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Undergraduate/Postgraduate Certificate of Achievement in Developing Practice in Clinical Skills

Learn how to take a detailed patient history and carry out physical checks on different parts of the body. You'll learn the best ways to record and share what you find. Earn credits at the same level as our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

A member of staff working at a laptop at a bedside in a mock hospital ward
LevelShort courses and CPD
Duration4 months
Start dates4 March 2026
Fee£750
Course codeCID1377

Course summary

This is a multi-professional course relevant to both primary and secondary care. It'll help you carry out an in-depth history of your patients. It also enables you to conduct physical examinations of different areas of the body. This includes the respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. You'll also learn best practices in documenting and communicating your findings.

You can study the course at either undergraduate or postgraduate level.

Why Sunderland for Short courses and CPD

What you'll study

You'll cover all aspects of clinical history taking and physical examination. This includes:

  • The respiratory system
  • The cardiovascular system
  • The gastrointestinal system
  • The central nervous system
  • Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and dermatology
  • Endocrinology
  • The musculoskeletal system.

How you'll learn

The face-to-face contact time for this course is 70 hours.

Teaching methods include:

  • Problem-based learning
  • Group discussion
  • Interactive lectures
  • Simulation
  • Workshops
  • Virtual Learning Environment.

Assessment is via a six-station Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). You'll also complete a 3,000-word clinical case review.

Entry requirements

Fees and finance support

Employers usually meets course costs. We advise that you speak to your workforce development lead before applying.

We also accept self-funded applicants. If you'd like to explore your options, contact us at cpd@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).

Apply now

Contact our team for further information about applying for this course. Call 0191 515 3361(opens in new tab) or email cpd@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).