The Royal Navy - Medical Assistant Senior Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship Royal Navy

Being a Medical Assistant in the Royal Navy means embarking on a career that offers more variety and adventure than you’d ever experience in civilian medicine. From the day you join, you’ll gain new skills, pushing yourself to the limit in some unique and challenging environments.

This apprenticeship requires you to apply through the employer's website.

Apply now

Closing date: 01 Jun 2026

Apprenticeship summary

  • Annual wage

    £20,400.00

  • Working week

    Shifts to be confirmed, total hours per week: 40.00

    Total hours per week: 40.0

  • Expected duration

    18 Months

  • Possible start date

    02 Jun 2026

  • Date posted

    04 Jun 2024

  • Apprenticeship level

    Advanced
    Level 3 (A level)

  • Reference number

    VAC1000255392

  • Positions

    80 available

What you will do in your working day

  • Make a real difference to some essential operations. That might mean being the only medic on board ship, and taking responsibility for the general healthcare of an entire crew. This could include patient assessment and coordination of care, infection prevention and control, and supporting specialist senior healthcare support workers in their duties
  • Use your medical expertise where it’s needed most, providing primary healthcare to trauma victims in conflict zones all over the world
  • When you’re not on deployment you will be working in a Royal Navy shore base or even with the Royal Marines. There’s no equivalent civilian role, so you’ll gain all the skills you need
  • Work across all medical departments, learning directly from specialists in a number of different fields. You could be training with Special Forces in West Africa, or working in primary care on board a ship in the Persian Gulf

The training you will be getting

By the end of your training you will be a qualified Medical Assistant (Senior Healthcare Support Worker).

Functional Skills in English and maths if required.

You’ll start your naval career as an Able Rate.

Training and development continues throughout your career with the Royal Navy. It takes place in two distinct environments: at onshore training facilities and on-board operational ships.

When you join you complete 10 weeks of basic naval training, followed by 40 weeks of specialist training at Defence Medical Services (DMS) Wittington, broken down into classroom lessons and placements.

During lessons you will learn: 

  • First Aid at Work
  • Be given an insight into primary health care, pharmacy, environmental health, medical administration and other essential skills needed to be a Medical Assistant

Once you have gained the underpinning knowledge you will then undertake a 6 week clinical work based placement in various locations around the UK. On completion you will return to DMS Wittington to undertake Royal Navy single service training consisting of 7 weeks learning the specific and vital skills required of a Medical Assistant with the Royal Navy. This is followed by placements in primary and secondary healthcare facilities in various locations around the UK lasing for 11 weeks. Finally, you will return to DMS Wittington for a period of consolidation before graduating and being assigned to a medical centre or a ship.

What to expect at the end of your apprenticeship

If you show the right commitment, skills and academic ability, you could become a Commissioned Officer. Members of the Royal Navy are promoted on merit. Work hard and you can rise through the ranks.

Requirements and prospects

Desired skills and personal qualities

Communication skills, IT skills, Attention to detail, Organisation skills, Customer care skills, Problem solving skills, Administrative skills, Analytical skills, Logical, Team working, Creative, Initiative, Non judgemental, Patience

Qualifications

GCSE or equivalent Math and English (Grade GCSE Level C/4) Desired

Things to consider

Desired qualifications No qualifications required – just that you pass a Recruit Test and are in a good state of health and fitness.

About the employer

The Royal Navy (RN) is responsible for the protection of British interests at home and around the World. 95% of all world trade passes through the high seas and every year Britain imports £524 billion worth of goods. The RN takes an active part in the protection of British Shipping. Around the United Kingdom the RN protects vital fishing stocks by monitoring fishing activities in our waters. We recruit throughout the year, so please ignore Key Dates

Employer

Royal Navy

Address

Navy Command HQ

The Admiral Sir Henry Leach Building

Portsmouth

PO2 8BY

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Training

Training provider

ROYAL NAVY

Adjustments for experience

You could reduce your training time, or finish your apprenticeship faster, if you have relevant prior learning or experience. This could be relevant:

  • training
  • qualifications, like an NVQ in a relevant field
  • industry or sector experience

Apprenticeship standard

Senior healthcare support worker

Level 3 (A level)

Demonstrating experience

If your application is successful, you will have a chance to discuss your relevant prior learning or experience with your training provider and employer. You will all need to agree any adjustments to your training plan.

You should be prepared to show your competence, and evidence of relevant qualifications

Employer's Application Instructions

A job in the Naval Service means adventure, camaraderie – and lifelong prospects. Every day you make a difference. And no two days are the same. You could be policing the world's oceans, delivering humanitarian aid when natural or man-made disasters strike. Or you could be deployed in combat. No matter what job you do, you'll be a key part in operations around the world. Are you ready to go places?

This apprenticeship requires you to apply through the employer's website.

Apply now

Closing date: 01 Jun 2026