Swap to Beauty & makeup or Hair or go back to all job sectors
Operating department practitioners (ODPs) provide skilled care and support to patients at all stages of an operation.
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts
There will be
3.8% more Operating department practitioner jobs in 2027.
In your local area
You'll support patients of all ages, in the anaesthetic, surgery and recovery phases of an operation.
You will:
You may need to wear a uniform.
You could work in an NHS or private hospital.
Your working environment may be hot and physically and emotionally demanding.
You can get into this job through:
You'll need to study a two-year diploma of higher education or three-year degree in operating department practice approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You can top up your diploma to a degree after qualifying if you want.
You'll find it helpful to get some paid or voluntary experience in the health or care sector before you apply for a course.
You could contact the voluntary services co-ordinator at your local NHS trust for further advice.
During your studies, you may be eligible for financial support from the NHS Learning Support Fund.
You'll usually need:
You can get into this role through an operating department practitioner degree apprenticeship.
This typically takes 4 years to complete and is a combination of learning in the workplace and academic study at an approved university.
You'll usually need:
You'll need to:
When applying for courses and jobs, you'll be expected to have an understanding of how NHS values apply in your work.
Health Careers has further details about this career and training options.
With experience, you may be able to progress to team leader or senior ODP and manage an operating theatre unit.
You could also move into education, training and research.
Some ODPs take further training approved by the Royal College of Surgeons to work as surgical care practitioners. This would give you the skills to complete some surgical procedures, under the supervision of a consultant surgeon.
You could also train to work as an anaesthesia associate or advanced critical care practitioner.