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Working in the UK as a Radiographer

The UK has a significant need for healthcare professionals across a wide range of specialisations and areas of expertise. Radiography is one area where NHS jobs UK are abundantly available, both on a temporary and permanent basis across the country. Jobs for skilled and qualified radiographers are in high demand from central London to the outer reaches of Scotland and Ireland.

If you are considering moving to the UK, we have a wide range of different radiographer jobs available. With 100s of locum and permanent healthcare jobs in the UK on our platform, we are the best place to start to find a radiographer position that suits you.

How to register to work in the UK

If you have plans to work in the UK from Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, or any other country, you will now need to follow the new immigration processes put in place following the UK's exit from the EU. Whether you are planning to live in the UK permanently or you are seeking a temporary working holiday in the UK, you will need to apply for a work permit ahead of time to do so.

You will also need to meet other required standards and qualifications to work in the UK as a radiographer. If you have plans to travel to the UK to work, you must have the equivalent qualifications and experience to be eligible to work.

You should also take the time to decide which visa you would like to apply for to work in the UK, as some may require an offer of employment before you can live and work in the country. The exception is the Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

Requirements for radiographers working in the UK

To be eligible for employment, you will need to have the following:

Qualifications

Radiographers in the UK must hold the necessary education or degree in their specific field to be eligible to practise. Typically, this takes the form of a three-year Bachelor of Science degree, though equivalent degrees may be an acceptable stand-in for this specific qualification. If you do not meet these qualifications, you will not be able to be a practitioner of radiography in the UK.

Registration with HCPC

In addition to qualifications, you will also be required to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before you can accept a radiography job.

HCPC is the UK governing body that monitors and regulates healthcare professionals working in both NHS and private healthcare. The HCPC sets out the standards required by each healthcare professional body, as well as determining which programmes are acceptable standards of education and practice. For radiographers, the most important thing to understand from the HCPC is the standards of proficiency document. This is an agreement you accept when you take on a UK radiography job, and it outlines the standards to which you must practise and what is expected of you. This may be more or less strict than your usual practicing methods, so be sure to have a thorough read to see what differences might be expected of you.

The HCPC examines your specific case individually to determine whether you meet particular Standards of Proficiency. Part of these checks also includes testing your proficiency in English, with a high level of proficiency required for successful registration.

What visas are available?

The visa you choose to work in the UK will depend entirely on your individual goals and plans. If you would like to live and work in the UK permanently and have a career in radiology, the visa you apply for would be different to if you have accepted a temporary position in the UK, or if you would like to apply for healthcare jobs in the UK on a working holiday.

With such high demand in the NHS for health care professionals to join their team, most applications for these visas are accepted fairly quickly. To qualify for a health care worker visa, you must:

Be a qualified health care professional

Work in a related health or social care job

Work for a UK employer

Receive at least minimum wage

Hold a certificate of sponsorship from your employer that includes details about the role that you have been offered in the UK

Have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa

Being offered the highest rates of pay from our selected clients

You must also be able to prove that you can speak, read, write, and understand English when you apply. This is because health care roles in the UK involve communicating with patients and staff about important topics along with handling data and written information.

With the right qualifications, becoming a radiographer in the UK can be easy! If you are having trouble navigating your way through the various visas or bodies that you will need to register for, have a look at our blog for more information. We pride ourselves in helping medical professionals from around the globe land their dream locum job. We currently have a range of jobs on our site for positions in the UK and Ireland. Contact our team to learn more about how we can help you to land your next locum job today!

If you want to move to the UK, you can do so under a skilled worker visa or a health and care worker visa. In each case, you will have to pay a specific application fee for your visa to be processed, and you will be required to have a job offer lined up before your visa is granted. Often, radiographers looking to relocate to the UK will visit on a holiday basis, allowing for applications and interviews to prepare for a permanent working visa. A permanent visa can also allow dependants and spouses to come into the country with you to live.

If you are from anywhere outside of the EU, you will need to register for a Health and Care Worker Visa. The UK government site gives clear details on what is required and how to obtain one. There is always a high demand for locum radiography jobs and with the COVID-19 crisis, this has not changed. The more staff a hospital has available to help, the better.

