Becoming a registered Allied Health Professional (AHP)

Routes to qualifying as a registered AHP can be different for each profession. Becoming an AHP requires studying to a degree level. If you already possess a degree, it is also possible to complete a 2 year Masters programme for some professions. All programmes are approved by the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).

The table has all information relating to the different AHP roles and the links to NHS Education for Scotland (NES) information.

AHP Profession	Main Roles	Link to NHS Education Scotland Career Information
Dietitian	Dietitians are uniquely qualified to translate scientific information about nutrition and food into practical dietary advice. They enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices.	www.careers.nhs.scot/dietitian
Occupational therapist	OTs support people with a range of interventions to enable them to return to or optimise participation in all the things that people do; for example, caring for themselves and others, working, learning, playing and interacting with others.	www.careers.nhs.scot/occupational-therapist
Orthoptist	Assess and treat eye disorders and visual disturbances using non-surgical means.	www.careers.nhs.scot/orthoptist
Orthotist	Design and provide splints and supports that modify the structural or functional characteristics of the patients’ neuro-muscular and skeletal issues, Splints allow walking or transferring safely.	www.careers.nhs.scot/orthotist
Paramedic	Paramedics have a highly responsible role, deal with a range of emergency and non-emergency situations. Highly trained in CPR.	www.careers.nhs.scot/paramedic
Physiotherapist	Experts in human movement. Use physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well-being. Provide walking aids as required.	www.careers.nhs.scot/physiotherapist
Podiatrist	Podiatrists are trained to diagnose and treat abnormal conditions of the feet and lower limbs. Podiatrists provide essential assessment, evaluation and foot care for a wide range of patients	www.careers.nhs.scot/podiatrist
Prosthetists	Provide gait analysis and engineering solutions to patients with limb loss. Provision of artificial limbs.	www.careers.nhs.scot/prosthetist
Speech and Language therapist	Care for children and adults who have difficulties with communication, or with eating, drinking and swallowing.	www.careers.nhs.scot/speech-and-language-therapist
Diagnostic Radiographer	Use a range of techniques to produce high quality images to diagnose an injury or disease; X-ray, CT scanning, ultrasound etc.	www.careers.nhs.scot/diagnostic-radiographer
Therapeutic radiographers	Vital role in the treatment of cancer.  Plan and deliver radiotherapy.	www.careers.nhs.scot/therapeutic-radiographer
Art therapist	Encourage exploration of a variety of issues including emotional, behavioural, mental or physical health problems, using art as a medium.	www.careers.nhs.scot/art-therapist
Drama therapist	Therapy uses performance arts for psychological help to express emotion	www.careers.nhs.scot/dramatherapist
Music therapist	Develop and facilitate communication skills, improve self-confidence and independence, enhance self and awareness of others, with use of music.	www.careers.nhs.scot/music-therapist

University information

Please see below for more information on University programmes available in Scotland. This includes entry requirements.

