Professional Conversion Programme

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Ms K Thanaletchimi
Nominated MP

Question No. 1066

To ask the Minister for Health (a) what is the current success rate of the Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) in the placement and retention of individuals who switch from another industry to the healthcare industry; and (b) what is the current success rate of individuals in the healthcare industry who have been able to switch to higher-end jobs through the PCP.

Oral Answer

1        Madam, the Healthcare Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs) help mid-career Singaporeans to be trained and make a career switch to the healthcare sector.  Today, we have PCPs for conversion to registered and enrolled nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, diagnostic radiographers and dental surgery assistants.  The Government provides significant funding for the course fees and allowances during the period of training.

2        We have admitted more than 400 Singaporeans from non-healthcare sectors into the healthcare conversion programmes since 2009.  For the 223 enrolled between 2009 and 2011, 82% completed their training and were successfully placed into a healthcare job.  Among those successfully placed, 92% remained in their jobs after the end of the minimum service period.

3        Our public healthcare institutions also support suitable non-clinical healthcare staff to undergo skills conversion through the PCPs or similar programmes to take on clinical roles. For example, over the last three years, 54 training scholarships and sponsorships were provided for non-clinical in-service staff to convert into clinical roles as nurses and allied health professionals.

4        In addition, we also provide upgrading opportunities for in-services nurses to take on higher end roles.  More than 750 enrolled nurses entered our polytechnic nursing programmes over the last three years to undergo skills training to become registered nurses.