FAQs
The list below contains the questions most frequently answered by the FICM regarding ACCP training, qualification, registration and employment. If your query is not answered, please contact us at FICM@rcoa.ac.uk
- What is an ACCP?
- Who can train as an ACCP?
- Where can you train as an ACCP?
- How do I know if the ACCP training programme I am applying for is appropriate?
- Is there a correct way to term training programmes for ACCPs?
- Where can you work as an ACCP?
- How long is training?
- Where can I find the curriculum?
- How do I become an Associate Member?
- Which HEIs (Higher Education Institutes) have ACCP courses?
- Can I APEL previous relevant course modules towards my ACCP training?
- Can you transfer overseas qualifications?
- How do I train ACCPs on my unit?
- What about regulation?
- What about revalidation?
- What about indemnity?
The Advanced Critical Care Practitioner role is a new way of working for health professionals working in critical care. It is acknowledged that the role described crosses the professional boundaries of many functions within critical care, including medicine, nursing, technical, physiotherapy and clinical pharmacology.
The ACCP Advisory Group have published an information leaflet for patients and relatives. You can download a copy here.
The ACCP Advisory Group have published an information leaflet for patients and relatives. You can download a copy here.
Any UK registered professional can train as an ACCP i.e. nurses and AHPs. Currently this would exclude ODPs as non-medical prescribing is a fundamental part of the ACCP role; being ineligible to undertake this aspect of the course would at this point preclude them from applying for a FICM recognised ACCP programme.
Any HEI providing the appropriate PGDip Advanced Critical Care Practice to include as part of or in addition to the non-medical prescribing module. As the curriculum mandates a parallel of academic and clinical practice training of ACCPs will occur in existing UK training centres approved for, at a minimum, Stage 1 and 2 ICM level training. The FICM considers that units who do not train this level of ICM CCT trainee would be unable to deliver the level of training required by the ACCP curriculum; as such the Faculty would not consider it appropriate for FICM Associate Fellowship to be awarded to any ACCPs trained in units who do not receive this level of ICM CCT trainee. Whilst non-training units may be able to partner with a HEI and offer ACCP training to interested nurse and AHP colleagues, those trainees would not be eligible for any official Faculty recognition of that training, nor to apply for FICM Associate Fellowship upon completion of their ACCP training programme. Any non-ICM training approved unit seeking to run ACCP training must make this prospectively clear to any applicants for their programme.
We know that the term ACCP has been wrongly used to include any practitioner position regardless of the length, depth and quality of training. Ensure that the training programme you are undertaking complies with the tenets laid out within the FICM curriculum. Be proactive and ask the local trainers whether the training programme adheres to the FICM curriculum and whether it will leave you eligible upon completion to apply for FICM Associate Membership.
Yes. Training programmes that adhere to the FICM ACCP Curriculum should be designated as ‘Advanced Critical Care Practitioner training in line with the FICM Curriculum.’ It should be noted in the material that those who complete the full training programme would be eligible for Associate Membership of the Faculty.
Although training must occur in units accredited for Stage 1 and Stage 2 ICM CCT training, post-qualification trained ACCPs may work in any ICU. However FICM strongly recommend a robust process of CPD and supervision with clear local clinical governance arrangements
Training is two years, full time.
Please visit the ACCP Curriculum page.
Application is via the FICM website. Please visit the Associate Membership page.
Please visit the ACCP Training page. Please note that the FICM do not formally assess or endorse HEIs - this list consists of HEIs with courses which would be comparable with the ACCP curriculum 2013.
Yes in conjunction with the HEI the APEL process where appropriate to the ACCP programme can be used.
There is no formal route for this; currently the ACCP role is very clearly defined by the curriculum, benchmarking against overseas practice given the wide variation would require local ICU / HEI review and UK module and clinical competencies completion. Application for FICM Associate status would be only possible based on successful matching of these.
If you are a unit accepting stage 1 +2 trainees for ICM training ACCPs would involve:
- Engagement with a local HEI to run an ACCP PGDip course.
- Engagement of key stakeholders in our organisation to assess the possibility of the ACCP role being a viable workforce solution for your unit.
- Plan the end point of training - most, if not all, ACCPs take a position on the medical rota. Be clear how this will work including supervision requirements.
- Business case development - early involvement of your divisional managers and repeated "marketing" of the planned ACCP role in your strategic, financial and workforce planning. Getting the Medical and Nursing Directors on board early is key.
At present ACCPs need to retain their base professional registration with their regulatory bodies, this may alter in the future but currently there is no way to register the ACCP role separately.
You are bound by the revalidation rules from your base professional registering body. See advice on the toolkits section on how this may be achieved.
Working in a UK Trust you will have NHS indemnity, it is your responsibility to ensure you have appropriate Standard Operating Procedures ratified by your Governance structure - these should be very explicit around the issue of supervision.
Many ACCPs choose to take out additional personal cover via the MDU to provide additional insurance. You do not need to have this but as many of us do choose to have it for the additional security and independent legal advice with your interests as the focus.
Many ACCPs choose to take out additional personal cover via the MDU to provide additional insurance. You do not need to have this but as many of us do choose to have it for the additional security and independent legal advice with your interests as the focus.