First Contact Practitioner (FCP)
Allied Health Professions bring a unique set of skills to primary care. A First Contact Practitioner (FCP) is a registered allied health professional who is the first point of contact for patients, providing expertise and increased capacity to general practice and providing patients with faster access to the right care.
FCPs are qualified autonomous clinical practitioners who are able to assess, diagnose, treat and discharge a person without a medical referral – where appropriate. FCP sits within the clinical pillar of Advanced Clinical Practice, and therefore the clinician is working towards Advanced Clinical Practice.
Please Note: We are currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 PGCert FCP course only, with very limited places for the standalone stage 2 option for those who have completed stage one. To be able to enrol as a standalone stage 2 e-portfolio applicant, you MUST have already:
– Completed the MACP pathway or SOMM Level 3 (for the MSK roadmap) or
– Possess a minimum of 40 Level 7 credits from a university focused on FCP/history taking/physical assessment
If you do not have the above, please apply for the full PGCert. If you believe you have other exceptional circumstances, please contact the course team on FCP@aecc.ac.uk with a completed LNA, showing fulfilment of the stage 1 criteria, and supporting documentation. This is to ensure that the knowledge and skills required for FCP stage 1 are fully met prior to clinical practice e- portfolio. This is also to ensure that you have the academic ability to complete Stage 2 at Masters Level.
Please Note: you will need to have a supporting PCN / employer that supports your application for this course.
Please Note: an LNA (Learning needs analysis) needs to be completed prior to your application. There are two intakes for PGCert FCP in 2025, one in May and one in September. Please state on your LNA which you would like to apply for.
PGCert First Contact Practice
Become a First Contact Practitioner (FCP) supporting and improving the treatment and management of clinically complex patients in General Practice.
- Manages undifferentiated undiagnosed conditions.
- Able to identify red flags and underlying serious pathology and take appropriate action.
- Works within practice, across PCN, multi-organisational, cross professions and across care pathways and systems including health, social care, and the voluntary sectors.
- High level complex decision making to inform the diagnosis, investigation, management, and on referral within scope of practice.
- Actively takes a personalised care approach to enable shared decision making with the presenting person.
- Contributes to audit and research projects.
- Contributes to education and supervision within their scope of practice for the multi-professional team.
- Facilitates interprofessional learning in area of expertise.
- Promotes and develops area of expertise across care pathways.
FCP at Health Sciences University
At Health Sciences University we are delighted to be able to offer a wide range of NHS England funded FCP provision from September 2023 which includes both the taught and portfolio route to FCP recognition; roadmap supervisor training; and a Community of Practice. We are working closely with NHS Primary Care Training hubs to deliver this provision.
FCP is not new at HSU but growing! Our FCP course started in March 2022 for the MSK roadmap but we are very excited to be offering all 5 roadmaps from September 2023, with funding from NHS England for student fees. This means that you will be joining a multi-professional programme, benefitting from learning with peers across the AHP professions, all working towards developing your ‘AHP super-power’ as a First Contact Practitioners. Health Sciences University is recognised by the Centre for Advancing Practice as meeting the FCP roadmap stage 1 and 2 requirements.
There are five First Contact Practitioner Roadmaps – there are musculoskeletal; paramedic; occupational therapy; dietitian; and podiatry. Roadmaps to Practice are supportive documents that provide a clear educational pathway from undergraduate to advanced practice for clinicians wishing to pursue a career in primary care. This ensures that a gold standard of care can be provided for patients, putting their safety at the forefront. Our taught and portfolio routes to FCP are aimed at providing HCPC registered physiotherapists osteopaths, podiatrists, occupational therapists, dieticians and paramedics the opportunity to develop as competent, evidence based first contact practitioners.
Why Study First Contact Practice at HSU?
- Our FCP course is recognised by the Centre for Advancing Practice as meeting the FCP roadmap stage 1 and 2 requirements
- We are one of only a handful of providers of training for First Contact Practitioners in England with funding from NHS England, meaning your tuition fees are covered for the course.
- You will be supported by the Primary Care training hubs with appropriate placement opportunities to transition into a role in Primary Care at the end of the first unit of study, before commencing Unit 2.
- We deliver both FCP education and clinical services which means we are in a unique position to be able to offer FCP placements for MSK practitioners in our fantastic onsite clinical services here at HSU.
Additional Information
Clinicians completing the capability framework will be recognised by Health Education England’s Centre for Advancing Practice and will be placed on a First Contact Practitioner directory. The capability framework clearly articulates capabilities so that employers and workforce planners can understand what the clinicians can offer to the multi-professional team to enable the best care for their patient population.
It also provides clear guidance of the expected supervision needed to support the roadmap to practice and outlines the bespoke supervision training that a supervisor needs to have completed. By providing a standard of practice there is a solid governance structure around First Contact roles and advanced practice in primary care. This ensures gold standard care and puts our patient’s safety first.
If you have any questions please refer to the Roadmap FAQS or contact us directly fcp@aecc.ac.uk.
Latest News
Discover and read all the latest news, press releases and happenings here at Health Sciences University.
In a move to address the growing global demand for highly skilled healthcare professionals, Health Sciences University (HSU) has announced a strategic partnership with Oxford International Education Group (OIEG).
Ella Sandever recently completed the Masters in Sports Rehabilitation and Therapy course. She now works at Poole Town Football Club in a full-time role as a Sports Therapist.
Jessica Mead recently graduated from the Master of Chiropractic course. Jessica flew to Yei, South Sudan, to help The Brickworks charity provide education to healthcare students and staff about back pain.
This November we celebrated the achievements of UCO School of Osteopathy graduates at London's Bridge Theatre.
HSU will be delighted to welcome students, staff, alumni and members of the public to attend the lecture by Professor Stewart Cotterill.
Hope Beales was recently awarded Student of the Year at the United Chiropractic Association (UCA) Chiropractic Essentials conference.
