Healthcare & Informatics

Qualifications and eligibility

A practical guide to qualifications, costs, timing, and eligibility conditions commonly referenced in this industry.

NCCQ Stage 1 — NHS National Clinical Coding Qualification
The first stage of the professional qualification for NHS clinical coders.
What it does
Covers the theoretical foundations of clinical coding — ICD-10 and OPCS-4 classification systems, sequencing rules, NHS coding standards, and the relationship between coded data and HRG assignment and trust income. A prerequisite for Stage 2.
Time it takes
Typically 6 to 12 months of structured study alongside supervised coding work. Trusts provide training and study support.
Price range
Funded by NHS employers as part of the trainee clinical coder programme. No direct cost to the candidate.
Where to get it
NHS England's National Clinical Coding Standards team. Examination administered through NHS trusts and the Clinical Coding Officer Development Programme (CCODP).
Reference →
NCCQ Stage 2 and RoCC accreditation
The practical examination and professional registration for NHS clinical coders.
What it does
Stage 2 is a practical coding examination on real clinical records, testing the ability to code accurately and completely across general medical and surgical specialties. Passing Stage 2 and meeting supervised practice requirements leads to Registration of Clinical Coders (RoCC) — the professional mark of a qualified coder.
Time it takes
Stage 2 typically follows Stage 1 by 6 to 18 months, depending on the complexity of episodes coded and training support available.
Price range
Funded by NHS employers. No direct cost to the candidate in a trainee role.
Where to get it
NHS England. RoCC registration through the same programme on successful Stage 2 completion.
Reference →
NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme (Analytical specialism)
A competitive entry programme providing structured NHS analytical training at Band 6 entry level.
What it does
A 2-year rotational scheme giving graduates experience across NHS analytical functions — performance reporting, population health, finance analytics — with a structured qualification framework and guaranteed Band 6 entry on completion.
Time it takes
2 years full-time. Applications open annually, typically September to January.
Price range
Salaried position throughout — candidates are paid at NHS Band 5 rising to Band 6. No course fees.
Where to get it
NHS Leadership Academy. Applications through the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme portal.
Reference →
BCS Health Informatics qualification
A professional qualification from the British Computer Society covering the principles and practice of health informatics.
What it does
Covers health information systems, clinical data standards, informatics project management, information governance, and the digital health policy landscape. Recognised by NHS informatics teams and health IT employers.
Time it takes
Typically 3 to 6 months of part-time study. Available as a distance learning programme.
Price range
Around £800 to £1,500 depending on study format and whether BCS membership is included.
Where to get it
BCS (British Computer Society) directly, and through approved training providers.
Reference →
HL7 FHIR Foundation Certificate
Entry-level certification in the international healthcare interoperability standard increasingly required for health informatics roles.
What it does
Validates foundational knowledge of FHIR resources, RESTful APIs, the UK Core profile, and how FHIR is used in NHS programmes including GP Connect and the National Record Locator. Increasingly expected for roles involving system integration or EPR implementation.
Time it takes
Typically 4 to 8 weeks of self-study using the NHS Developer Network free resources.
Price range
Exam fee around £150 to £250. Preparatory materials available free from HL7 UK and the NHS Developer Network.
Where to get it
HL7 UK certification programme. Free learning resources at digital.nhs.uk/developer.
Reference →
SQL proficiency (demonstrated)
Practical SQL skills are the primary technical requirement for NHS and healthcare data analyst roles — formal certification matters less than demonstrated ability.
What it does
Shows the ability to query NHS administrative databases — HES data, SUS submissions, local EPR data — using joins, aggregations, subqueries, and window functions. Tested at interview for most analyst roles.
Time it takes
A working level can be reached in 4 to 8 weeks of consistent practice. Proficiency in healthcare-specific data structures develops on the job.
Price range
Free. NHS-R Community resources, Mode Analytics SQL Tutorial, and SQLZoo are all free.
Where to get it
NHS-R Community (nhsrcommunity.com), Mode Analytics, SQLZoo, and DataCamp (subscription required for full access).
Reference →
NHS Information Governance training
Mandatory annual training for anyone accessing NHS patient data.
What it does
Covers GDPR obligations for health data, the Caldicott Principles, safe data handling, and incident reporting. A condition of access to most NHS data environments and typically required before any patient-level data can be accessed.
Time it takes
Usually 1 to 2 hours per annual module.
Price range
Free — delivered through the NHS Learning Hub or e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH).
Where to get it
NHS Learning Hub (learninghub.learninga-z.com) or e-LfH (e-lfh.org.uk).
Reference →
ISTQB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing
The most widely held entry-level QA certification, relevant for Trust & Safety and AI quality/testing roles.
What it does
Covers software testing fundamentals — test design, execution, defect management, and testing across the development lifecycle. Provides a vocabulary and methodology foundation that transfers into AI quality testing contexts.
Time it takes
Typically 4 to 8 weeks of part-time study.
Price range
Exam fee around £175 to £250 depending on test centre.
Where to get it
ISTQB accredited providers including BCS Qualifications. Preparation courses available through various online platforms.
Reference →

NCCQ Stage 1 — NHS National Clinical Coding Qualification

NCCQ Stage 2 and RoCC accreditation

NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme (Analytical specialism)

BCS Health Informatics qualification

HL7 FHIR Foundation Certificate

SQL proficiency (demonstrated)

NHS Information Governance training

ISTQB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing

NCCQ Stage 1 — NHS National Clinical Coding Qualification

NCCQ Stage 2 and RoCC accreditation

NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme (Analytical specialism)

BCS Health Informatics qualification

HL7 FHIR Foundation Certificate

SQL proficiency (demonstrated)

NHS Information Governance training

ISTQB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing