Are you eligible to apply?

There are strict rules about eligibility to apply for specialty training in England.  If you are submitting an application in 2012, you will need to make sure that you meet all the eligibility criteria by the application closing date or job starting date in some specialties.  These requirements are indicated on national person specifications and will be clear in your application details.  

Full details will be available from the recruiting office advertising the post you are interested in.  Application forms will ask for information to show that you satisfy the criteria and you may be asked to provide further written evidence at interview.

In preparing for this, we would recommend you use the following eligibility checklist.   

Eligibility checklist

 

Confirmed registration with the GMC or GDC

You will need to hold full General Medical Council registration status and a current licence to practice (General Dental Council registration status is also required for OMFS) by the time of appointment to the post (unless you are applying to Public Health training and you are from a background other than medicine).  You will need to confirm this when you apply.  More information is available on the GMC website.

 

Trainees released or removed from training post or programme

Specialty training posts and programmes are not normally available to any doctor who has previously relinquished or been released/removed from a training post/programme in that specialty.  When applying for a post the declaration section of the application form will ask if you have previously relinquished or been released or removed from a training programme.  If your answer is yes to this question you will need to make provide full details of the release/removal from a training programme to the deanery by email marked confidential.  You will be advised to seek further advice from the postgraduate Dean at the deanery that you are applying to if you wish to discuss this requirement further.

 

Right to work in the UK

UK and EEA nationals and doctors whose immigration status entitles them to work as a doctor in training in the UK are eligible to apply for specialty training.  Evidence of immigration status would be a biometric residence card, date stamped passport and an accompanying letter from the Home Office detailing which type of visa has been granted.  All of these documents need to be dated as at or prior to the application closing date.

Other non-UK or non-EEA nationals with limited leave to remain in the UK, whose employment will require a Tier 2 visa, are subject to the resident labour market test.  This would include, for example, doctors on student visas or Tier 1 Points Based System who are restricted from taking employment as a doctor in training.  The labour market test means that you would only be considered if there were no suitable UK or EEA national (settled status) candidate for the post.

You will be asked to bring your passport and proof of your immigration status to any interviews or assessments you attend.  See section on Overseas Applicants and the Annex C:Guidance for overseas nationals of the Applicant Guide for more information.

 

Immigration Statement

In April 2012 the UK Border Agency will close the Tier 1 (Post Study Work) immigration route.  This route has previously been used by non-UK and non-EEA doctors who have graduated from a UK medical or dental school and have successfully completed their Foundation Programme.

The following advice on when to apply for specialty training will therefore apply for doctors applying for entry to programmes starting after 1 April 2012:

You are eligible to be considered for specialty training (including GP) in both Round 1 and Round 2 if:

  • You are a UK or EEA national
  • You are a non-UK or non-EEA national and your immigration status allows you to work without restriction in the UK.  For example if you have Tier 1 or dependant status, and no restriction against working as a doctor or dentist in training.
  • You are a non-UK or non-EEA national, you graduated from a UK medical or dental school, your immigration status currently entitles you to work in the Foundation Programme and where you would have previously been eligible for Tier 1 (PSW). You will need to apply for Tier 2 sponsorship, but you will be exempt from the Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) in this instance.

You are eligible to apply for core and specialty training in Round 2 if:

  • You are a non-UK or non-EEA national who has limited leave to remain in the UK and do not fall into one of the above categories.  You will require Tier 2 sponsorship and will be subject to the RLMT.  

Applicants who are subject to the RLMT may only be considered if there is no suitable UK or EEA national candidate for the post.  As the RLMT will not have been satisfied in Round 1 of the recruitment to specialty training, you should consider applying during Round 2 if the RLMT applies to you.

 

Evidence of immigration status should normally consist of a biometric residence card, date stamped passport and/or identity card, together with an accompanying letter from the Home Office detailing which type of visa has been granted. These documents would need to be dated as at or prior to the job application closing date.  Applicants should visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ for more information.

 

English language skills

All applicants will need to provide evidence of their English language skills at any interview attended.

If your undergraduate training was not in English, you will need to provide written evidence of English language skills e.g. your English Language Testing System (IELTS 7.0) results showing the score of 7 in all domains (speaking, listening, reading and writing, to be achieved in a single sitting and within 24 months of the time of application: or a letter from a UK medical supervisor or employer attesting to your competence in English at the appropriate level.

