Why CoR approval of pre-registration programmes matters

Published: 29 July 2019 Ezine

The College of Radiographers (CoR) works in partnership with clinical and academic departments, external organisations and individuals to ensure that all UK programmes of education and training related to the clinical imaging and oncology radiographic workforce, maintain, and continue to develop the highest standards of clinical imaging and oncology practice and conduct.

The CoR puts the quality of the student experience at the heart of the approval process to ensure that programmes are fit for purpose and will develop a future workforce that is patient focussed, with the knowledge and skills for future healthcare, and the research skills to transform healthcare practice.

A programme that has been approved by the CoR has demonstrated that it meets professional body governance standards and is, therefore, demonstrating equitable and consistent standards across the UK, quality assurance, and aligning standards of clinical practice with the profession’s Education and Career Framework. 

To ensure that students receive high-quality education and training, assessors appointed by the Approval and Accreditation Board (AAB), particularly look at the:

Learning and teaching strategy - the provider is using appropriate evidence-based methods to help students to learn the skills they need to become a diagnostic or therapeutic radiographer, and they have the skills to continue their professional development.  In addition, the curriculum has been designed to deliver the future workforce.

Assessment strategy - the timing and methods of assessment are designed to be reliable, fair and transparent, and do not set up students to fail. 

Staff- the staff have the appropriate teaching qualifications, and radiography experience and skills to deliver a programme that is fit for purpose.

Resources- students and staff will have access to the resources required to learn the necessary knowledge and skills, undertake research, and produce a future workforce that is digitally literate.

Practice placements - they have the capacity to train a given number of students, that students will experience a wide-range of examinations and specialities, and that staff are trained to support and assess learning in the placement. The AAB also check that there are written agreements in place to ensure that placements are available throughout the programme.

Employability - students graduating from the programme will have the knowledge and skills to be employable by imaging and radiotherapy departments throughout the UK and further afield.

Approved pre-registration programmes are added to the directory of pre-registration programmes.  If you have any questions about the pre-registration approval process, please contact the professional and education team at the Society.

Any programme not on the register has not met professional body governance standards.