Scottish Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering Training Scheme (SMPCETS) - 2026
Medical Physics (3.5 years), Clinical Engineering – Rehab Engineering (3.5 years)
Applications are invited from candidates with a First- or Second-Class Honours Degree in Physical Sciences or Engineering for entry onto the Scottish Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Training Scheme (SMPCETS). The scheme is commissioned by NES.
We aim to employ a minimum of 6 trainees in total (5 in Medical Physics and 1 in Rehab Engineering). The Medical Physics trainees will be enrolled onto the Medical Physics training programme and be based at either NHS Lothian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Tayside, NHS Grampian, or NHS Highland, and the Rehab Engineering trainee will be enrolled onto the Clinical Engineering training programme and be based at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (WestMARC Centre).
The training will include scientific rotations and acquaintanceships, allowing trainees to build a portfolio for registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council. Funding for postgraduate training and course fees will be provided. Current salary scale for these supernumerary trainee posts is ‘AfC’ band 6.
Successful applicants will be given a contract of employment, starting September 2026, with their employing NHS Scotland Health Board. They will register on the SMPCETS, and in their first year of employment study for an IPEM accredited MSc degree in Medical Physics at Aberdeen University, or in Clinical Engineering at Strathclyde University. In subsequent years of employment, trainees will be based at their nominated NHS Scotland Health Boards. Successful applicants who already hold a qualifying IPEM accredited MSc will commence their training with hospital-based rotations, and train for 2.5 years.
IMPORTANT NOTE – this year (2026) all applications for Medical Physics and Rehab Engineering will be via a single application portal. All applicants – please make it clear within your answer to section 2 of your application assessment form (‘why do you want to work for the NHS?) whether you are applying for Medical Physics or Rehab Engineering. You may also wish to highlight this elsewhere in your supporting statement too. If you do not state your preference, then we reserve the right to make this decision on your behalf, based on your previous experience.
For International applicants, clear evidence of current visa status and entitlement to work in the UK (without restrictions) should be provided. NHS sponsorship for international candidates may be available.
Closing date for applications is Friday 20th February 2026. Interviews are currently scheduled for the week commencing 20th April 2026 and will be held in-person.
Please note: only successful candidates will be contacted for interview. If you have not been contacted by 10th April 2026 you will have been unsuccessful.
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.