National Perioperative Training Programme: Assistant Perioperative Practitioner

Cohort 10

Starts 18 January 2027

Cohort 9

Starts 2 November 2026

Cohort 8

Starts 15 June 2026

Cohort 7

Starts 19 January 2026

This is an accelerated learning programme to develop career level band 2 and 3 Healthcare Support Workers into career level band 4 Assistant Perioperative Practitioners.

• Support increased capacity and diversification of the non-medical perioperative workforce through delivering this accelerated national workforce programme
• Promote the development of the Assistant Perioperative Practitioner to help meet current and future healthcare demands
• Support accelerated development of the knowledge and essential clinical skillsof APPs across Scotland
• Support the development of personal and professional values consistent with the APP role as part of the perioperative team
• Elevate the level of skill and experience within the perioperative workforce, producing APPs that can practice at an enhanced career level to increase the capability and capacity within the wider perioperative team, supporting alternative career pathways into APP roles and beyond

Assistant Perioperative Practitioner is delivered through a combination of workshops and work-based learning, and is supported by online resources. The programme content is supported by the Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) level 3 Healthcare Support (Clinical) at SCQF level 7 robust work-based learning structure.

Workshops

Core programme content is delivered through workshops, which are arranged in three-day ‘blocks’:

• Block 1: Pre-operative essentials
• Block 2: Peri-operative essentials
• Block 3: Post-operative essentials

These workshops follow best-practice educational approaches and allow learners to develop knowledge and practise their skills with the support of educators and peers. The workshops also allow learners to learn alongside registered nurses on the Foundations of Perioperative Practice programme. This interprofessional learning promotes a range of skills including communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.  

Core learning workshops are followed by four Applied Learning (ApLe) days, which are case-based and speciality-focused. The ApLe days encourage learners to develop critical thinking and consider principles in specific contexts.

Work-based learning

The NHSSA programme learners will be employed within NHS Board areas and undertake work-based learning in their workplace. Practice supervision and assessment will be governed by the SQA in line with SVQ requirements.

Online resources

Online resources, including an online portfolio, allow learners to review and consolidate their learning and track progress across the programme. Completion of APP training will be evidenced by the production of a portfolio of evidence which will be recognised as valid evidence of clinical competencies of skills. This SVQ portfolio completion is an essential programme requirement and includes a range of reflections and learning activities which link directly to assessment of learner competence.

The NHS Scotland Academy is an exciting partnership between NHS Golden Jubilee and NHS Education for Scotland to offer accelerated training for a wide range of health and social care roles and professions.