The Bowel Cancer Screening Accreditation (BCSA) Programme in England and Bowel Screening Wales (BSW) were introduced to reduce the number of bowel cancer associated deaths, through early detection of the disease. 

A colonoscopy is required for screening. To ensure patients receive a consistently high quality endoscopic procedure, the clinicians carrying out the test must be accredited. JAG manages the accreditation process that all endoscopists must complete in order to work as an endoscopist within the English and Welsh screening programmes.

To be awarded bowel screener accreditation an endoscopist must:

    • be nominated by their local team
    • complete an application form to demonstrate they meet criteria, which show they are meeting nationally agreed standards
    • undertake and pass an assessment involving;
• online knowledge test 
• practical assessment of technical and non technical skills completed by experienced assessors.

JAG supports and guide prospective candidates through this process. 

Every year approximately 60 candidates are assessed in England. Accreditation in Wales started in 2020.