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Introduction

The Level 3 Health Screener Diploma (HSD) is on the Ofqual regulated qualification framework (RQF). It is the mandated national training programme for non-professionally regulated screeners (i.e. not on a regulated professional register) working in the:

• NHS abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme (AAA)
• NHS diabetic eye screening programme (DES)
• NHS newborn hearing screening programme (NHSP)

NHS commissioned screening providers are required to meet the training requirements for new screeners, as per the section 7a screening programme specifications . For AAA, DES, and NHSP screening programmes this includes the requirement for screeners to have:

• enrolled on the HSD within 6 months of commencing employment in a health screener role.
• successfully completed the HSD within 24 months for AAA and DES screeners and 12 months for NHSP screeners.

More information on required training standards is available in respective programme service specifications.

Revised qualification

Following an extensive review, the HSD (structure, curriculum, and assessment) was revised and relaunched on 1 April 2026. The revised HSD programme is designed to be more modern, relevant, and accessible for learners and employers, with the aim of improving learner experience, completion rates, and workforce support across screening services.

NHS England refers to this diploma as the ‘Level 3 Health Screener Diploma’, abbreviated to ‘HSD’. Alternative references for the same qualification and course of study are ‘Health Screeners Diploma’ and ‘Level 3 Diploma for Health Screeners’.

Qualification structure 

The revised qualification structure for the HSD comprises core units that cover the core knowledge and skills needed to work in a healthcare setting and respective screening programme specific units. Subject to future updates, the current is:

Successful completion of the diploma provides:

• a recognised national qualification
• evidence of transferable skills that support personal and academic development
• screeners with the knowledge, skills and understanding to work in a healthcare environment.

Awarding Organisations (qualification providers)

The awarding organisations in England which provide the HSD are:

• (link to HSD pages)
• (link to HSD pages)

Course structure, content, and qualification recognition is the same for each awarding organisation.

Approved Centres (learning providers)

Approved Centres:  

• are approved by NHS England to deliver HSD courses and are affiliated to an awarding organisation.
• offer and deliver the study course, learning and assessment for one or more of the HSD programme pathways.
• are the administrative hubs that enrol and support HSD learners and register and manage HSD assessors.
• are responsible for assuring the quality of HSD learning delivery and assessment in local screening programmes.

Guidance on registering as an approved centre to deliver the HSD can be obtained from the awarding organisations listed above.

New learner enrolment

• Contact awarding organisations for details of approved centres offering the HSD.
• Select and contact approved centres for instructions on new learner enrolment and local assessor registration.
• Enrol the new learner on the qualification with the approved centre and complete local assessor registration.

Starting the qualification

Following learner enrolment and assessor registration the approved centre will provide instructions, documents and online access to deliver and support learning and assessment.

Assessing learners

See Health screener diploma: guidance for assessors to find out about the role of the assessor and the qualification needed to assess the diploma.

Funding model

From 1 April 2026, the HSD attracts an NHS England training grant (£2,500 per learner) payable to approved centres to offset learning delivery costs, including course enrolment, administration, learner support, and qualification accreditation.

Subject to receiving learner enrolment information from approved centres (to include numbers, dates, programme, and employer information), NHS England regional teams (applicable only to geographies with approved centres) will administer training grant payments, subject to satisfactory due diligence.

Where training grant eligibility is not established, employers will be responsible for payments to the learning provider.

Eligibility checks in respect of training grants are the responsibility of the learner’s employer and approved centre. Eligibility criteria are detailed in the HSD Education and Training Specification, dated 7 May 2026.

The former requirement for employers to pay course enrolment fees has been cancelled  and employer reimbursements mechanism withdrawn. For enquiries about commissioning and administration of HSD learning, NHS England regional education commissioning teams can be reached at:

Northeast and Yorkshire – england.edman.ney@nhs.net

Northwest – england.phpn.northwest@nhs.net

Midlands – england.educationcommissioning.midlands@nhs.net

East of England – england.primarycare.eoe@nhs.net

London – england.publichealth@nhs.net

Southeast – england.healthcarescreeners.se@nhs.net

Southwest – england.pac.sw@nhs.net

Supporting resources 

The  is a resource made up of 5 short films that take the assessor and learner through the HSD qualification journey.

It covers the following important steps and messages:

• initial meeting between assessor and learner
• planning an assessment
• conducting an assessment – professional discussion
• use of expert witness
• feedback and signing off units.