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• Overview of recruitment
• Quick Guide to Specialty Training 2010
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• Are you eligible to apply?
• National Recruitment in 2012
• When to apply
• Training Structure 2012
• Stage 2 - Choosing your Specialty
• Stage 3 - Vacancies & Applications
• Stage 4 - Interviews & Offers
• Help & Guidance
• Gold Guide
• Feedback & Complaints
• Specialty Training 2011
• Specialty Training 2010
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There are two types of training programmes in specialty training:

• “Run-through” training, where your progression to the next level of training is automatic (so long as you satisfy all the competency requirements); and
• “Uncoupled” training programmes, where there are two years of core training (three in some specialties), followed by another open competition for higher training posts and progression to completion of training (provided you satisfy all the competency requirements).

All specialty training programmes lead eventually to a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), which qualifies you for entry to the Specialist or GP Register held by the General Medical Council (GMC), subject to the successful attainment of required competences.

 

There are other job opportunities and points of entry, such as one year training posts, know as Fixed Term Specialty Training Appointments (FTSTAs) and ad hoc vacancies at different stages of training.  FTSTAs are only available in run-through specialties.  The offer an opportunity to gain more experience before applying for a longer term position.

 

 

Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR)

CESR is an alternative qualification to the CCT for those who have undertaken a non-standard training pathway. It is awarded after an applicant has successfully applied to have their training, qualifications and experience assessed against the requirements for the CCT in which they have undertaken training (as this is a guide for those in UK training reference has not been made to those applying in a non CCT specialty, for details of this evaluation please refer to the GMC website). The majority of trainees on standard training programmes will apply for a CCT.

CESR(CP) CEGPR(CP) Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist or

General Practice Registration

This is an application process for the award of the CESR or CEGPR through the

Combined Programme route. It is for trainees who have a combination of training in a GMC approved programme to successful completion and training and/or experience in posts prior to appointment which were not GMC approved. See GMC website for further information.

The table below shows which English specialties in 2012 are offering run-through training and which are offering core training followed by open competition.

Offer of run-through training in 2012 (Specialty training years are referred to as ST1, ST2, ST3 etc.)	Offer with uncoupling in 2012 (Core training followed by open competition to higher specialty training. Core training years are referred to as CT1, CT2, CT3 etc. and higher training years are referred to as ST3, ST4 etc.)
Obstetrics and Gynaecology	Anaesthesia
Ophthalmology	Core Medical Training, leading to competitive entry to medical specialties
Paediatrics and Child Health	Core Surgical Training, leading to competitive entry to surgical specialties
General Practice	Emergency Medicine (three years of core training)
Public Health Medicine	Core Psychiatry Training (three years of core training), leading to competitive entry to psychiatric specialties
Neurosurgery
Histopathology
Chemical Pathology
Medical Microbiology/Virology
Clinical Radiology
Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF)

 

Core training and higher specialty training programmes will be open to all eligible applicants*  (including those working in non-training posts or otherwise not on core training programmes).

 

Fixed Term Specialty Training Appointments, FTSTA1 and FTSTA2 (FTSTA3 in Paediatrics and Neurosurgery), will continue in run-through specialties to add to the opportunities for doctors to develop their training experience and improve their chances of entering later to specialty training.

 

Academic Clinical Fellowships (ACFs) offer run-through training in specialties that are normally uncoupled.  For further information visit http://www.nihrtcc.nhs.uk/

Notes:

1. Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS) core training is now a two year programme plus a further specialty specific  year for all themes:

• For Anaesthesia, a further specialty specific CT2 will be linked to the Anaesthetic themed ACCS
• For Acute Medicine a further year of core medical training CT2 (CMT) will be linked to the Acute Medicine themed ACCS
• For Emergency Medicine, a further specialty specific CT3 will be linked to the Emergency Medicine themed ACCS. 

2.Clinicial Radiology level ST1 welcomes applicants from ST1, 2, 3 and CT1, 2, 3 in acute care clinical specialties, such as medicine, surgery and paediatrics.  It is also possible to apply direct from Foundation training.

 

Switching Parent Specialties

 

Recruitment to ACCS will be by separate streams, dependent on intended parent specialty.  The first two years of ACCS share a common curriculum, and any competences acquired are transferable.  However, it is not possible to switch between specialty career paths without a further competitive selection process.  Applicants are therefore advised to select their initial specialty of choice with care.  Candidates are allowed to apply for more than one specialty choice but this requires separate applications.

 

Clinical radiology level ST1 welcomes applicants from ST1, 2, 3 and CT 1, 2, 3 in acute care clinical specialties, such as medicine, surgery and paediatrics.  It is also possible to apply direct from Foundation training.

 

Flexibility in training – less than full-time training

 

If you are unable to train full time, you may apply for less than full-time training, provided you can show that training on a full-time basis would not be practical for you for well-founded reasons.  Well-founded reasons would include, for example disability, ill health, carer’s responsibilities, religious commitments and unique opportunities for personal or professional development. 

 

Less than full-time training must meet the same requirements in specialty and general practice training as full-time training, except that there will be fewer hours of work per week. 

 

For further information on less than full time training please see Sections 6.47-6.57 of the Gold Guide, the Reference Guide for Postgraduate Specialty Training in the UK.

 

Notes:

*Applicants who meet the stipulated requirements, and are legally qualified, as outlined on the requisite person specification, to apply medical specialty training