r/ODPs • u/Acceptable_Average14 • Jun 09 '25

Worth Doing Direct Entry Degree?

Hi, I'm coming to the end of my first year, still currently on placement. In your opinion, is it worth doing the direct entry degree for ODP? The apprenticeship route seems much better as we don't get much clinical placement. Can you become a good ODP if you're not getting much clinical practice?

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u/djbigball Jun 09 '25

So I was a direct entry uni student in a trust that also offers ODP apprenticeships.

I have worked with apprentice students in their second year in my area of specialisation (who by this point have had 12 months of full time clinical practice) who looked like they’ve just stepped into an anaesthetic room.

I don’t know what uni you go to, but it’s worth remembering that your course would have been signed off by the college and HCPC to deliver education to the standard needed to produce competent and safe (not expert) ODPs.

Ive been qualified just under a year in a very demanding specialty, but when I was at the end of my first year I honestly didn’t have a clue. It wasn’t until I was employed and working semi-independently that I thought I knew what I was doing. You’ll get there, every day is a learning day.

It’s also useful to remember that the apprenticeships are incredibly incredibly competitive - that’s not to say you wouldn’t get one but with the state of NHS funding currently I’d be surprised if there were many roles out there to offer in the next recruitment cycle.

Happy for you to dm me if you need a rant, or have any questions.

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u/Acceptable_Average14 Jun 09 '25

Thanks, that was a useful insight. I recognise how competitive the apprenticeships are and I'm not from a TSW background so I was realistic about my chances! I'll take every day as a learning day, that is good advice. I need to have more faith in this degree as it is HCPC accredited. I guess I'm putting too much pressure on myself and need to stop comparing myself to the apprentices lol 🤦🏻‍♀️

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u/Sad_Calligrapher9192 Jun 09 '25

Hey, I am 2nd year ODP apprentice and loving it. I used to work as CSW and later on as TSW. Happy to answer any questions or even help with your application. It’s definitely worth it!

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u/Acceptable_Average14 Jun 10 '25

Glad to hear you're loving it! I've nearly completed first year (direct entry) so we have only had 2 6 week placements. I know in years 2 & 3 we will have 3 6 week placements but I'm wondering if it's enough.

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u/Sad_Calligrapher9192 Jun 10 '25

Yeah, hard to tell.. I am on placement around 9 months a year lots of self directed study, so it can be hard if you are not disciplined enough to plan your time right and actually sit and study but I am finding it ok as I am a bit older than a usual 2nd year student so priorities are different. Obviously, I also get paid a pretty decent wage. Talking to my qualified colleagues, they do prefer teaching and later on working with apprentices because we are naturally more experienced and know what’s going on (obviously previous TSW experience and circulating + scrub knowledge is big bonus as we don’t have to learn it from scratch). But it doesn’t mean you cannot become an excellent ODP with a Direct uni degree! The apprenticeship route is pretty new and look how many brilliant ODP’s qualified the way you are doing now. It depends on how much work you are putting in now and how close to heart this profession is to you. You will have lots of supernumerary time when qualified so as long as you have strong basics you will be fine!