IMPORTANT NOTICE
Update on pausing the EPG to reopen as a sustainable interim exceptional access route
Responding to learning from the EPG pilot that has now been running for over 2 years, a decision has been taken to pause operation of the route in. This is to facilitate AHCS to clear the current applications and put in place a more sustainable interim exceptional access route while awaiting introduction of standardised education and training for CRPs to be offered via apprenticeship programmes that are currently in development.
Key Learning from the EPG Pilot – successes, challenges and taking time to reflect
The key issues to date highlight a need to improve consistency for users and to introduce efficiency savings for ongoing viability. Over 100 practitioners have joined the AHCS PSA-Accredited Register for CRPs through this route and a further 200 have an application in progress. To date, the rate of success for applications accepted for panel review is less than half, requiring post-application requests for essential information to be provided as a minimum, and in several instances, lack of any CPD activity in the last 2 years, leading to applications being rejected, and a lot of follow up work for AHCS.
Evolving the Experienced Practitioner Gateway (EPG) from being a pilot
The Experienced Practitioner Gateway (EPG or “Gateway”), opened initially in January 2023 on a time-limited basis, running as a pilot with a fee of £10 to enable widening access to join the AHCS PSA-Accredited Register for Clinical Research Practitioners (CRPs), which launched in April 2021.
Eligibility to join this register includes a requirement to hold Higher Education at Level 6 (degree level), and to widen access to practitioners who do not hold this level of education but who do hold more than 3 years’ experience working at practitioner level, the EPG exceptional access route was devised to confirm eligibility to apply to join the CRP Register. Working in partnership with NIHR, AHCS agreed to extend this for an additional period, and it has now been operating for over 2 years.
Resetting the EPG as a sustainable interim exceptional access route to CRP registration
Development of a standardised education and training curriculum continues to be co-led by NHIR and NHS employing organisations. The EPG has also continued while anticipating launch of a defined CRP Occupational Standard being developed and aligned to apprenticeship programmes. While these are making their way through due process with Skills England, demand for the EPG remains high, and learning from EPG pilot activities to date indicates a case for evolution of the process. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure sustainable and continuing equity of access to the AHCS PSA-Accredited Register for a diverse range of CRPs in the interim. It is proposed that the EPG will reopen at the beginning of December 2025 operating a moderately revised process with an application fee of £135. The fee set is commensurate with ensuring sustainability and accommodating the complexity of the assessment involved. The reopened EPG will remain until the mainstream equivalence process, aligned to the standardised education and training curriculum is in place.
About the Experienced Practitioner Gateway
The Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) Education Committee has now approved the proposal to widen access to the Accredited Register to experienced CRPs who do not have a degree or equivalent education. The details of the new process can be found here.
The gateway is for experienced CRPs who can evidence a minimum of three years working at the level of practitioner and who can provide evidence of career development and experience working at practitioner level, as well as evidence of any education and learning completed.
In the meantime however, applicants who don’t have a degree, but do have the required amount of practitioner level experience and wish to become registered, are advised to begin their Experienced Practitioner Gateway eligibility application without delay.
If you are unsure if you are eligible to apply to the Experienced Practitioner Gateway, please refer to:
You will need to discuss your application with your line manager and colleagues to ensure you are working at the right level before starting your application.
If your Gateway application is successful, you will be able to apply to join the CRP Register, which is a separate distinct process. The Registration process is the same for CRPs who have passed through the gateway as it is for their colleagues who have level 6 qualifications.
Experienced Practitioner Gateway Panel Dates
Please see below for information regarding the upcoming Gateway panels, this information only applies if you are undertaking route two:
|
Submission date to be considered at the next panel |
Experienced Practitioner Gateway panel date |
| 9th December 2025 | 27th January 2026 |
Please note the dates highlighted above are subject to change.
Please note the following:
- Please be aware when submitting your portfolio on or close to the deadline, if there is any information missing, this may result in your portfolio going to the next panel, we will let you know if this is the case.
Once the panel has taken place, you will hear from us within 28 days. If you receive an outcome two, you will have 28 days to amend your portfolio and resubmit. The panel with review your resubmitted application, and if passed, we will advise you.
Completing Your Application
You will need to complete and upload the following:
- Experienced Practitioner Gateway Eligibility Form
- Your current job description (on headed paper)*
For further information please contact
* If you have been in your current role for under 3 years, please can you upload your previous job description as well as your current one, this is to ensure the job descriptions cover the eligibility criteria required.
These local discussions and support are vital to ensure that you are at the level of experience required to join the AHCS Accredited Register for CRPs. The CRP Register is set at level 5 of the Skills for Health Career Framework to reflect the high level of experience, knowledge and responsibility required for practitioner roles, which normally require degree level education.
Using Generative Artificial Intelligence
The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is growing rapidly. AI can be used for a variety of purposes see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/generative-artificial-intelligence-in-education/generative-artificial-intelligence-ai-in-education for some examples. However Generative AI can be used in ethical and unethical ways. For example, it can be used as a source of inspiration and help create ideas, or as a source of information, or to help with planning and management.
In the context of assessment, however, the unethical use of Generative AI can be considered to be a form of plagiarism and therefore if found could lead to the rejection of an Equivalence application, or an application for the Clinical Research Practitioner Registration, or the Experience Practitioner Gateway.
If you are on an AHCS accredited programme with a higher education provider please also refer to the institution’s guidance.
For further details in relation to AHCS assessment processes please refer to the relevant guidance statement:
