Core Profession Groupings
This section explains the Core Profession Groupings used across NHS Scotland. These groupings help categorise roles, ensuring a consistent and structured approach to recruitment, workforce planning, and reporting.
Whether you’re advertising a role, assessing candidates, or onboarding new staff, understanding these groupings will help you apply the correct classifications and use clear, consistent language throughout the recruitment process, helping hiring managers and candidates understand how roles are categorised across NHS Scotland.
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Core Profession Groupings Glossary
General Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| AHP – Allied Health Professional | A registered health professional group including roles such as physiotherapists, radiographers and occupational therapists. |
| DDaT (Digital, Data, and Technology) | A term used for roles involving IT, data analysis and software development. |
| HR (Human Resources) | The team that supports staff with things like pay, policies and wellbeing. |
| NMAHP – Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions | A collective term covering nursing, midwifery and allied health professional roles. |
| MDT – Multi‑Disciplinary Team | A group of professionals from different disciplines working together to support patient care. |
| HCSW – Healthcare Support Worker | A role that supports clinical staff in delivering patient care in a variety of settings. |
| HCA – Healthcare Assistant | A support role assisting with patient care under the supervision of qualified staff. |
| NQP – Newly Qualified Practitioner | Someone who has recently completed their professional training and is starting their career. |
| PE / PEL – Practice Educator / Practice Education Lead | Roles responsible for supporting learning and development in clinical practice settings. |
| ODP – Operating Department Practitioner | A healthcare professional who works as part of the surgical team, supporting patients before, during and after procedures. |
| OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) | A practical test of clinical skills. It is often required for overseas nurses or midwives who want to register and work in the UK. |
| SW – Social Worker | A professional who supports individuals, families and communities to improve wellbeing and safeguard vulnerable people. |
| M&D | Medical and Dental (staff group) |
| N&M | Nursing and Midwifery (staff group) |
| Support Services | Services within NHS Scotland that provide essential support to enable clinical and non-clinical services to operate effectively, including functions such as HR, recruitment, estates, facilities, IT, and administrative support. |
Allied Health Profession (AHP) Acronyms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| AT – Art Therapist | A therapist who uses creative art processes to support mental health and emotional wellbeing. |
| DT – Dramatherapist | A therapist who uses drama and role play techniques to support psychological and emotional wellbeing. |
| MT – Music Therapist | A therapist who uses music to support emotional, psychological and social needs. |
| DR – Diagnostic Radiographer | A healthcare professional who uses imaging techniques such as X‑rays and scans to help diagnose illnesses and injuries. |
| TR – Therapeutic Radiographer | A healthcare professional who delivers radiotherapy treatment to patients, mainly for cancer care. |
| DTN – Dietitian | A professional who assesses, diagnoses and treats dietary and nutritional problems. |
| OT – Occupational Therapist | A professional who supports people to carry out daily activities and improve independence. |
| ORT – Orthoptist | A specialist who diagnoses and treats eye movement disorders and vision problems. |
| OTH – Orthotist | A professional who designs and fits braces and supports to improve mobility and function. |
| PRO – Prosthetist | A professional who designs and fits artificial limbs. |
| POD – Podiatrist | A healthcare professional who specialises in foot and lower limb health. |
| PT – Physiotherapist | A professional who helps restore movement and function through physical therapy and rehabilitation. |
| SLT – Speech and Language Therapist | A professional who supports communication, speech, language and swallowing difficulties. |
| PARA – Paramedic | A healthcare professional who provides emergency care and treatment, often responding to urgent and life‑threatening situations. |
Nursing and Midwifery Roles
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| RN – Registered Nurse | A qualified nurse who is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and able to practise in the UK. |
| RNA – Adult Nurse | A registered nurse who specialises in caring for adult patients across a range of settings. |
| RNC – Children’s Nurse | A registered nurse who specialises in caring for infants, children and young people. |
| RNLD – Learning Disability Nurse | A registered nurse who supports people with learning disabilities to improve health and wellbeing. |
| RNMH – Mental Health Nurse | A registered nurse who specialises in supporting people with mental health conditions. |
| RM – Registered Midwife | A qualified midwife who is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and supports people during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. |
Healthcare Science and Clinical Support Roles
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| HCS – Healthcare Scientist | A professional who works in laboratory, diagnostic or applied science roles to support patient care, such as analysing samples or developing treatments. |
| IBMS – Institute of Biomedical Science | A professional body for biomedical scientists, commonly referenced in roles relating to laboratory science and accreditation. |
| Pharm – Pharmacist | A qualified healthcare professional who prepares and dispenses medicines and provides advice on their safe use. |
| PT (Pharmacy) – Pharmacy Technician | A registered professional who supports pharmacists in preparing and dispensing medicines and managing stock. |
| PTPT – Pre‑registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician | A trainee role working towards qualification and registration as a pharmacy technician. |
Medical Recruitment Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Foundation Training | The first stage of postgraduate medical training after medical school. |
| Specialty Training | Structured postgraduate training leading to qualification in a medical specialty. |
| GP Training | Postgraduate training pathway leading to qualification as a General Practitioner. |
| Deanery | The organisation responsible for managing and overseeing postgraduate medical training programmes. In Scotland this is managed through the Scotland Deanery. |
| LAT (Locum Appointment for T | A temporary training post used within medical recruitment and training pathways. |
| Resident Doctor | The term now used in place of "junior doctor" for doctors undertaking postgraduate training. |
Medical Training and Career Stage Acronyms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| IMG – International Medical Graduate | A doctor who has completed their primary medical qualification outside the UK. |
| NQP – Newly Qualified Practitioner | Someone who has recently completed their professional training and is starting their career. |
| CCT – Certificate of Completion of Training | A qualification awarded to doctors who have successfully completed specialist training in the UK. |
| MBChB – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery | The primary medical degree required to become a doctor. |
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