Operating Department Practitioner
Developing registered operating department practitioners for future, patient-led care
Our Operating Department Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship combines classroom learning with hands-on experience.
Apprentices - you'll learn to care for patients before, during, and after surgery. You'll develop essential skills in the perioperative environment such as care, compassion and competence.
Employers - you'll empower your surgical team by bringing in new talent or improving the skills of your current staff. It’s a cost-effective way to build the dynamic theatre team you need.
Partner with ARU today to build a skilled and flexible team of Operating Department Practitioners. A team that meets the changing needs of your healthcare facility.
Why apprenticeships at ARU?
We’ll help you reap the benefits of talent acquisition through apprenticeships.
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Equip apprentices to make effective clinical decisions
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Build skills in evidence-based practice to inform clinical actions
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Support apprentices to improve patient outcomes
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Learn from experienced ODP professionals
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Be confident in a HCPC approved programme
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Reinvest Levy funds to cover the cost of the apprenticeship
of apprentices learnt new skills to contribute to their workplace in a practical way.
Source: ARU degree apprenticeships impact report
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Employer partners Joe, Dan, Emma and Tim explain why ARU apprenticeships work so well for their organisations, and highlight the benefits for SMEs and larger businesses.
Whether you’re just starting or been working in healthcare for a while, we’ll help you launch your career as an ODP.
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Register with the HPCP on completion
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You’ll deliver impact in the workplace as you learn
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Study while you work, with no tuition fees
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Achieve a high standard of holistic care
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Assist change and innovation to patient care
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Learn in laboratories that simulate the perioperative setting
gained the technical and specialist skills required for their job.
Source: ARU degree apprenticeships impact report
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Let our amazing apprentices inspire you! Kerry, Grace, Izabela, Ben, Rachel and Fleur explain what they love about doing an apprenticeship with ARU.
Talent development
Recruit new talent or grow the skills of existing staff. This apprenticeship is ideal for healthcare professionals seeking to specialise in surgical care.
It's a hands-on course. Apprentices develop clinical skills in real-life situations and take responsibility for their patients, all while learning to work within legal, ethical, and professional standards. They'll learn to collaborate with surgeons, anaesthetists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive patient care.
Recruitment support for employers
Our dedicated apprenticeship team is on hand to help you attract the best candidates for your organisation. We can help with:
- crafting job advertisements
- promoting your vacancy to our quality candidate mailing lists
- adding your vacancy to the National Apprenticeship Service
- sharing opportunities across our social media channels.
Our consultants can also help you to assess candidates' suitability.
Creating a world-class apprenticeship
See how we helped Cambridge University Press recruit for their brand new degree apprenticeship.
Become an HCPC registered Operating Department Practitioner.
You’ll graduate with the knowledge, skills, and abilities employers need. You’ll gain practical experience through work projects and real-world clinical innovations. Once you complete the course, you can register with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Programme content
Approved by the HCPC
Industry recognised professional accreditation.
When your apprentice completes their apprenticeship, they can apply for professional registration as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
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Yasmin SesayLecturer Practitioner
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Chereen McCarthy
Lecturer Practitioner
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Lauren JerredLecturer Practitioner
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Abbas RatansiLecturer Practitioner
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Anand Kannan
Clinical Skills Tutor
Approved by HCPC
This course meets the Health and Care Professions Council’s standards for education and training. So, when you successfully finish, you’ll be ready to apply for professional registration.
Becoming a registered Operating Department Practitioner shows you have the skills and knowledge to practise safely and confidently. It means you’ll be recognised as a qualified health and care professional.
Entry requirements
Employers set out the person specifications for the role, but apprentices will need to meet our entry requirements to be accepted onto this course.
- Employment in a suitable role on a permanent contract exceeding 30 hours per week. If your contract is less than 37.5 hours per week you may need to extend the length of your apprenticeship in order to meet the professional standards set by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Maths and English Level 2 qualifications.*
- Evidence of Level 3 study in a related subject, eg A Levels, BTEC, NVQ, Access to Healthcare.**
- Attend an interview to demonstrate insight into the ODP profession.
- A completed Skills Scan and Initial Assessment discussion, post interview.
*All applicants must meet the eligibility criteria outlined by the DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules applicable at the start of the course. If you have any questions about these entry requirements, please contact [email protected]
**We will also consider applicants with non-standard qualifications provided you have a significant amount of relevant experience, are well-supported by your employer, and demonstrate the ability to manage university-level study.
You must supply these before you can be registered on the course:
- an Enhanced DBS for the Adult and Child Workforce, signed up to the online update service (ARU will fund new applications if you cannot provide this)
- occupational health clearance from your employer
- line manager confirmation of support.
Fees and funding
Degree apprenticeships are a smart investment. You can reinvest Levy funds to cover the cost of an apprenticeship or receive funding support from the Government.
If you operate in England and your annual payroll is over £3m, you pay a levy of 0.5% of your payroll into a levy account.
Apprenticeships are paid for by your employer. You won’t pay any tuition fees on this course.
Our team of experts is here to help form your organisation’s apprenticeship offering and guide you through the process.
Speak to your employer about this course and how it could be beneficial for your development.
Our expert consultants can meet with you and your employer to make setting up simple and straightforward.
Finding an apprenticeship role
To start an apprenticeship, you need to be in a suitable role and have the support of your employer.