Course overview
The apprentice achieves an academic award, and two professional awards (SPQ Specialist Practice in District Nursing and Non-medical Prescribing (V300)), enabling them to become an independent prescriber within their scope of practice.
This course is approved against the NMC (2022) Standards of Proficiency for Community Nursing Specialist Practice Qualifications and mapped to The Queen's Institute of Community Nursing (QICN) (2022) District Nursing Standards for Specialist Practitioner Qualification. This provides a strong framework rooted in community nursing to focus the apprentice’s learning with relevant context to the professional standards.
Designed in consultation with local employers, professional standards bodies, students, service users, carers and district nurse educators from across the country.
The apprentice is taught by tutors with expert knowledge in the field, including clinical skills, leadership, prescribing and district nursing. Learning is structured around four areas: clinical practice, leadership and management, facilitation of learning and evidence, research and development. This reflects the field-specific standards set by the QICN – this course has been endorsed by the QICN against these standards.
The apprentice studies this course while also having a full-time contract and being employed as an apprentice district nurse.
Please note, we can only respond to enquiries from employers, or individuals with agreement from their employer to undertake an apprenticeship.
Supporting information for applicants
Course details
Course structure
You learn key aspects of district nursing, including building a community profile, safeguarding, risk, teaching and learning, promoting independence, the experience of service users and carers, and understanding associated research.
You develop your professional district nurse proficiencies and management and leadership skills, developing service improvements, patient safety and understanding research methodology for project design.
Advancing Non-medical Prescribing
Independent and supplementary prescribing is an integrated feature of health service delivery. Some health-specific professionals are qualified to prescribe across a range of healthcare settings. Advancing roles within both nursing and allied health professions have provided a greater access to medicines. This award provides nurses and allied health professionals (physiotherapists, radiographers, podiatrists, dietitians, and paramedics who are working in advanced practice roles) with the knowledge and skills to prescribe safely and effectively. You must work within your own scope of practice and area of competence and be able to complete the care cycle in a holistic manner for clients within your care.
Advancing Physical Assessment Skills for the Specialist Practitioner
You explore clinical assessment and management, focusing on the assessment of the individual. You develop knowledge of anatomy, pathology and physiology applied to the diagnostic process. Theory is combined with practice learning, supported by a supervisor, providing you with the key skills for safe and effective decision-making that considers individual client needs and the key people around them. You draw on current guidelines and policies to inform your clinical assessment and management plans.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
The apprentice commits to a comprehensive and individual approach to learning. They learn through group discussions, presentations, project work and clinical skills development in practical labs. They gain confidence in accessing digital resources. There is some online learning, but most teaching and learning is in-person.
There is some shared some learning with students on the main district nursing route, the health and justice field of this apprenticeship and students on other courses during the Non-Medical Prescribing module. The apprentice is encouraged to explore different perspectives and ideas, and share experiences of problem-solving in practice.
We highly value the experience and knowledge of service users and carers involved in the programme, for example through teaching activities and assessment. The apprentice is allocated a practice assessor who plays a significant role in ensuring access to great learning opportunities during placement. Their skills and experiences also provide them with an excellent role model. Learning in placement is through the employing organisation, where the apprentice is encouraged to use their on-the-job learning time, gaining insight into the employer’s services and structures.
How you are assessed
Assessment includes a modified objective structured long examination review, essays, verbal tasks, presentations, portfolios, exams and assessment of proficiencies in practice. Your practice assessor and practice supervisors are key to these practice assessments. All modules include the opportunity for formative feedback while the apprentice progresses. Work is generally submitted online with online feedback. The apprentice reviews their progress at the end of the first year and prepares for their next stage of learning. On successful completion of the course, they are awarded through an academic assessment board and with a fully integrated end-point assessment.
Entry requirements
To be accepted on to an apprenticeship course you must have support from your employer and meet the course entry requirements.
Apprentices must:
> have an NMC-valid registration as a registered nurse and at least one year’s experience post-registration in the field they intend to prescribe (to meet the non-medical prescribing entry criteria, apprentices need at least three years post qualification experience at the point of commencing the module which starts in January of year 2 of the course)
> have a degree or RPL equivalent
> be professionally practising in a role where there is an identified need to prescribe, including at least one year in the clinical field in which they intend to prescribe
> be approved by the employing Trust or organisation’s non-medical prescribing lead and service manager who must provide verification of the apprentice’s suitability to prescribe
> have an NMP practice assessor or designated prescribing practitioner to provide supervision, support and opportunities to develop competence in practice
> pass a 20-question drug calculations entry test with a mark of 80% or above
> complete an interview with their employer and the University and must have a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure.
Apprentices may take part in an occupational health work-based risk assessment check. If they have a disability, specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism spectrum condition, sensory impairment or medical condition that may require reasonable adjustments during an external placement or in the university or a clinical practice area, this must be declared as part of the enrolment process. Contact the relevant admissions or course tutor for guidance.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
If you have already achieved some of these modules then it is possible to access the RPL processes offered by Teesside University to have this prior achievement acknowledged. Please see separate information regarding this process available on the website.
We cannot accept applications from international students requiring a student visa.
Eligibility for apprenticeship funding in England
To qualify for apprenticeship funding in England, an apprentice must meet all the criteria outlined by the Department for Education in the Apprenticeship Funding Rules. These requirements apply to programmes starting between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026.
1. Right to work
The apprentice must have the legal right to work in England.
2. Residency eligibility
The apprentice must meet the residency requirements detailed in Annex A of the Funding Rules. This includes (but is not limited to):
- being ordinarily resident in the UK (or specified territories) for at least three years immediately before the apprenticeship begins, unless a specific exemption applies
- exemptions may apply to individuals with:
- refugee status or humanitarian protection
- permission under the Ukraine or Afghan schemes
- stateless status
- certain family member rights
- pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
3. Visa duration and completion viability
For apprentices with time-limited immigration permission (such as visas), the permission must cover the entire duration of the apprenticeship, including the end-point assessment. If the visa expires before completion, the apprentice is not eligible for funding.
Full details can be found in the official guidance: Apprenticeship Funding Rules 2025 to 2026
Employability
Career opportunities
Successful apprentices can apply for a district nurse post as team leader and specialist practitioner, and develop professionally and academically with a master’s level qualification.
Work placement
Placements are in the employing Trust’s community nursing service.
PgDip Specialist Practice in District Nursing (Degree Apprenticeship)
PGCert Specialist Practice in District Nursing
Specialist Practice in District Nursing (Degree Apprenticeship), PgDip