Advanced practice in Primary Care

Advanced practitioners (APs) are healthcare professionals, educated to Master’s level or equivalent, with the skills and knowledge to allow them to expand their scope of practice to better meet the needs of the people they care for.

APs are deployed across all healthcare settings and work at a level of advanced clinical practice that pulls together the four pillars – clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research.

Who can be an advanced practitioner?

  • Dietitians
  • Registered nurses
  • Occupational therapists
  • Paramedics
  • Pharmacists
  • Physiotherapists

Four pillars of advanced practice

Workforce development expressions of interest for advanced practice funding

Funding for advanced practice is allocated via an expression of interest process where a workforce need has been identified for an advanced practitioner. The funding is therefore allocated to the employer and not the individual undertaking the training.

Application timeline

15 November 2024 
Workforce Development, Advanced Practice in Primary Care webinar 
12 December 2024 
Developing an Advance Practitioner – the key to success webinar 
1 December 2024 
Expressions of interest form opens 08:00 – Expressions of Interest for Advanced Practice funding academic year 25/26 
31 December 2024 
Expressions of Interest form closes 18:00 

6 January 2025 – 10 January 2025 
Thames Valley and Wessex Primary School review submissions and inform shortlisted employers and trainees 
February 2025 

Group interviews 
Thursday 6 February 
Thursday 13 February 
Friday 21 February 
Tuesday 25 February 


March 2025 
Successful employers and trainee applicants submitted to South East Advancing Practice Faculty for funding decisions.
June 2025 
Funding decisions shared by the South East Advancing Practice Faculty with employers and commitment statements disseminated for signing.

Read more about the ACP training grant funding payment process

Workforce Development, Advanced Practice in Primary Care webinar

Thames Valley and Wessex Primary Care School are hosting a webinar to support the workforce development of advanced practice. This webinar will include:

  • An introduction from the NHS England South East Advanced Practice Faculty
  • AP roles
  • Funding
  • AP development journey

Date and time: Friday 15 November 2024, 12pm to 1pm

Registration link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/6dca241e-71f5-409d-8190-a71c02735933@37c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3

Developing an Advanced Practitioner in Primary Care – the key to success webinar

Primary care employers who have identified a workforce need for an advanced practitioner and are applying for funding for a trainee to complete the advanced practice MSc should attend this webinar for information on:

  • Job planning
  • Job descriptions
  • Supervision requirements and readiness
  • Applying for funding
  • Next steps

Date and time: Thursday 12 December 2024, 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Registration link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/fa82d067-61e9-4a6d-a91a-f9af0b0126de@37c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3

Primary Care case studies

View our case study with Craig Barlow, Primary Care Paramedic Watch NHS England WT&E’s advanced clinical practitioner, Primary Care video case study Watch NHS England WT&E’s trainee advanced practitioner, Primary Care video case study

Explore other offers

Click to find our more on the NHS England Faculty for Advancing Practice website Click to view the NHS England Faculty for advancing practice education and training resources

Receive updates from us

If you would like to hear more about opportunities for ACP funding support, please refer back to this webpage or sign up to our mailing list.