Therapeutic and person-centred approaches
The Research Pillar in Practice
20 credits
20 credits
Within this module you will cover:
- Qualitative and quantitative methodologies
- Critical appraisal of literature and searching the evidence
- sources of evidence including technological sources (i.e. social media)
- Interpretation of the data
- Good practice research - ethics and governance
- Research dissemination
- Research in practice
- Identifying gaps in practice evidence
- outcomes of research for organisational and healthcare change
Multiprofessional Leadership and Management
20 credits
20 credits
Within this module, you will cover:
- Multiprofessional teamworking and leadership perspectives
- Role modelling within your organisation
- Evaluating own and others' practice and responding to feedback
- Organisational cultures around risk, patient safety and escalating concerns within a healthcare organisation
- Techniques to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of service delivery and the response to feedback
- Approaches to service improvement, innovation and change within the health sector
- Consultancy and sharing best practice as a leader to enhance quality of clinical practice
- Sustainability and projections for future development in healthcare
- National and local policy and political drivers affecting the health sector
Principles of Clinical Education and Supervision
20 credits
20 credits
Within this module the learner will focus on the following areas of knowledge development:
- The self as both a learner and an educator
- Personal development and increasing your own self-directed learning,
- teaching and learning theories
- A focus on the individual as a learner and effective clinical supervision
- Recognising learning needs, providing feedback, peer- review and supporting individual learning
- Organisational culture towards education and learning
- Collaborative and interprofessional learning and effective teamwork
- Methods of support - Coaching
Advanced Clinical Practice Inquiry
30 credits
30 credits
This module encompasses elements of all four of the pillars in advanced clinical practice including the following:
- Research: Critical Appraisal - Synthesis - Evidence Base - Dissemination
- Leadership: Service-redesign
- Education: Organisational culture of learning
- Clinical: Scope of practice
Within this module the learner is supported to consider the following:
- Consideration of an identified area of change within own scope of practice
- How to conduct a robust and methodological systematic review of the literature
- Analysis of the evidence and the development of critical discussion
- Appropriate recommendations that can be drawn from the data analysis
- Disseminations methods and options
Advanced Clinical Practice End Point Assessment (EPA)
20 credits
20 credits
The module is delivered through tutorial support as you are guided and supported throughout your apprenticeship journey on the programme and in particular within the immediately preceding core module (7209NAPPG Advanced Practice Inquiry) to progress towards this achievement of assessment opportunity. The module consists of two assessments:
- Open book examination
- Presentation of practice (consisting of two elements; Oral presentation assessment and submission of a clinical practice change report)
This module is allocated 1 face to face session for an introduction and overview and to provide guidance on the preparation for the module assessment. The allocation of additional 'online' delivery hours enables the learner to be facilitated to undertake a series of activities either through directed online learning, engagement with literature and resources and allocated assessment preparation time.
Optional Modules
Independent and Supplementary Prescribing
20 credits
20 credits
Aimed at healthcare professionals registered with the HCPC & NMC, this module enables you to prescribe, safely, appropriately and cost-effectively as independent and/or supplementary prescribers, in accordance with both legal and professional requirements.
The module will prepare you to:
- complete an assessment of a patient/client/service users whilst developing a management plan in relation to their diagnosis/differential diagnosis.
- complete an episode of care through prescribing or deprescribing safety
All students who wish to undertake Independent & Supplementary Prescribing also known as V300 Non-Medical Prescribing will have to complete an additional 'North West Non-Medical Prescribing Application form' which will be approved by the prescribing programme team prior to commencement on the independent and supplementary prescribing programme.
Paediatric Clinical Examination and Minor Illness
20 credits
20 credits
This module will centre on the major physiological systems and build upon students’ prior knowledge and expertise. This will inform greater understanding of the causes and management of common childhood illnesses, and their diagnosis. Wider determinants of health and associated risk factors will be considered to inform decision making and ensure safe practice. Issues related to professional development and advancing clinical practice will be discussed.
Developing Specialist Practice
20 credits
20 credits
Within this module the leaner will be supported to consider the following in relation to their own area of specialist practice:
- Enhancing clinical practice within their own sphere of influence
- Enhancing and driving quality
- promoting and sharing best practice
- Developing practice within the context of health needs of the population
- Effective communication and working in partnership
Emergency Management
20 credits
20 credits
Within this module you will cover the following:
- Emergency care - context and setting
- Trauma management - how this differs in in and out of hospital settings
- Policies and drivers for trauma response - reflections on national incidents - JESOP
- Contemporary management and innovation in emergency care
- Managing emergency presentations
- Systems based presentations including, bleeding, head injury, cardiovascular collapse, drowning and hypothermia, overdose and reduced consciousness
- Mental Health assessment
- Metabolic emergencies
Applied Pathophysiology
20 credits
20 credits
This module will allow students to
- Explore the applied pathophysiology of commonly presenting mental health conditions, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal and urological, neurological, haematological and immunological diseases.
