At a glance
Be part of a world class medical team and experience clinical practice you won’t get in civilian life, caring for patients in the UK and overseas. You’ll start as an apprentice and deliver world-class care to all.
Healthcare & Medical Rating (Unqualified)
Train around the world to gain routine medical skills, and further your career with paid-for studies.
Start your application
As part of your application process, we’ll help you find the most suitable role based on your skills and experience.
Register interest£25.200
What you'll get paid from day one
GCSE's
Maths and English at level 4 or above.
Free
Medical and dental care
£48,000
Earn over this amount as you progress
Travel
All around the world
6 weeks
Of paid holiday every year
I’m multi-disciplinary, which means I get really varied work, whether I’m on board ship, or in an NHS hospital.
What you can do
Profession details
Joining the Royal Navy as a Healthcare and Medical Rating (Unqualified) means you’ll train at the top of the medical field with world-class specialists. Your training will take you all around the world, from aircraft carriers to assault ships. You’ll take advantage of paid-for qualifications and deliver effective military healthcare and advice. Healthcare and Medical Ratings (Unqualified) can go on to specialise in dentistry, nursing, biomedical science, and the Submarine Service. Whatever you pursue, you’ll train with the best in the world.
- Play a key role in supporting deployed personnel as well as those stationed in the UK
- Be multi-disciplined, taking on a variety of duties rather than being restricted to a particular specialism.
- Be part of a world-class medical service that’s respected far beyond the Armed Forces
- A salary that rises to at least £33,000 as soon as you finish training
- Earn in excess of £52,000 as your career progresses
- An excellent pension scheme
- Six weeks of paid holiday every year
- Free medical and dental care
Qualifications you'll gain
- Complete FdSc Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship
- Study for GCSEs, A-Levels, NVQs or even a degree, paid for by us
- Gain specialist vocational qualifications as your career progresses
Skills you'll develop
- Learn about first aid, environmental and preventative medicine, anatomy and physiology
- Develop your skills in specialist areas, like pharmacy or nursing
- Aged 17.5 to 39 (You can start your application from 15 years and 9 months old however you must be at least 17.5 years old on day of entry to basic training)
- 2 GCSEs at min grade 4/C to include Maths, English Language - Functional Skills or key skills accepted
- You must be a British or Irish national, a Commonwealth citizen, or a Dual National
- Minimum height of 145cm
- A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17.5 and 27 if under 18)
- A high level of clinical skill
- A caring and compassionate nature
- A passion for helping people
- Be highly organised, and calm under pressure
- A sense of adventure
Day one
Finish joining routine, meet your mentor, start your rotation
Year one
Leading Rates Leadership Course, adventurous training
First promotion
Become Leading Hand, mentor students, go on deployment
Second promotion
Become Petty Officer, take on more management responsibility
Joining process
From picking your profession to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.
- Register your interest
- Complete your application
- Interview
- Qualified Mental Health Nurse assessment board
- Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
- Start training
Start your application
Find your place in the Royal Navy. Make friends for life, learn new skills and experience the world.
Got a question?
Our virtual recruiter is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day