Advanced Critical Care Practice

FICM accreditation

We are proud to announce that the MSc Advanced Critical Care Practice (ACCP) programme at the University of Warwick has been awarded full accreditation by the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM) as of June 2025. This recognition affirms our commitment to excellence in ACCP education and training.

We are proud to be recognised as a FICM Accredited Higher Education Institution and remain committed to delivering high-quality training for Advanced Critical Care Practitioners.

About the course

This course is primarily aimed at clinicians caring for critically ill patients.

The MSc Advanced Critical Care Practice (ACCP) provides a structured programme for nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals who wish to extend their scope of clinical practice towards autonomous practice in the speciality of critical care in the pre-hospital or in-hospital setting.

Advanced Critical Care Practitioner roles have been developed as part of a larger NHS national workforce strategy. (NHS, Long Term Plan, 2019). The course is based on the National Curriculum and Syllabus for ACCPs published by the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine.

A flexible, modular structure allows clinicians to become competent Advanced Critical Care Practitioners over a three-year period starting with the PG Certificate in the first year, then progressing to the PG Diploma in the second and then going on to the MSc stage in the third. Most modules can also be taken as a stand-alone Postgraduate Award.

Taught by senior practising clinicians and health care professionals, this is an interactive programme where you will learn through seminars, group work and individual study.

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed primarily at nurses, paramedics and allied healthcare professionals who work within acute, emergency and critical care environments who wants to become an advanced critical care practitioner.

Applicants who have successfully completed a non-medical prescribing course at another UK HEI and have registered this qualification with their professional body will automatically be granted Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) of 40 CATS points towards the Independent and Supplementary Prescribing module in year 2. Applicants will be required to provide original evidence of their qualification and professional registration of this qualification.

Course content:

The Advanced Critical Care Practitioner curriculum is based around the 4 pillars of advanced practice: Clinical, Research, Education and Leadership. The degree program weaves these four pillars though the core and optional modules presented below.

The course is modular and organised in blocks of study lasting between four and six days at a time, which can be consecutive days within the same week or spread out over several weeks.

PG Certificate (60 CATS points):

PG Diploma (120 CATS points): The PG Certificate modules above plus:

Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (40 CATs)
Critical Care Skills for Advanced Critical Care Practitioners (20 CATs)

MSc (180 CATS points): The PG Certificate and Diploma modules above plus:

Professional Project (40 CATs)
Work-based Learning (20 CATs)

Induction module

Before completing the course, you will undertake the Induction and Professional Development module, introducing you to all the underpinning regulations, guidance, and support available to you during your postgraduate study.

Entry requirements:

Applicants should:

- be 4 years post qualification/registration
- be in a clinical post at Band 6 or above in a trainee ACCP post or similar
- have current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health Care Professionals Council or Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Hold a BSc degree at 2nd class level, or evidence of Level 7 study.

Those without the academic qualifications will have a telephone interview with the course director for a special case request to be made.

English language requirements: Band A with specific component scores of 6.5 in reading and writing.

Teaching methods:

This is an interactive programme. You will learn through lectures and seminars, practical group work and guided reading. The course will delivered via a blended learning approach using face to face and online learning. You will benefit from guided discussions and have the opportunity to practise the skills you have learnt during the sessions.

Assessment:

Assessment for each module can be seen by looking at the relevant module page but typically consists of written essays of 4,000 words each, a clinical portfolio and/or an Objective Structured Long Examination Record (OSLER). The Professional Project is assessed by a 4,000 word project report and a poster presentation.

Key Facts

Contact:

Eva Mussio / Claire Runaghan / Evon Conway

Tel: 024 765 74263

Course Director:
Professor Joyce Yeung

Deputy Course Director:
Rebecca Johnson

Duration:

MSc: 3 years part time
PG Dip: 2 years part time
PG Cert: 1 year part time

Study mode: Part-time

Location of study: University of Warwick

Interview with course director

FeesLink opens in a new window

Scholarships

Please note: the MSc route is appropriate if you are funded by your Trust or by HEE, or if you are self-funding.

If your Employer is considering the Apprenticeship levy, the application process is different and you or your Employer will need to contact the Apprenticeship team, in the first instance.

How To Apply for the MSc routeLink opens in a new window

In conjunction with the online application, you will need to complete and return the offline ACCP Education Supervisor Information and Nomination Form. Please contact the Portfolio 1 team to be sent a blank copy: pgt-portfolio1 at warwick dot ac dot uk

In order to apply for the Apprenticeship route, please follow the link:- Apprenticeship ACP