HNC Healthcare Professions’ Support (Level 4) — Full-time
Course outline
Do you want to gain the skills for a career in the healthcare sector? This new Level 4 Higher National Certificate is widely recognised in healthcare systems both here in the UK and overseas.
Equivalent to the first year of a university degree, the course has been designed to offer a special emphasis on practical skills development, alongside knowledge and understanding of health and social care in the UK which is also relevant overseas. The HNC provides a thorough grounding in key concepts in healthcare professions' support including: law, evidence-based practice, health inequalities, reporting and record-keeping in health practice. The course includes contemporary themes and current practice. All students undertake healthcare-based work placements to develop their own professional practice and meet the requirements to work in the sector.
This course is based at our new £58 million City Hub campus, close to Nottingham train station and features state of the art teaching and learning facilities, science laboratories, with a restaurant, cafe, performing arts venue and specialist healthcare facilities including a simulated hospital ward, which provides students with a realistic learning environment that mimics a hospital environment.
Assistant practitioners work as part of the more comprehensive health and social care team and have direct contact with patients, service users or clients, providing high-quality and compassionate care.
Modules are planned to include:
- Law, Policy and Ethical Practice
- Demonstrating Professional Principles and Values in Health and Social Care Practice
- Supporting the Individual Journey through Integrated Health and Social Care
- Fundamentals of Evidence-based Practice
- Principles of Health Education
- Effective Healthcare Practice Using Maths
- Applied Anatomy and Physiology
Compulsory work placement
This course includes a minimum requirement of 225 hours’ of work placement or experience in health and/or social care settings.
Nottingham College is proud to have been awarded the Teaching Excellence Framework Bronze Award for high quality student experience and outcomes. You can read more about this on the Office for Students website.
How to apply for this course
Entry onto this course is via UCAS. Alternatively, if you are interested in applying directly to us, you can choose our fast track application option below.
- Institution code: N30
- UCAS code: HCP1
Want to find out more first?
Would you like more information? Email our HE team.
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Location:
111 Canal Street
Nottingham NG1 7HB |
Date:Start: Monday 22nd September 2025 |
Fees / reductions:The tuition fee is per year. Various bursaries are available for some Higher Education courses. Tuition fee: £8,250 |
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Course code: C050732 / Q050733 |
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| Qualification | Higher National Certificate in Healthcare Professions’ Support |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year |
| Level | Level 4 |
| Entry requirements | You’ll need a minimum of 48 UCAS points from:
Other combinations of qualifications and experience will also be considered, as will Level 3 qualifications not currently listed on the UCAS tariff. GCSE English Language and Maths passes at Grades 9 to 4 (previously A* to C) are required. As an equivalent, we expect applicants to be working at (or to demonstrate competency at) Level 2 or above in English/literacy and Maths/numeracy. Mature applicants not meeting the standard entry criteria but with relevant industry or life experience are very welcome to apply. |
| Teaching & assessment | A wide variety of innovative and traditional methods will be used including: practical assignments, portfolios of evidence, data analysis, case studies, written reports, essays, presentations, work-based evidence with employer statements. |
| Progression | Students from the Level 4 HNC can progress to the Level 5 Higher National Diploma course. Possible careers in this sector are: healthcare support worker, nursing assistant/auxiliary roles in a range of areas of specialism, e.g. adult and community nursing, clinical support, midwifery support, rehabilitation services. Assistant practitioners (sometimes called associate practitioners) work in many branches of the NHS including: operating departments, prehabilitation/rehabilitation, maternity and community care. |