- Understand how genetic and environmental factors affect physiological mechanisms that lead to disease
- Develop understanding of how therapeutic interventions can change underlying pathophysiology and reduce the impact of disease
Acute Surgery: Presentations and Post-Operative Management
20 credits
20 credits
The module will cover:
- Appropriate assessment of the presenting complaint
- Common, acute surgical presentations covering general surgery, cardiothoracic and vascular, colorectal, urological, gynaecology, ENT and plastic surgery
- Diagnostic investigations pertinent to acute medical presentations
- Analysis of policies and guidance relating to surgical preparation of the patient
- Post operative management and complications
Acute Medicine: Presentations and Management
20 credits
20 credits
The module will cover:
- Appropriate assessment of the patient with an acute medical presentation
- Common acute medical presentations
- Diagnostic investigations pertinent to acute medical presentations
- Developing clinical reasoning skills for defensible decision making in acute medicine
- Analysis of policies and guidance related to acute medicine
Appraising Public Health Initiatives
20 credits
20 credits
The module will cover:
-
Key areas of public health focus as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan (2019); Prevention, Smoking, Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, Diet and Alcohol, Antimicrobial Resistance and Vaccinations, Cancer, Mental Health, Air Pollution, Children and Maternity Care and Gambling.
-
Approaches to health education, health promotion and public health
-
Empowering people to manage their health
-
Social marketing and communication.
-
Political and ethical issues relating to health education, health promotion, and public health
- Barriers and challenges related to improving the health of the public
Assessment and Management of Urgent Care Presentations
20 credits
20 credits
Module content will cover:
- An overview of urgent care services including general practice, 111, walk-in-centres and urgent care centres
- Prioritising healthcare need through advanced assessment and triage
- Recognising red flags in patient presentations across the lifespan
- Common and rarer presentations in urgent care across the lifespan and the associated therapeutic1.11 interventions
- Clinical decision making in urgent care
- Scope of practice, professional boundaries and competence
Managing the Deteriorating Patient
20 credits
20 credits
Within this module you will explore:
- Presentation of the deteriorating patient
- Early warning systems and red flags
- Interpretation of signs and symptoms related to the deteriorating patient across a range of systems
- Compensatory mechanisms and how they mask presentations
- Barriers to recognition of deterioration
- Factors that influence incidents relating to deterioration including human, communication, education and training, organisational, equipment and resources.
- Why processes fail and national patient safety incidents
- Escalating concerns
- Organisational responses - MET teams and outreach
- Management and escalation in an out of hospital setting
Developing Practice in Cardiac Care
20 credits
20 credits
This module will help you to develop your knowledge and skills so that you are able to provide high quality care that is based on sound clinical judgement and robust evidence. It will cover areas including:
- The evolution of cardiovascular care and the role of evidence
- Advanced anatomy and physiology of the heart and circulation
- Physical assessment of the cardiac patient
- Haemodynamic assessment and intervention
- Single and 12 lead ECG interpretation
- Introduction to biochemistry and haematology
- Cardiac pharmacology and patient concordance
- Care of the patient post cardiac intervention
- Managing patients with complex heart failure in the acute setting
- Advanced life support
- Promoting healthy behaviour change through cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention
- Supporting patients from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds to navigate the healthcare systems
- Caring for patients who are nearing the end of life and supporting grieving families
First Episode Psychosis Assessment and Treatment
20 credits
20 credits
Within this module, the student will develop an understanding of the following:
- common mental health conditions
- precursors to psychosis including anxiety and depression
- acute mental health presentations
- Prescribing and intervention management
- early and therapeutic intervention
- applied across the lifespan
This module is suitable for students wishing to develop an understanding of common mental health conditions and psychosis as an acute presentation.
Suicide Prevention in Adults: a Psychosocial Approach
20 credits
20 credits
This module will help you to develop a critical understanding of psychosocial suicide prevention approaches. You will be able to critically appraise and reflect on the application of these approaches in practice.
Your Learning Experience
An insight into teaching on your course
Your modules offer a variety of teaching and learning approaches that are designed to engage and inspire you. These include lectures, seminars, group work activities, simulation and tutorials, both on-campus and online.
As you progress through the programme, you will develop and utilise progressively higher-order and mastery-level skills, as well as further developing subject specific knowledge. This will support you to become an inquiring and confident advanced practice learner, fostering independence in the acquisition, and application of, theoretical knowledge.
You will be:
- empowered to acquire knowledge through supported, independent learning. This will include being directed to scholarly activities that will prepare you for scheduled teaching activity.
- supported in engaging in online asynchronous activity. Examples include tutorial discussions, tutor-facilitated discussion boards and collaborative or individual projects, such as wikis, padlets, blogs and e-portfolios. While they may not always be present at the same times as the students, academic staff will be able to actively, iteratively and directly engage with you to facilitate and guide your learning.
