A wider scientific workforce
Where can medical physics skills lead outside the NHS?
Medical physics skills are used far beyond the NHS. You can find related work in equipment, software, research, universities, regulation, private care and consulting. The job title may not say 'medical physicist', so search by skill and setting too.
Where should you look, and what should you search?
| Setting | Useful search terms |
|---|---|
| Equipment and software companies | Applications physicist, product specialist, clinical applications, systems scientist, verification or validation |
| Research and universities | Research physicist, research fellow, imaging scientist, radiotherapy research, computational scientist |
| Independent healthcare | Medical physicist, clinical scientist, radiation protection, imaging quality, dosimetry |
| Regulation and technical advice | Scientific assessor, radiation protection adviser, inspector, standards, safety or assurance |
| Consultancy and specialist services | Radiation protection, dosimetry, quality assurance, commissioning or technical consultant |
Do you need HCPC registration?
It depends on the post. Clinical Scientist is a protected title and requires HCPC registration. A product, research, software or engineering role may set different requirements. Read the job title, duties and person specification rather than assuming every physics role follows the same route.
Are technologist and clinical scientist routes the same?
No. Clinical technologists and clinical scientists have different training and registration arrangements, even when they work in the same department. IPEM runs a Clinical Technologist Training Scheme and the Register of Clinical Technologists provides professional registration for technologists.
How can you translate your experience?
Start with what the employer needs. A company may value the same evidence as a hospital but use different words for it. Look for product safety, user needs, testing, customer support or work with rules and standards.
- Describe the problem and the user, not only the hospital setting
- Make quality, risk and safety work clear
- Show software, data or product skills where they fit
- Explain how you worked with clinical and technical teams
- Check whether travel, customer support or commercial duties fit you
Search by skill and setting
Would an NHS or non-NHS environment suit you better?
Compare live role descriptions, then tailor your evidence to the setting and registration requirement.
Sources and review date
Last reviewed: 18 August 2026