If you are from Australia or New Zealand, as well as your HCPC registration, you have the option of a Youth Mobility Visa. This is available to people under 30 and allows you to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. You will still need to have relevant qualifications and a minimum of 12 months' experience, but it is a great way to travel to the UK and beyond while still earning and gaining experience.

What is the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?

This two-year visa is the most common solution for young professionals looking to temporarily live and work in the UK. The YMS visa offers the opportunity to live and work in the UK for up to two years to replace the working holiday visa. It is worth noting that the countries eligible for the YMS visa are slightly more limited than they used to be.

You do not need to have a job offer in place for this visa, and you must be between the age of 18-30 to be eligible. You will need to have at least £2,530 in savings for your application to be accepted, and you will be unable to take family members with you to the UK.

Life as a radiographer in the UK

What is lifelike as a radiographer in the UK? While your experience may depend on the job you choose or the area you work in, here is what you can expect when moving to the UK to practise as a radiographer:

Accommodation

If you plan to stay in the UK permanently, you may wish to make long-term arrangements for your accommodation, such as purchasing a home. Short-term rental may also be an option if you plan to work in a temporary position for a year or more within the UK without moving to other areas over time. Specific permanent jobs or contracted roles may offer accommodation as part of your contract, though this may be more common in short-term, temporary positions.

There may be a few options available for those working as a locum in the UK. Certain positions may provide accommodation on-site or close by, while larger hospitals or clinics may be able to advise on temporary lodgings near your workplace. If you plan to work and travel across the UK during your time in the country, this may be the best option to find suitable accommodation without being tied into a longer-term rental contract.

Bank accounts

When you work within the UK, you will often be required to have a UK based or compatible bank account to pay your salary. Your choice of bank is down to your personal preference, though the easy setup and management of online banking services may be more suited to your requirements than a permanent bricks-and-mortar bank in the UK. If you plan to stay on a holiday visa, you may inquire about an international bank account.

Remuneration

Based on recent figures, the average salary for radiographers in the UK is currently £40,336 (checked in November 2021). Radiographers in cities such as London or Manchester may receive higher pay in the region of £43-47,000, while more rural positions may pay a slightly lower rate. If you would like to work in the NHS, remuneration for radiographers can vary according to the level of experience and seniority. Someone newly qualified would be considered Band 5, while radiographers with seniority and management experience may rise to Band 8a. Pay can be anywhere between £30,000 to £51,000 from the bottom to the top end of the scale.

If you choose to work on a Locum rate or as an hourly temporary worker, pay may also vary depending on the employer you select and the urgency of your placement.

Useful Links

UK ENIC - The UK National Information Centre for international qualifications and skills can compare overseas qualifications with those available in the UK.
HMRC Radiographer Registration - Online registration with the HCPC to practise as a radiographer in the UK.
HMRC Youth Mobility Scheme Visa - Guidance and insight into the process and eligibility requirements for the YMS visa to work in the UK temporarily.
Health and Care Worker Visa - Information on applying to work in the UK as a Health and Care worker in the NHS.
NHS entry and training requirementsNHS entry and training requirements - Information on the specific training and experience required to be qualified as a radiographer in the UK.

Registering with us as Locum agency

Locum radiography jobs are most often placed through the use of healthcare agencies. Not only do we often get the first pass on jobs offered, but we can also help negotiate better rates of pay. We often have good relationships with certain hospitals and specialisms, so if you are looking for locum work in order to boost your skills and experience, choosing us as an agency can be a fantastic way to gain this.

Is there a demand for locum radiographers?

In short, yes! There are many NHS trusts throughout the UK, and all of them rely on locum support in order to deliver the high standards of care the NHS is known for. Some will have a higher demand than others, but there are always plenty of opportunities to work and gain new experience. If you are planning to travel the UK while working, this could be a terrific way to help fill gaps where locums are needed while seeing more of the country.

