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Learners

Career pathways

Choose a career and see the real picture: what it pays, how far it goes, the skills employers ask for, and what the job actually looks like day to day. Every salary figure comes from the UK Government's National Careers Service.

Choose your career area

Nursing and healthcare

A route into nursing without A levels

If you want to train as a nurse or midwife but do not have the usual entry qualifications, an Access to Higher Education Diploma is the recognised way in to a university degree.

Skills employers look for

  • Clinical observation
  • Compassion
  • Working under pressure
  • Infection control
  • Written communication
  • Study and research skills
  • Professional boundaries

Where this career can take you

  1. 01Healthcare assistant

    £25,000 to £27,000 a year

    Working alongside nurses on a ward or in the community — observations, personal care and supporting treatment.

    Official role profile (opens in a new tab)

  2. 02Nursing associate

    £26,000 to £31,000 a year

    A registered role that bridges healthcare assistant and registered nurse.

    Official role profile (opens in a new tab)

  3. 03Registered nurse

    £32,000 to £48,000 a year

    Reached through a nursing degree at university. An Access to HE Diploma is accepted by universities in place of A levels.

    Official role profile (opens in a new tab)

  4. 04Midwife

    £32,000 to £48,000 a year

    Caring for women and families through pregnancy, birth and the weeks that follow.

    Official role profile (opens in a new tab)

Salaries are shown from starter to experienced and are a guide only — your pay depends on your employer, your hours and where you work. Source: National Careers Service (UK Government). We review these figures against the official profiles and update them when they change.

A day in the life

Nurse: Adele's story — published by National Careers Service. Someone doing the job, in their own words.

How JFC gets you there

  • The qualificationUK-recognised, taught by people who have done the job.
  • One-to-one job readinessCV, cover letter and interview coaching — start with our CV and cover letter tool.
  • Employer interviewsIntroductions to the employers we work with, plus our live vacancies.

Qualifications on this pathway

Listed in the order most learners take them.

Want to talk through a career in nursing and healthcare?

Tell us where you want to end up and our team will explain the qualification, the funding you may be entitled to, and how we introduce learners to employers.

Enquire now 0207 732 9255