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Medical illustrator apprenticeships

Creative and media | Healthcare

Medical illustrator apprenticeships - where to start

You can get into this job through

  • a university course
  • working towards this role


    • University

    You'll need a degree in a relevant subject like: 

    • photography 
    • graphic design 
    • illustration 
    • art and design 
    You can apply for a trainee position as a medical illustrator in a healthcare setting once you finish your degree. You'll usually need 2 to 3 A-Levels, or equivalent, for a degree. 

    Work
    You can apply to do a postgraduate qualification if you're already working in healthcare and you have a relevant degree. For example, courses include clinical photography and graphic design in healthcare. Medical illustration is a small and specialised field, and there's a lot of competition for vacancies. 

    You'll improve your job prospects if you also have relevant work experience. Some courses include work placements, or you could contact your local university or NHS trust's medical photography department to arrange a visit or some work shadowing. 

    Professional and industry bodies
    You can join the Academy for Healthcare Science or Institute of Medical Illustrators for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

    Medical illustrator apprenticeships - what it takes

    Skills and knowledge

    You'll need: 

    • to be thorough and pay attention to detail 
    • design skills and knowledge 
    • knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software 
    • thinking and reasoning skills
    • the ability to use your initiative 
    • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure 
    • to be flexible and open to change 
    • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations 
    • to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications

    Medical illustrator apprenticeships - what you'll do

    Day-to-day tasks

    Your tasks will depend on your specialism. As part of your day-to-day tasks, you may: 

    • record a patient's condition using a digital camera or video 
    • take photographs to monitor the effectiveness of operations and treatments 
    • use specialist equipment and techniques to capture 3D images of structures like the eye, and to record specific procedures 
    • work closely with doctors, nurses and patients in hospitals and university medical departments 
    • photograph non-accidental injuries, in forensic photography 
    • provide bereavement photography for grieving parents 
    • copy evidence from slides and x-rays 
    • use software to produce presentations 
    • create visual materials for teaching and research purposes
    • produce photography and artwork for publicity materials, annual reports, staff newspapers and websites
    Working environment
    You could work in a photographic studio or in an NHS or private hospital. You may need to wear protective clothing.

    Career path and progression - Medical illustrator apprenticeships

    With experience, you could progress to a management role. With further study, you could also move into research or teaching.

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    Considering an Apprenticeship?

    There are lots of benefits to apprenticeships, here are our top 5:

    • Paid Training
      Not only will your organisation (or the Government) pay for all of your training, but you’ll be paid to do it. That means you could actually get paid to get your degree and have no debt!
    • Range of career opportunities
      There are over 625 different apprenticeships to choose from, in a range of industries. Whether you’re interested in law, marketing, construction or engineering, you’ll find something up your street!
    • Earn & learn
      As an apprentice, the minimum you’ll earn is £6.20 an hour, but we’ve seen apprentices earn a starting salary of up to £30,000 a year! You could also get other employee benefits like gym memberships, paid holiday and sick pay.
    • Great career prospects
      Employers think apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications. In fact, many large employers train their graduates and apprentices together!
    • Learn on the job
      There’s only so much you can learn when you just do a qualification. As an apprentice, you’ll also get to learn on the job - whether that’s designing amazing graphics, chopping vegetables or building engines!

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