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.
Profession
Healthcare & Medical Rating (Unqualified)
Train around the world to gain routine medical skills, and further your career with paid-for studies.
- GCSEs
- Medical
- Rating level
6 weeks
Of paid holiday every year
BSc
In Biomedical Science needed
£38,000
The minimum amount you'll earn after training
Free
Medical and dental care
£48,000
Earn over this amount as you progress
Travel
All around the world
I’m multi-disciplinary, which means I get really varied work, whether I’m on board ship, or in an NHS hospital.
Profession details
What you could do
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.
Your role
- Practise all the major laboratory disciplines, whether you’re in a hospital in Birmingham, or on board a ship off the coast of Bahrain
- 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
Pay & benefits
- A salary that rises to at least £38,000 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
Skills for life
Qualifications you'll gain
- Multi-disciplinary laboratory skills
- An opportunity to study further at Degree level 6 and Masters level 7 to top up your professional portfolio
Skills you'll develop
- How to support medical teams with clinical lab service, wherever they are in the world
- Experience every laboratory discipline, and develop throughout your career
Eligibility
- Aged 17.5 to 39
- 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 and 27 if under 18)
Skills & interests
- 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
Joining process
From picking your profession to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.
Step 1
Submit an application
Once you’ve registered your interest in a Profession, and have satisfied some basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form.
Step 2
Interview
A formal Selection Interview assessment will be conducted , and discussion of the role you are qualified for. It will also cover the initial stages of the Security application. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform.
Step 3
Qualified Mental Health Nurse Assessment Board
This is a 1-day Assessment board where you will be asked to deliver a 10-minute presentation on a clinically related subject, participate in a Group exercise and sit a competency-based interview led by Nurse Education Advisor and Medical Specialist Recruitment Team. Assessment Boards are conducted subject to requirement.
Step 4
Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
This is a four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, including assessments of your Fitness and your Medical eligibility , it is a pass or fail course.
Step 5
Start training
Once you’ve passed all eligibility criteria, including a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh to commence your initial training.
Got a question?
Our virtual recruiter is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day