Institute of Health Professions / School of Health

Course Title: Cervical Cytology New Sample Taker Training

Location: City Campus

Course Lead: Senior Lecturer Lisa Clarke [Email: Lisa.Clarke@wlv.ac.uk

Training Dates: 2026

Day 1 Theory -   9-4pm room to be confirmed

Day 2 Skills session – 10am – 12.30am skills lab to be confirmed

Course Length: 9 Months non-accredited certificated course

Cost: £400 per delegate: Payment on application

To book a place and make payment please follow the admissions link for the chosen date

Application / Payment via E-Store:

Course Description

Entry Criteria: Registered Nurse, Nursing Associate, Doctor, Physicians Associate (registered with GMC), or Paramedic working in a clinical area where cervical screening is offered to women within the West Midlands / Hereford /Worcester areas. The delegate will require a suitably qualified cytology mentor to support clinical practice throughout the course. The mentor must complete a registration form and return with a copy of their latest cytology update certificate. They will be invited to a mentor induction meeting to discuss the requirements for the course.

Once you have applied for this course, you will be contacted by the course lead and sent additional forms to complete the registration process. Please complete the registration form and mentor details form, you will then be expected to set up a learning contract with your employer who signs a declaration of support and return to Lisa.Clarke@wlv.ac.uk. Once registered you will be given access to the Canvas learning platform you will be expected to complete a pre-course workbook that must be passed to receive your attendance certificate following the 2-day training course.

Why choose this course:

The course is designed to follow NHS England (NHSE) updated Education Pathway (2023) for cervical cytology sample takers. The course is designed to meet the continuous professional development of healthcare staff involved in cervical cytology screening. Initial theory – delivered over 12 hours includes a 1-day theory, 3-hour self-directed workbook and a 3-hour practice simulation session taught on campus. There will be Clinical Practice component undertaken whilst working with a practice cytology mentor. You will be required to undertake visits to colposcopy and laboratory to enhance your learning. Your final assessment is undertaken in clinical practice by a cytology assessor, that is nominated by the university.

Course Overview:

Pre theory session: completion of workbook (3 hours) considering Anatomy and Physiology (A/P) of female pelvic organs supported by access to e-learning for health module (self- directed study) and a virtual learning platform, access for registration for the learning platform will be provided by the course lead once registration is complete.

 

Taught content: 7 hours theory – City Campus Wolverhampton

Practice: 3 hours simulation – City campus

 

Theory: Day 1) 9am – 4 pm

Ø  Introduction to Cervical Cytology New Sample Taker Training:

Ø  Background to NHS Screening Programme / Equality of access

Ø  Organisation of the NHS cervical screening programme:

Ø  Laboratory Screening pathway:  understanding test results

Ø  Colposcopy pathway:

 

Simulation Learning: Day 2) skills lab session on campus: 10am -12.30pm

Clinical Practice/ A/P review: skills lab -practical aspects of taking samples; use of manikin’s students able to learn/practice examination and sample taking procedure within a controlled environment.

Clinical Practice: Following completion of initial cytology training the student applies for their trainee sample taker PIN from local laboratory and is required to complete a sample taker training log of clinical practice (issued by the university): student identifies a cytology mentor (must be an active trained sample taker with at least 12 months sample taker experience) who undertakes supervision and signs off initial assessment. Written guidance provided by course lead.

 

 

Cervical Cytology Sample Taker Training

Ø  Trainee is expected to complete written reflections (template within the training log) on all samples taken within this course

o   5 observed samples

o   5 supervised samples

o   20 unsupervised samples

Ø  Trainee completes an Initial assessment after their supervised practice. Undertaken alongside the mentor that includes a professional discussion and 24 cytology images (assessment undertaken on E Learning for Health platform – trainee registration required). Must download certificate of completion as evidence to support assessment.

Ø  20 unsupervised samples/ complete a sample results audit.

Ø  Final Assessment: minimum of 3 samples assessed by external cytology assessor (trained sample taker nominated by the university) verifies clinical competence in training log.

Ø  Training Log sent to training provider (university) for verification of completion (this can take 4-6 weeks).

Ø  Student is also expected to arrange / undertake a colposcopy clinic visit. This visit is recorded and signed off in the sample taker training log by the supervising colposcopist.

Ø  Student is required to undertake a face to face or virtual tour of the screening laboratory, certificate submitted with final training log.

Once all the documentation has been validated by the university the University provides completion certificate. Sample taker then applies for full sample taker PIN from the laboratory and is expected to maintain clinical competence and undertake a 3 yearly theoretical update.