Enhancements to the Healthcare Professional Conversion Programme

1           Amidst the current economic uncertainty, the healthcare sector continues to provide an expanding suite of career opportunities for Singaporeans. From April 2016, mid-career professionals will have added opportunities to be trained as allied health professionals in the expanding healthcare sector. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) will be expanding the Healthcare Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) to include new degree programmes at the Singapore Institute of Technology for Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Diagnostic Radiography.

2            The Healthcare PCPs are jointly offered by MOH and WDA in partnership with Post-Secondary Educational Institutions as a training pathway for mid-career professionals to acquire relevant training and join the healthcare sector. Five Healthcare PCPs are available for mid-career professionals to be trained as an Enrolled Nurse (EN),  Registered Nurse (RN); Physiotherapist (PT), Occupational Therapist (OT) and Diagnostic Radiographer (DR).  Since 2003, over 1,000 mid-career professionals have participated in the Healthcare PCPs, of whom around 800 were in Nursing and 200 were in Allied Health Professions (AHPs).

3            From April 2016, the monthly training allowances under the Healthcare PCPs will be increased.  For PCP-EN trainees, the new training allowance will range from $1,350-$1,550 as compared to $1,300 - $1,500 currently. For PCP-RN and existing PCP-PT / OT / DR trainees at the diploma level, the new training allowance will range from $1,770-$2,050 as compared to $1,700 - $1,900 currently.  More information on the increase in training allowance can be found in Annex A [PDF, 9KB].  This is the second round of enhancements following the increase in monthly training allowances and the introduction of a Career Transition Bonus in 2014.

4            Starting from September 2016, the Healthcare PCPs for PT, OT and DR will be offered as 4-year Bachelor of Science with Honours degree programmes at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).  The degree-level training will better prepare our AHPs with strong academic and theoretical foundation in basic sciences, skill-based professional development and critical thinking skills to meet the future healthcare needs.  The course fees will be heavily sponsored and trainees will receive monthly allowances throughout their course of study. Upon graduation, they will also receive a one-time Career Transition Bonus of $2,000 to celebrate the milestone achievement in their career transitions.  For more information on the new PCP-AHP degree programmes, please refer to Annex B [PDF, 96KB].

5            Speaking at the first day of the PCP Allied Healthcare Professional Career Previews at SIT, Senior Minister of State for Health and the Environment and Water Resources Dr Amy Khor said “Nursing and allied health offer meaningful and rewarding careers where our professionals can use their talents to make a difference in the lives of patients every day. With an ageing population, we need to train and recruit more nurses, therapists and radiographers. Through our Healthcare Professional Conversion Programmes, mid-career entrants can gain the requisite training to join the healthcare sector. The increased training allowances and the new degree PCP-AHP at SIT are aimed at enabling more mid-career professionals to join the healthcare family.”

6            Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive of WDA, said, “With the changing demographics of Singaporeans, there is a sharp increase in the demand for quality healthcare. The new allied health degree programmes for participants of the Professional Conversion Programme for Allied Health Professionals will help raise the capabilities of our existing healthcare professionals.  At the same time, mid-career professionals looking to make a switch to this sector can gain skills and knowledge to deepen and broaden their careers in this challenging but fulfilling sector.”

7            Applications for the Healthcare PCP for PT, OT and DR degree programmes are now open until 18 March 2016. Mid-career professionals who are keen to join the healthcare sector can find out more at the healthcare career previews organised by WDA on 13 and 20 February, 8.30am to 1.00pm at Academic Plaza, SIT@Dover. Graduates from the Healthcare PCPs will be there to share their experiences, and sponsoring employers will also be present to provide more information on related careers with them.  To find out more about the different Healthcare PCPs and register for the career previews, please visit www.wda.gov.sg. 

ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE SINGAPORE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

13 FEBRUARY 2016