How learning is monitored on your programme
To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.
Where you will study
What you can expect from your School
The School of Nursing and Advanced Practice is based within Tithebarn Building, in the heart of Liverpool, and close to rail and bus public transport connections. It adjoins the Avril Robarts Library, which offers a wealth of learning and study support resources.
Course tutors
Joanna Lavery
- Programme Lead
Joanna has been in post at LJMU since November 2019 and qualified as a registered nurse from LJMU in 1999. She has worked in neurology and neurosurgery, critical care, and worked in Australia within the speciality. On her return to Liverpool she embarked upon a role in the community as a District Nurse, gaining her SCPDN qualification, holding posts as a DN Care Manager and Community Matron, becoming involved in advanced practice and service development. Joanna made the leap back into secondary care to work as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in acute medicine, focusing on medical assessment and ambulatory emergency care. She enjoys teaching and helping others to advance their skills throughout all her nursing and academic roles. Joanna is now the programme lead for the Advanced Clinical Practice Apprenticeship programme and is a champion of the student experience and enhancing opportunities through widening participation in higher education.
-
Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer -
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer -
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer
Career paths
Further your career prospects
LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.
The programme is designed to reinforce the graduate attributes required to progress within the NHS workforce. This programme enables graduate workers within the NHS and healthcare workforce to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes required to enhance their career development. It also reflects the need to support service demand within the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (2023) across the healthcare sector with the growth of Advanced Clinical Practitioner training places being offered via an apprenticeship route.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fees:
Fees
The fees quoted at the top of this page cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages.
Please be aware that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect your tuition fees. Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.
This is an apprenticeship route and funding will be provided through the Department of Education on successful appointment in a trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner post through an NHS or other healthcare organisation.
Entry requirements
You will need:
Qualification requirements
Undergraduate degree
BA/BSc (Hons) in relevant field at 2:2 or above, or evidence of potential to study at Masters Level
GCSEs and equivalents
All applicants must have achieved GCSE Mathematics and English Language Grade C/4 or above or Level 2 Functional Skills Mathematics and English or equivalent.
Additional requirements
-
Relevant work experience
Evidence of current and active registration with an appropriate professional body related to Health (eg.NMC/HCPC/GPhC/SWE). Applicants will normally have a minimum of 3 years post-registration experience and would be employed within a patient facing or clinical environment. Evidence of meeting the entry requirements must be provided through the submission of a one-page CV using the proforma provided and the submission of a skills scan document. Applicants will be assessed for suitability on this basis.
-
Interview required
Interviews are employer-led with support offered from the programme delivery team
Further information
-
Extra Requirements
Applicants must have confirmation of support from appropriate workplace and/or employer to enable access to relevant workplace opportunities to achieve Multiprofessional Framework Capabilities for Advanced Clinical Practice (HEE, 2017) including appropriate supervision. All applicants must have a named workplace supervisor who is in a position to meet the Advanced Practice Workplace Supervision-Minimum Standards for Supervision (HEE, 2021).
Applicants who wish to undertake module 7100NPAPP during the programme must also be registered with either NMC as a Nurse (level 1)/Midwife/SCPHN, with a minimum of 1 years post registration experience in the clinical field in which they are intending to prescribe, OR with HCPC with three years relevant post-qualification experience in the clinical area in which they are intending to prescribe, and working at an advanced practitioner or equivalent level. Confirmation of satisfactory references and DBS checks are also required as well as completion of the NWNMPEG application form.
-
RPL
RPL may be considered for part of the programme in accordance with the LJMU RPEL policy and the academic regulations for postgraduate programmes
How to apply
Securing your place at LJMU
To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU Degree Apprenticeship form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.
Your student experience
There's so much more to university than just studying for a degree.
Postgraduate life at LJMU
See the amazing support you will get from the university, the academic expertise of the staff here, the first-class learning environment, fabulous libraries, excellent career guidance and their ongoing love affair with the city of Liverpool.
Accommodation
As a new student at LJMU, we guarantee accommodation right in the heart of the dynamic city centre, with easy access to the main University campuses.
You can view our approved accommodation to see the halls that we offer to new students.
Your campus
We’re very proud of our campuses. Not only because they provide a modern and inspiring learning space for all our students but also because they’re a place people really want to be.
Living in Liverpool
Liverpool is one of Europe's most dynamic and cultured cities. Come find out why it's a great city to study in.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes.
Sports, societies and lifestyle
Getting involved in sports, clubs and societies at Liverpool John Moores University is a great way to challenge yourself, meet people who share your interests, and feel more connected to the University community.
Talk to our students
Connect with a current LJMU student through Unibuddy for insights and advice on university life, courses, and more.
See what our students are saying
At LJMU we want you to know you’re making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us through their reviews on the following websites:
News and views
Browse through the latest stories and updates from the University and beyond
.png)
The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.