Clinical Medical Practice

The Clinical Medical Practice programme aims to develop mid-level healthcare workers, called clinical associates.

Overview

The Clinical Medical Practice programme aims to develop mid-level healthcare workers, called clinical associates. They have the knowledge, attitude and psychomotor skills to assist doctors and healthcare teams in improving patient care and especially in providing treatment in rural and disadvantaged communities. Clinical associates practice medicine in government hospitals and clinics, for NGOs providing care and for the private healthcare sector, under the license of a medical practitioner. They are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

As a qualified clinical associate, you will:

  • Perform patient consultations and physical examinations, including assessment and management of patients in casualty or emergency wards, for all common medical conditions.
  • Perform routine procedures under supervision, in hospital wards, emergency departments, outpatient departments and clinics.

You will be taught mainly at district hospitals but also at other hospitals and at the Parktown Health Sciences Campus. The three-year, full-time clinical associate programme aims to develop sound knowledge of the medical and clinical sciences and facilitates understanding of medical conditions and management strategies. You need detailed knowledge of biomedical sciences in areas related to procedural performance.

An Honours Programme in Clinical Medical Practice is now available.

Career Opportunities

Clinical Associates are mid-level healthcare workers who have the necessary knowledge, attitudes and psychomotor skills to be able to under the supervision of a doctor assist health care team members to improve patient care, especially in rural and disadvantaged communities.

Curriculum

First-year
  • Fundamentals of Medical and Clinical Science
Second-year
  • Fundamentals of Clinical Medical Practice
Third-year
  • Applied Clinical and Medical Practice

Entry Requirements

NSC Requirements

English Home Language OR First Additional Language Level 4
Mathematics Level 4 OR Maths Literacy Level 7
Life Sciences AND/OR Physical Sciences Level 4

The Faculty of Health Sciences uses a Composite Index (CI) score to guide applicant selection. This includes:

    • Your matric academic results for five subjects: English, Mathematics, best of Physical Sciences/Life Sciences and the best two other subjects. We consider the percentage achieved, not the symbol. The average of the five subjects carries a 60% weighting.
    • National Benchmark Test (NBT) scores. The average of the NBT scores carries a 40% weighting.

    All applicants must write the NBT at one of the Pencil and Paper, i.e. IN-PERSON NBT sessions. Online NBT results will not be considered.

    Visit www.nbt.ac.za for more information and bookings. Only the first attempt results in the most recent year are considered. NBT results are valid for three years. Please ensure that you ID number is correct on both your Wits application and NBT registration. We may not be able to retrieve your results if your ID number is incorrect. 

    The NBT should be written by 18 August.

    Note that the Clinical Medical Practice programme is offered to South African citizens only and that completion of the programme is not sufficient for applicants to be considered for admission into the Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP).

    University Application Process

    • The Student Enrolment Centre at Wits handles all student applications.
    • Please click here for an overview of the application process. 
    • Check the admission requirements for your degree. Check if any additional selection requirements apply. 
    • Submit your application, required documentation and application fee before the closing date.
    • Once you have applied, an admissions consultant will be assigned to your application.
    • Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
    • If you are an international applicant and/or have a foreign qualification, please click here.

    Compliance with the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place at the University. The University has a specific number of places for first year undergraduates, approved by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

    University Fees and Funding

    Click here to see the current average tuition fees for the first year of study. The Fees website also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal. 

    The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office provides information on student funding and scholarships. University-funded Scholarships include Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships, University Entrance Scholarships, Equality Scholarships, Sports Scholarships and National Olympiad winner awards. For information about NSFAS funding, please visit the NSFAS website. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.