Diploma in Leadership in Healthcare
(EduQual Level 7)
PG Dip Leadership in Healthcare

To be eligible for a Diploma in Clinical Education, you require:

• A university degree and four years experience working in the healthcare sector or in a clinical role in healthcare
• Or APL / APEL/RPL (contact us to discuss):
  • Five years experience working as a manager in the healthcare sector (APEL)
  • Any other source of Recognised/Accredited Prior Learning

Our course maximises your Accredited Prior Learning (APL) more efficiently than many contemporary offerings.  Universities routinely accept “experience acquired through work or other means” through Accredited Prior Learning (APL) and Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

RPL can come from previous study, employment experience, voluntary work, training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn’t complete. If your eligibility includes any CPD as part of your RPL, you must be prepared to demonstrate this through a portfolio of evidence. As part of your Professional registration, you will already be required to keep such a verification by your own professional registration organisation.

Examples of eligible delegates for our Post Graduate Programmes include:

• Registered Healthcare professional with a university degree
• University degree holders with experience in healthcare
• Relevant training or incomplete qualifications, combined with experience in the healthcare sector may be considered

You need a sufficient level of English to complete your course and take part in discussions during the 2 day virtual classroom, and to complete your assessments.

Deadlines for assessment submissions are given at the end of each course, the period is different for all courses.  Information on assessment deadlines for specific courses can be provided on request. Irrespective of deadlines given, we may accommodate extensions in exceptional circumstances.

It is also worth noting that the two virtual training days on a Diploma course are consecutive. However, if you can only attend day one and wish to attend the second day on another course, we will, with advanced notice, try to accommodate you.

Please get in touch with us if you require more information.

Our Post Graduate Programmes are blended virtual learning courses and comprise a 2-day virtual classroom with pre-course study and self-paced post course online assessments.

Our shorter delivery timeframe isn’t about cutting corners – it’s about building on your prior learning in the most efficient way possible. We recognise that our delegates bring substantial professional expertise, allowing us to maximise Accredited Prior Learning (APL) recognition more effectively than traditional programs with a practical approach to professional education.  This approach mirrors established UK higher education principles where extensive professional experience reduces study time requirements.

The qualification is built from the following units:

Hours and credits: 380 hours / 38 credits:

Unit 1: Educational principles and theories – 90 hours, 9 credits

Unit 2: Deliver clinical lectures and teach clinical skills – 90 hours, 9 credits

Unit 3: Integrative Professional Practice: Experience, Reflection and Growth (Acquired prior learning) – 200 hours, 20 credits (see below)

The qualification achieved is equivalent to 8 months of full-time study on a Level 7 course.  It is possible to complete your diploma within our timeframe because, due to the eligibility criteria, you will have sufficient accredited prior learning (RPL) to fulfil the study requirements for the qualification.

The registered qualification title will be shown on your certificate.

For example:

For the Diploma in Clinical Education, it will read: Diploma in Clinical Education (EQF Level 7).

You can use the following post-nominal: PGDip Clinical Education.

The post-nominals for your course will be confirmed on successful completion. If you require any prior confirmation of your qualification title or the post-nominal for that qualification, please contact us at course@healthcareskills.com

Historical Context (Pre-August 2024):

• UK diploma recognition required 360+ hours of learning
• Regulated by Ofqual (England) and SSQA (Scotland)
• Credit system: 10 hours = 1 credit
• Level 7 (England & Wales) / Level 11 (Scotland) = postgraduate

Current Requirements (Post-August 2024):

• New legislation increased minimum requirement for a level 7 diploma from 360 to 1200+ hours

HCS Legacy of Excellence: Pre-2024 Qualification Rights

• Diplomas established before this date retained “protected status”
• Established in 2008, our Healthcare Skills Training Diplomas maintain full recognition under protected legacy status
• Protected legacy status – operates under original 360-hour framework. Maintains full diploma level 7 status
• Academic standing – no reduction in qualification value, Quality assurance – externally validated approach proven over 16+ years