If your undergraduate training was in English, but not in the UK, you will need to provide written evidence of this.  Suitable evidence would include an original letter or certificate from the institution where you qualified confirming that the language of instruction and examination was English.

 

College exams

If college exams are a requirement for entry at the level to which you are applying, you must have received notification of having sat and passed the exam by the closing date of your application.  If college exams are a requirement for exit, you will need to have passed by the time of your appointment.

 

Match to person specification

Each specialty has a nationally agreed person specification that lists the required competences for that specialty.  You will need to provide evidence to prove that you have achieved the specified competences. 

 

Match to specialty level

The following shows the possible levels of entry to specialty training and a general guide to the required competences.  You should refer to the appropriate person specification for details.

It is important that you study the person specification for each entry level for the specialties to which you are considering applying.  The person specifications clearly state the entry requirements for each level and this will help you decide which is the most appropriate for you.  Applying to the most appropriate level will optimise your chances of success.

  • Specialty training year 1 and core training year 1 (ST1/CT1)
    If you are applying straight from the UK Foundation Programme, you will need to show, through your portfolio, that you will have achieved the Foundation Programme competences by the end of July 2012. You must have achieved the competences or equivalent within three years prior to your application.

    If your training was with a different programme, you will need to provide written evidence that you have achieved the equivalent competences. (See further details in the section below on evidence of achievement of Foundation competences.)

    To enter at ST1 and CT1 you cannot have already held a post for more than 18 months (by the time you take up the new post) in the specialty to which you are applying.  The exceptions to this are the following specialties:
    • Chemical pathology
    • Histopathology
    • Medical microbiology/virology
    • Public Health
  • Specialty training year 2 and core training year 2 (ST2/CT2)
    Typically, you will have achieved the competences or equivalent from the first year of specialty training (ST1) or will be on track to do so by end July 2012.  For further information, see the specialty training curriculum available from the relevant royal college website.  There is no limit on experience for eligibility for selection to ST2/CT2.
  • Specialty training year 3 (ST3)
    Typically, you will have achieved the competences or equivalent from the first two years of specialty training (ST1 and 2). For further information, see the specialty training curriculum available from the relevant royal college website. There is no limit on experience for eligibility for selection to ST3.
  • In 2012 applicants to medical specialty ST3 posts will now only be required to have passed their part 2 written examination, but do not need to have passed the PACES exam to receive an offer of an ST3 post.  Candidates will however, need to have full CMT competences, which include all parts of the MRCP (UK) including PACES, to be able to actually take up their ST3 appointments.  This means that candidates who have not passed PACES at the the time they receive their ST3 offer will need to have done so by the time ST3 post starts, otherwise the offer will be withdrawn. 
  • Specialty training year 4 (ST4)
    Typically, you will have achieved the competences or equivalent from the first three years of specialty training (ST1, 2 and 3), or you will have the entry requirements for former higher specialty training programmes (i.e. Specialist Registrar (SpR) programmes). For further information, see the specialty training curriculum available from the relevant royal college website. There is no limit on experience for eligibility for selection to ST4.

Evidence of achievement of Foundation or equivalent competences

The 2012 person specification for entry to all specialty training programmes (including FTSTA posts) includes "Evidence of achievement of Foundation competences between 1st August 2009 and 3rd August 2011 in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice including:

  • Make the care of your patient your first concern
  • Protect and promote the health of patients and of the public
  • Provide a good standard of practice and care
  • Treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity
  • Work in partnership with patients
  • Be honest and open and act with integrity

All applicants to Core or Specialty training at CT1, ST1 or FTSTA level must demonstrate all the competences without exception using the prescribed evidence as outlined below.

Possession of foundation competences is essential for successful applicants to cope with, and progress through specialty training. Demonstrating foundation competences also ensures that doctors can practise safely in line with GMC standards. To achieve this, it is crucial that this submitted evidence is current. It is not sufficient to have achieved each competence once. Competences must be achieved, maintained and demonstrated.

