VRC Guidance Notes & Application Form
You are recommended to follow these guidance notes carefully, in
order to ensure that your application fulfils the requirements. It
is necessary to fill out the application form as fully as possible
to prevent delays in processing. All applications must be made on
the recognised VRC form. Applications can be hand written or typed.
Hand-written forms should be completed in black ink and must be legible.
Once you have completed your application form submit two copies with
a cheque for the non-refundable registration
fee of £45 by post. Download the application
form.
1. Personal details
Insert the title by which you are normally addressed (i.e. Mr, Mrs., Miss, and Ms etc). Insert previous surname if your professional qualification certificates are different.
The address for correspondence will be the one published in the Voluntary Register and should, where possible, be your work address as the information will be in the public domain. The Council must be informed of any change of address.
Modality applied for:
Cytotechnologist
(This is a generic application form for many professions)
2. Academic and professional qualifications record
Relevant educational qualifications
Record educational qualifications at the highest level obtained.
Relevant educational qualifications include HNC, HND, and BSc etc.
If you have no such qualifications you will need to record qualifications
obtained at school/sixth form college e.g. O levels, GCSE, A levels
etc. Documentary proof in the form of photocopies of certificates
may be requested. Relevant professional qualifications
e.g. The Certificate in Cytology. A photocopy is requested. If not
available please give full details of the venue and date taken.
Management, teaching and other qualifications may also be included.
3. Membership of professional bodies
It is not a mandatory requirement to belong to a professional body
however for voluntary registration to be accepted by the Health Professions
Council at least 25% of the profession must belong to a professional
body i.e. NAC. You may apply through the NAC website via the application
form. Category of membership is shown on the NAC membership
card.
Membership has its benefits for continuing professional development
and the professional bodies have been supportive of technical training
and raising the profile of technical staff...
4. Articles and publications
Complete this section on a separate sheet if applicable and include
any articles written for a professional body journal or other journals,
as well as published abstracts, from poster or oral presentations
at meetings. This section should only be used for publications in
the public domain. For articles and publications such as those used
in a hospital trust please include in the Report Section.
You may include any other information that you wish
to draw to the attention of the Council. This may include involvement
with your Professional Body or Society, activities undertaken within
a health region/area or within your hospital, training/teaching experience
(within the hospital or for colleges, universities or manufacturers)
or research and development activity.
5. Professional record
Previous positions
Please indicate any periods of employment and career breaks or other
periods of absence greater than six months in this section of your
application. Continue on a separate sheet if necessary.
6. Report on training received and experience gained during training
The report is a record of training gained to demonstrate the attainment
of personal competence across a range of activities which relate to
the sections of the written report (see below). It in no way refers
to the activities of an individual section, department or organisation.
The written report
Should be written using headings to establish your competence as a
Cytotechnologist. It should be typed and no more than four sides of
A4 paper. The following are given as suggestions only.
-
Experience. Give a brief overview of your relevant career history and duties carried out (e.g. from trainee to current position)
-
Technical: Write a few paragraphs on the range of duties you have experience in. This may include preparative experience, use of equipment such as staining machines & liquid based cytology processors, maintaining health and safety, working to CPA Standards and NHSCSP Guidelines. Also include implementation of new procedures, and any participation in research and development.
-
Clinical: Demonstrate knowledge of cervical abnormalities and terminology. Write a paragraph about cervical screening and the part you play.
-
Communication: Describe your knowledge of information technology, how computers are used in your daily activity.
-
Managing and planning: Describe your work activity.
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Teaching and training. This can be specific or the teaching and training of other health care professionals or lay public.
-
Articles. Include details of any articles or "in house" publications not available in the public domain (copies may be requested).
7. Details of training received
Include Update courses and other training such as that in liquid based cytology. These should be at a recognised training centre and include a large proportion of microscopy. If you have been working for less than two years following a career break of greater than five years you will need to supply evidence of re-training and subsequent re-assessment. It is not necessary to send copies of in house documentation. Your referee(s) should confirm re-training and competence to practice after return to work from a break in service.
8. Professional meetings and CPD activity
Include those undertaken in the last five years only, most recent first.
9. Confirmation of experience
The reference should confirm that the details you have given in your written report are an accurate record. The referee should confirm that they are confident you are able to practice as a competent Cytotechnologist and that you have the necessary skills and experience. An outline of the details of your duties and dates of employment should be included. References must be on official headed paper (i.e. NHS, local Authority, etc) and signed.
10. Declaration
Must be signed and dated. False declarations will be a breach of
professional conduct.
Please send completed forms to:
Voluntary Registration Council
Executive Business Support
Suite 4, Sovereign House
22 Gate Lane
Boldmere
Sutton Coldfield
B73 5TT
Checklist
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2 copies (total) of the application form
-
Reference(s)
-
Report
-
Cheque
-
Copies of professional certificates
It is recommended that you keep copies for your own records.
Processing
The VRC meets monthly. The time it takes to process each application
is dependent upon the number of applications received. It is not possible
to acknowledge receipt of applications.
All general enquiries should be directed to the VRC Registrar.