Typically, locum work is most in demand through the summer months, around school holidays, and at Christmas in the UK. As people have taken fewer holidays over the past year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the demand for locum work has been more spread out across the year. As the UK vaccination programme gets well underway, it is expected that locum work will rise in demand as permanent staff take holidays from work. The need to have staff distinctly separated in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak also means that having locums available who have not been exposed is a great help and means treating patients can continue as normal. That being said, demand is always strong in Radiography throughout the year, so there is never an inconvenient time to come and embark on a career as a locum Radiographer.

What is a radiographer salary in the UK?

There are a variety of diagnostic imaging jobs available across the UK in different fields. Radiographers have the chance to work with some of the most innovative technology, including computed tomography (CT), angiography, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI.) Salary varies according to experience and the type of radiographer job that you do, such as permanent or locum. Radiographers working in permanent positions in the NHS often start as band 5 workers. This means that you will earn £24,907 according to the current NHS pay scales. This equates to £12.77 per hour.

This rate has the potential to increase quickly as you gain more experience and work in your position for longer. As a band 5 worker with four or more years of experience in your role, your pay would rise to £30,615 a year (£15.70 per hour).

There is also extensive scope for career progression in the NHS, with many radiographers rising to the level of band 6, 7 or 8a staff. The latter of these represents more advanced clinical practitioners. To put it into context, a band 8a radiographer can earn up to £51,668 a year or £26.49 an hour. These are viable career paths for newly qualified radiographers.

Pay weighting for London and the Southeast should also be considered when contemplating a career in the NHS. Due to the higher cost of living in the UK's capital and surrounding areas, workers who live and work in these areas receive a pay bonus to account for their extra costs. Radiographers in inner London could earn more than £6,000 extra every year due to the adjustment for London workers.

Radiography opportunities in the UK

Due to its obvious links with advanced medical technologies, radiography is highly innovative - harnessing the insights gained from complex medical imaging to understand the extent and origins of illness. Radiographers are a key part of medical teams, consulting with colleagues on diagnosis and treatment plans to offer the highest-quality, patient-centred care. There is currently a national shortage of radiographers in the UK, making it a very accessible field for overseas-trained medical professionals looking to expand their experience. Posts are currently available in both diagnostic radiography and therapeutic radiography areas, in a range of different settings, on either a temporary or permanent basis.

Radiography jobs in the UK

Broadly, there are two types of radiographer jobs that those interested in working in the UK can consider:

Diagnostic Radiographers

This role focuses on generating and analysing images of the body taken from a variety of procedures, screening for abnormalities and playing a role in surgical procedures. These medical experts work closely with patients and have roles across a wide variety of hospital departments, including Emergency Departments, operating theatres, and offering support on general medical wards.

Therapeutic Radiographers

This more specialised role is linked to the work of oncology teams, delivering treatment using x-rays and other radioactive sources to diagnose and treat cancers or other metastatic conditions. These treatments are planned on a multi-disciplinary basis, taking advice from other senior staff on treatments and management plans. This can mean radiographers take responsibility for building a care pathway for a patient all the way from the discovery of a tumour, through complex treatment regimens, and on to post-treatment care.

What are radiographer jobs like?

There are many reasons why healthcare jobs and a career in medical imaging in Great Britain can be an exciting opportunity for qualified medical professionals:

Technology-led healthcare facilities with a strong reputation for medical research.
Simpler and faster visa application systems allow for long-term career stability and a wide range of opportunities.
A welcoming and supportive approach to new staff coming from overseas, adding to already diverse teams from a range of backgrounds.
Health professionals in the UK come from a very diverse range of backgrounds and from all over the world and have a reputation for being welcoming and supportive of each other.

With many roles to fill, the UK government has made it easier for those with overseas qualifications to join the healthcare workforce and support the National Health Service. It is now cheaper and easier to get sponsorship than it ever has been, and skilled worker visas have been extended to three years where they were previously two years long.

Radiographer job description – Contact us today to view live job descriptions.

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International Obstetric Sonographers-UK Private Clinics

HR Director-Group of Rehabilitation Care Homes.

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