The acceptable methods for demonstrating foundation competences are listed below.  No other evidence will be accepted as previous experience has shown it to be unreliable. For example, specialist qualifications do not demonstrate the breadth of foundation competences and candidates are not typically readily able to cope with the first year of core or specialty training. Candidates who did achieve foundation competences in the past but since then focused their career in a small specialised area would also find it difficult to cope in the first year of core or specialty training. The broad spectrum of foundation competences must be demonstrated to qualify the candidate for entry to year one of core or specialty training.  It is the candidate’s responsibility to satisfactorily demonstrate that this criterion has been fulfilled


Demonstrating Achievement of Foundation Competences

There are a 3 ways you can demonstrate your achievement of foundation competency. The application form will ask you a series of questions to help you determine the most appropriate form of evidence. Your answers to these questions will also allow us to assess your eligibility to apply for a specialty training programme and you will be expected to provide standardised documentation to verify your answers.This guidance is provided to help you to prepare your 2012 application.

  1. If you are currently undertaking a recognised foundation programme in the UK which is due to finish in July 2012, we will ask you to confirm the name of your Foundation School. You do not need to do anything else. Any offer of a programme will be conditional upon you successfully completing this programme and being awarded an FACD 5.2 before August 2012.  If you are undertaking a “stand alone” FY2 post that is NOT part of a recognised foundation programme attached to a UK foundation school, then you must answer NO to this question on the application form (Are you currently on a UK Foundation Year 2 Programme?)  and you will be required to submit alternative evidence as detailed below.
     
  2. If you have completed a UK foundation programme within the last 3 years (since 1st August 2009), we will ask you to confirm that you have been awarded an FACD 5.2. You MUST attach a scanned copy of your FACD 5.2 to your application. You will be expected to provide the original certificate at a later date.
     
  3. If you have not undertaken a UK foundation programme within the last 3 years, you will be able to submit alternative evidence by asking a consultant who has supervised you for at least 3 months since 1st August 2009 to attest to your achievement of foundation competences. There are two "Alternative Certificates" available for download; one for specialties WITH acute medical responsibilities and one for specialties WITHOUT acute medical responsibilities. A list of specialties with acute medical responsibilities is available below.  You may submit more than one Alternative Certificate from different posts in order to show evidence of achievement of all competencies but all certificates must relate to posts undertaken for at least 3 months since August 2009. You MUST attach scanned copies of the certificates to your application form. 
  4. We expect ALL doctors applying to a specialty training programme to have had a least 24 months experience in certain posts, either in the UK or overseas, since gaining their primary medical qualification and before commencing a specialty training programme.   You will be asked to confirm that you have:

12 months satisfactory completion of either a pre-registration, internship or FY1 post AND 12 months full time satisfactory completion in posts approved for the purposes of medical education by the relevant authority.  

OR

12 months satisfactory completion of either a pre-registration, internship or FY1 post AND 12 months full time experience at a publicly funded hospital in at least two specialties

OR

12 months satisfactory completion of either a pre-registration, internship or FY1 post AND a 12 month full time FY2 post

 

With regard to the Alternative Certificates, please note that:

  • The signatory does not necessarily have to personally witness the demonstration of every competence, but he or she must be able to judge whether the evidence they have seen/had presented to them demonstrates competence. The deanery/specialty have no discretion in this regard.
  • The post the certificate refers to must be of at least 3 months duration (whole time equivalent), has to have been completed by the time of the submission deadline and undertaken within the 3 years before the post starts.
  • Clinical attachments do not count as experience
  • If you are unable to provide any of the above because, for example, you have not worked since 1st August 2009 then you are advised to secure a second year UK foundation programme post before applying for a specialty training programme. Alternatively, you could secure a post that will enable you to demonstrate foundation competency to a consultant who could then provide you with an "Alternative Certificate", eg. A locum or Trust post. 
  • We understand that refugee doctors may have less access to standardised documentation and in rare cases may not be able to obtain an "Alternative Certificate". If you are unable to provide any of the above because of your refugee status, you should contact your first choice postgraduate deanery for advice before submitting your application form. Refugee doctors will be required to provide an Alternative Certificate wherever possible.

Download Alternative Certificate A - (for posts with acute medical responsibilities)
Download Alternative Certificate B - (for posts without acute medical

Download Alternative Certificate A - (for GP Applications)

Download Alternative Certificate B - (for GP Applications)

responsibilities)
Download List of Specialties with Acute Medical Responsibilities here

 

Please note:

  • Applications for August 2012 must use the 2012 Alternative Certificates.  Previous documentation from 2011 will not be accepted.
  • Evidence of higher professional exams in other disciplines is not accepted as evidence of Foundation competency.
  • Evidence in a non-standard format is not accepted