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Graduate education and competency development in advanced practice provider roles: A scoping review
Caitlin Gillan1, Maria Dimopoulos2, Yatman Tsang3
1BC Cancer, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, Canada; Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences
|June 12, 2026
Summary
Graduate education generally supports advanced practice (AP) roles, enhancing competence and career advancement, particularly in nursing. More research is needed in other health professions to strengthen this evidence base.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Professions Education
- Advanced Practice (AP) Roles
- Graduate Studies in Health Sciences
Background:
- Limited and fragmented evidence exists on the link between graduate education and advanced practice (AP) quality in healthcare.
- Existing research often lacks a comprehensive overview across diverse healthcare professions.
- There is a need to understand how graduate-level training impacts AP competency and professional development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the impact of graduate education on advanced practice (AP) roles.
- To identify insights guiding AP education and training in radiation therapy and other allied health professions.
- To assess the relationship between graduate-level preparation and competency development, scope of practice, or role advancement.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of multiple databases (OvidSP, Clarivate) from 2005 onwards.
- Inclusion of professions such as nursing, radiation therapy, medical imaging, and physician assistants.
- Data extraction focused on profession, study type, comparators, and outcomes related to graduate education and AP roles.
Main Results:
- A total of 14 articles were included, all within the nursing context; 12 used survey data.
- Over 70% of studies demonstrated significant benefits of graduate-level preparation for AP roles.
- No studies reported negative impacts of graduate degrees on AP roles; some focused on doctoral-level education.
Conclusions:
- Most evidence weakly supports graduate education's role in building advanced competence for AP roles.
- Findings are crucial for informing policy, setting standards, and preventing unnecessary credential creep.
- Further research is needed to strengthen the evidence base, especially in professions beyond nursing.
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