EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues Registration VRCT Facts and fiction.

Hello Gents - sorry I haven't been around to answer earlier, I've been stuck on the M11 and M25 - what joy

Rob, I'd appreciate you emailing me the standards - I will add them to the downloads section.

Everyone, please keep the thread friendly - or I'll have to close it.

Cheers,
H.

We have an engineer who has completed the Capital training courses on their Lab and Medical courses, he does not have an HNC but is ex forces having gone through the relevant training to repair nuclear subs etc. We have also invested heavily in product training for him over the last two years.

And yet we cannot get him accepted onto the voluntary register of technologists.

Does anybody know what they class as an approved training course as it currently remains a mystery.

Confused of Dudley.

Hi Neal,

I just been on the IPEM web site the primary criterion for VRCT, 1. There must be evidence of a pass at BTEC HNC?HND or Degree or NVQ/SVQ Level 4 in appropriate subject, or an equivalent qualification in an appropriate subject.

Great question Neal, he isn't the first that has been turned down and will not be the last. As far as approved training schemes go there is only one listed, and it happens to be IPEM's and I quote:

Training schemes currently available are:

The Training Scheme for Clinical Technologists specialising in Physics and Engineering in Health Care organised by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

now how concerning is that....

That's the grandparenting rule for those appointed between 1 August 2001 and before 1st January 2007.

The primary criterion is successful completion of an approved vocational degree programme, or, an approved training scheme!

How easy it is for Neal's engineer to join is of course going to depend on the date he originally started. Before 31 July 2000 it's automatic entry, 1 August 2000 through to 31 July 2001 it's three years, 1 August 2001 to Jan 2007 it's HNC/D and three years. I take it it's two years unless he's been hidding in a cupboard for a couple of years and you've only started investing in training for him in the last two years.

Then from Jan 2007 obsolutely no chance in hell until the training schemes and degree's become freely available.

Yes and we keep coming back to the fact that the VRCT currently sets the criterion for inclusion on the VRCT register and those on it are more likely to be transferred to the HPC register than not. That's the problem for many (who, incidentally, probably already have L3 qualifications, e.g. Electronic Engineering) who are already working in this job but don't meet the academic requirements in particular - that's the sticking point isn't it?

Being practical the only value of L3 medical technology qualifications, I can see, realistically, is as modules to underpin knowledge that's lacking in specific areas, i.e. to give a foundation to those without any L3 qualifications to use it as a means to progress to L4/L5, i.e. basic training via a vocational route; thus eventually become fully qualified to meet the VRCT/HPC requirements.

Currently those already with L3 qualifications in electronics/physics related subjects would probably be spending their time more productively if they opted for L4/L5 courses in subjects that are currenty available and recognised by the VRCT, e.g. electronic engineeering, since there's apparently nothing out there at L4/L5 in medical technology.

Personally speaking I wouldn't just want to sit on my hands moaning and do nothing nor would I take a potential side-ways step by going for a medical technology subject at the same level as qualifications I already had (that are not at a level acceptable to the VRCT). I'd want to progress to L4/L5 as fast as possible, as required.

As far as I'm aware VRCT still accepts electronics engineeering/physics based qualifications at the appropriate level, relevant experience in healthcare and relevant training. The VRCT requirements are laid down on paper and as far as I'm aware each application is dealt with on it's own merits.

Chris, it's actually four years unless the three years were part of a approved training program. Also I think registration as an EngTech/IEng and three years experience is acceptable.

Issue I have is that I have a seriously grumpy 60 year old competent engineer who is registered with the engineering council: has completed steraliser training courses prior to joining us in 2002. From first hand experience a HNC or HND or degree for that matter does not guarantee that an engineer has the required engineering skills and be able to apply them practically for our line of work.

Neal

Did your grumpy 60 year old competent engineer completed the steraliser training while working for another company? If so wouldn't that classify him as working in healthcare and thus probably enable him to register immediately for VRCT?

Neal's issue is the main problem that most of us have with the VRCT. They do not understand our job(s). As engineers or technicians we should have the freedom to work anywhere within the engineering community worldwide. Most industries will accept recognised qualifications and will decide on the level of employment on the relevant expereince and progression will be made via in-house training (deep breath).

As has been mentioned before, the best way that we can ensure that we do not cause harm to patients is by reviewing the way we work and have a robust quality system in place. A good quality system will provide traceabliity of staff competencies and methods of work tailored to individual departments. A one-size-fits-all solution will never work. Within the quality system the individual departments can set the level of qualification and experience against any national standards that may exist for particular jobs. The qualification standards could then be aligned with the engineering council.