Clinical Practice PGCert

To complete the Clinical Practice PgCert, students require 60 credits. We stagger the start dates of modules to help students balance work and life commitments with the course.

Five pathways for the PgCert are available. Some pathways have more flexibility than others and students work with their pathway lead to determine the best choice of modules for their career path.

Generic pathway

• Any optional module up to 60 credits

The Clinical Practice PgCert is designed to enhance your clinical skills in a way that is relevant to your practice. The course will maximise your professional skills and capabilities with a goal of allowing you to practice at an enhanced level. All routes within the course promote your personal and professional development and will contribute to your career advancement within the relevant health and social care sector. The general pathway allows for the most flexibility, as you can choose 60 credits from our module portfolio to build your pathway. These modules must be taken over one academic year.

Clinical Human Factors and Patient Safety pathway

The greatest strength of our healthcare system is the people working within it. The vast majority of staff work incredibly hard to ensure patients remain safe and have positive experiences. Despite their hard work and good intent, however, clinicians are working under huge challenges including time pressures, constantly changing environments, and lack of information in situations where a wrong decision can have significant repercussions for the patient. These challenges add complexity and increase potential for error.

The Clinical Human Factors and Patient Safety pathway uses an iterative approach that harnesses an evidenced-based logical route to explore clinical excellence and patient safety.

Clinical Human Factors and Patient Safety pathway modules

• Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors (15 credits)
• Leadership in Healthcare (15 credits)
• Systems Approach to Error in Healthcare (30 credits)

Critical Care pathway

The Critical Care pathway is specifically designed for paramedics seeking to deepen their expertise in critical care environments. This course offers a flexible curriculum that includes the Principles of Critical Care module, that focuses on the assessment, management, and treatment of critically ill patients.

Through simulations, case studies, and collaborative learning, students will enhance their critical thinking and clinical reasoning abilities. Ideal for practicing paramedics looking to expand their roles within healthcare teams, this course prepares graduates to provide high-quality care in critical care settings, improving patient outcomes and enhancing their professional development.

Critical Care pathway modules

• Principles of Critical Care (30 credits)
• Optional modules up to 30 credits

First Contact Practitioner (Musculoskeletal) pathway

The First Contact Practitioner Musculoskeletal pathway is designed for healthcare professionals seeking to specialise in the assessment and management of musculoskeletal conditions. This course provides participants with the enhanced knowledge and clinical skills necessary to effectively diagnose, treat, and refer patients with musculoskeletal issues in primary care settings.

Through a blend of theoretical coursework and practical training, students will learn essential topics such as anatomy, pathophysiology, evidence-based assessment techniques, and treatment modalities. Emphasis will be placed on developing critical thinking skills and enhancing the patient journey through effective communication and collaboration.

Ideal for physiotherapists, nurses, and other allied health professionals, this course prepares graduates to confidently take on first contact roles, improve patient outcomes, and contribute to multidisciplinary teams in musculoskeletal healthcare.

First Contact Practitioner (Musculoskeletal) pathway modules

• Advanced Clinical Reasoning in Health Assessment (30 credits)
• Advanced Musculoskeletal Management (15 credits)
• Portfolio of Professional Practice (15 credits)

First Contact Practitioner (Paramedic) pathway

The First Contact Practitioner Paramedic pathway is a dynamic course designed for healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their skills in delivering immediate, patient-centred care in various settings. This course equips participants with enhanced clinical knowledge, assessment techniques, and decision-making abilities essential for effective first contact care.

Students will explore topics such as emergency response, patient assessment, and collaborative practice, focusing on both theoretical foundations and practical applications. Through a combination of lectures, hands-on training, and case studies, participants will develop the confidence and competence to manage a wide range of medical emergencies and enhance patient outcomes.

This course is ideal for paramedics looking to expand their roles in pre-hospital care and integrate innovative practices into their work. Graduates will be prepared to take on leadership roles and contribute to the evolving landscape of emergency healthcare.

First Contact Practitioner (Paramedic) pathway modules

• Advanced Clinical Reasoning in Health Assessment (30 credits)
• Advanced Management of Minor Illnesses (15 credits)
• Portfolio of Professional Practice (15 credits)

Clinical Practice 2026-27 timetable

Stand-Alone Modules

Several of the modules that form part of this PGCert may be taken as stand-alone training. The full list of stand-alone modules is shown on this page and is organsised by subject area. For more information on these course, please email professionaledu@sgul.ac.uk.

Our philosophy of learning and teaching is to develop practitioners as self-reliant and autonomous learners, capable of independent and novel thinking.

We use a broad range of learning and teaching approaches to meet differing aspects of personal and professional development, learning styles and learner preferences, with emphasis on participatory methods.

The inter-professional nature of our modules provides excellent opportunities for collaborative learning across professional boundaries.

We work jointly with practice supervisors and assessors to promote partnership in learning and to ensure there is a close connection between theory and practice.

Teaching is delivered using a variety of methods to support different learning styles, and may include:

• Blended learning, discussion boards, interactive web pages, electronic resources and databases
• The use of a portfolio, including personal learning contracts and action plans
• Independent work, enabling you to undertake in-depth projects in a relevant area, supported with small interactive tutorials and one-to-one support
• Self-directed activities and tasks, independent presentations and student-led seminars
• Presentations of original work, interactive discussions and debates
• Case study analyses of situations encountered in professional practice
• One-to-one tutorials.

Assessment methods

You will be assessed using a variety of methods. Examples include:

• Reflection and critical analysis of achievement
• Case studies, essays, literature reviews and reports
• Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)
• Oral presentations
• Project proposals
• Competency Assessment Documents
• Simulation activities
• Portfolio
• Work-based learning
• Poster presentations
• Group presentations.

Fees for academic year 2026/27

Funding

We have a range of funding opportunities available for students. You may be eligible for the following.

• Funding for Postgraduate Study

20% off your study

We are offering a Graduate Loyalty Discount of 20% on tuition fees to all our alumni when applying to any of our degree courses.

Please note: This discount is only applicable to self-funded students.

To be eligible for the discount you must have successfully completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at legacy City, University of London or legacy St George's, University of London, as well as being self-funded.

To apply you will need to be accepted onto your intended course of study and to meet all the normal academic admissions criteria for the relevant course at City St George's, University of London.

Please note that MBBS 4 & 5 students are not entitled to alumni discount.

All routes within the course promote your personal and professional development and will contribute to your career advancement within the relevant health and social care sector.

This course will maximise your professional skills and capabilities with a goal of allowing you to practice at an enhanced level. NHS England define enhanced practice as an area which makes significant and essential contributions to health and care.

This level of practice includes graduates delivering a majority of clinical activity and professionals who have moved beyond novice/competent that are not working at the level of advanced practice.

Two of the pathways result in a First Contact Practitioner (FCP) qualification. An FCP service is a registered health professional who provides the first point of contact for patients.

This service increases capacity to general practice and allows patients to receive faster access to the right care.

They are qualified autonomous clinical practitioners who are able to assess, diagnose, treat and discharge a person without a medical referral.