Profession	University	Direct Links to programme information
Arts therapy	Queen Margaret University EDINBURGH	Occupational Therapy and Arts Therapies | Postgraduate Subject Overviews | Queen Margaret University (qmu.ac.uk)
Drama therapy	Queen Margaret University EDINBURGH	MSc Dramatherapy| Queen Margaret University (qmu.ac.uk)
Diagnostic Radiography	Glasgow Caledonian University	Diagnostic Imaging | Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK (gcu.ac.uk)
	Robert Gordon’s University ABERDEEN	Diagnostic Radiography Course with MDRad Degree | RGU University – Aberdeen, Scotland, UK | RGU
	Queen Margaret University EDINBURGH	Master of Radiography: Diagnostic (MDRad) | Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (qmu.ac.uk)
Dietetics	Glasgow Caledonian University	Human Nutrition and Dietetics | Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK (gcu.ac.uk)
	Robert Gordon’s University ABERDEEN	Dietetics Course with MDiet Degree | RGU University – Aberdeen, Scotland, UK | RGU
	Queen Margaret University EDINBURGH	Master of Dietetics (MDiet)/BSc (Hons) Dietetics –  Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (qmu.ac.uk)
Music Therapy	Queen Margaret University EDINBURGH	MSc Music Therapy | Queen Margaret University (qmu.ac.uk)
Occupational Therapy	Glasgow Caledonian University	Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) | Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK (gcu.ac.uk)
	Robert Gordon’s University ABERDEEN	Occupational Therapy Course with MOccTh Degree | RGU University – Aberdeen, Scotland, UK | RGU
	Queen Margaret University EDINBURGH	Master of Occupational Therapy (MOccTher) | Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (qmu.ac.uk)
	Edinburgh Napier University	Occupational Therapy (napier.ac.uk)
Orthoptics	Glasgow Caledonian University	Orthoptics | Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK (gcu.ac.uk)
Orthotics	Strathclyde University GLASGOW	BSc Prosthetics & Orthotics Bachelor’s Degree | University of Strathclyde
Paramedic (there are many routes and courses available)	Glasgow Caledonian University	Paramedic Science | Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK (gcu.ac.uk)
	Stirling University	BSc Paramedic Science B780 | Find a course | University of Stirling
	Robert Gordon’s University ABERDEEN	Paramedic Practice Course with BSc Degree | RGU University – Aberdeen, Scotland, UK | Courses | RGU
	Queen Margaret University EDINBURGH	BSc Paramedic Science – Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (qmu.ac.uk)
	University of the West of Scotland PAISLEY	https://www.uws.ac.uk
Physiotherapy	Glasgow Caledonian University	BSc(Hons)- Physiotherapy | Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK (gcu.ac.uk) MSc- Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) | Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK (gcu.ac.uk) Doctorate- Doctor of Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) | Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK (gcu.ac.uk)
	Robert Gordon’s University ABERDEEN	MSc- Physiotherapy Course with MPhys Degree | RGU University – Aberdeen, Scotland, UK | RGU Doctorate- Doctorate of Physiotherapy Course with DPT | RGU University – Aberdeen, Scotland, UK | RGU
	Queen Margaret University EDINBURGH	Master of Physiotherapy (MPhys) | Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (qmu.ac.uk)
	Edinburgh Napier University	MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) Postgraduate Full-time (napier.ac.uk)
Podiatry	Glasgow Caledonian University	Podiatry | Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK (gcu.ac.uk)
	Queen Margaret University EDINBURGH	Master of Podiatry (MPod) | Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (qmu.ac.uk)
Prosthetics	Strathclyde University GLASGOW	BSc Prosthetics & Orthotics Bachelor’s Degree | University of Strathclyde
Speech and Language therapy	Strathclyde University GLASGOW	Speech & Language Therapy Degree (BSc) UK | University of Strathclyde
	Queen Margaret University EDINBURGH	Master of Speech and Language Therapy (MSLT) | Queen Margaret University (qmu.ac.uk)
Therapeutic Radiography	Glasgow Caledonian University	Radiotherapy and Oncology | Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK (gcu.ac.uk)
	Queen Margaret University EDINBURGH	MSc Therapeutic Radiography (Pre-Registration) | Queen Margaret University (qmu.ac.uk)

Our journeys to becoming an AHP

We have a very proud, passionate and diverse AHP workforce in Ayrshire and Arran. Many of our AHPs have followed different career journeys. Please see below a series of short videos and blogs from some of our staff to share their stories with you.

Undergraduate route

Postgraduate / MSc

Staff blogs

Read our series of blogs to find out more about how our staff became AHPs.

Contact us

If you are interested in shadowing AHPs to help you decide on your career path/ or need to spend time with a profession as part of your UCAS application, please contact the email below.

aa.aaahppracticeeducation@aapct.scot.nhs.uk