The General Medical Council’s medical register is a full list of all the doctors qualified to work in the UK. Within this, there are different types of registration which doctors must hold to work in different posts in the UK.
All practicing physicians must hold one of these types of registration with a license to practice.
In this article we will discuss the following:
Provisional Registration
Full Registration
Specialist Registration
GP Registration
IMG Tips
1. Provisional Registration
The purpose of provisional registration is to allow medical graduates to complete an approved internship (FY1). After this, trainees will receive a certificate of experience with which they can apply for full registration.
Provisional registration can be held for a maximum of three years and 30 days (1,125 days) only, which would be enough time within which to complete a 12-month internship. This registration will expire after the allotted time, and you will be removed from the register, however, more time can be provided, and you can find out whether you will be eligible here.
What roles can I take with provisional registration?
With provisional registration, the only service post you are able to take is an FY1 service post, other than an approved UK FY1 programme.
Who can apply for provisional registration?
If you are eligible for full registration, you cannot apply for provisional registration.
Applications for provisional registration will be considered from:
UK medical graduate who completed their medical degree at a UK university
Doctors who graduated from outside the UK with an acceptable primary medical qualification (PMQ) and have passed the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB), but have not completed an internship
Doctors who qualified within certain European countries but do not hold the accompanying certificate required to complete their relevant European qualification – you can see a full list of these countries here.
2. Full Registration
Doctors require full registration to work in unsupervised medical practice in the NHS, UK private practice, or to move onto the second year of their internship (FY2) in an approved training programme require a full license to practice.
What roles can I take with full registration?
With full registration, doctors can take up any post aside from GP posts and substantive consultant posts.
Who can apply for full registration?
There are certain criteria you must meet before you are eligible for full registration:
1. Completed the first year (FY1) of the Foundation Programme in the UK
2. Be a Swiss or UK national (or benefit from enforceable community rights) and have either:
A formal qualification listed in The Directive on Recognition of Professional Qualifications; OR
An acceptable primary medical qualification from outside the EEA (which has been recognised in Switzerland) with evidence of an acceptable pattern of experience
3. Be an international medical graduate (IMG) with an acceptable PMQ, and enough clinical experience to practice medicine in the UK – you can do this in one of 5 ways:
A pass in the PLAB test
Sponsorship by a GMC approved sponsor
An acceptable postgraduate qualification or overseas licensing exam
Relevant European Qualification (REQ)
Eligibility for entry onto the Specialist or GP register
Full registration does not have a time limit, but doctors should note that they are required to go through a revalidation process every five years to avoid the license to practice being withdrawn.
You can read more about the routes to GMC Registration through our IMG Resources library.
3. Specialist Registration
The specialist register is an online list of doctors who are eligible to work as fixed term, honorary or substantive consultants in the NHS, excluding foundation trusts.
If a doctor is on the Specialist Register, it will say so as part of their status on the register, and you will be able to see the specialties (and sub-specialties) they are qualified in, as well as the date they joined the specialist register in each specialty.
Types of Specialist Registration
There are three types of certificates issued by the GMC, and the type of certificate you will receive at the end of your training defines which training route you are on.
You can read more about Specialist Registration for IMGs here.
What roles can I take with Specialist registration?
Doctors who are on the Specialist Register can take up permanent or substantive consultant positions.
Who can apply for Specialist registration?
Eligibility for Specialist Registration depends on your nationality, qualifications and experience. To meet the minimum eligibility requirements to apply you must have either:
A specialist qualification in the specialty you’re applying in
OR
At least six months continuous specialist training in the specialty you’re applying in
You’ll need to provide evidence of how you’re eligible as part of your application. This could be a copy of your qualification or evidence of your employment. In your application you must show that you meet the requirements of the CCT curriculum in your specialty.
4. GP Registration
GP Registration is a requirement for any doctor who wishes to be eligible for appointment to a general practitioner (GP) position in the UK.
Please note that unlike in many countries, GPs in the UK are family and community medicine specialists and if you are an IMG general physician, you would need to apply for full registration, not GP registration.
What roles can I take with GP registration?
Doctors who are on the GP Register can take up posts as General Practitioners in the UK. As well as being on the GP Register, you’ll need to complete a number of other processes before you can start work as a GP in the UK. You'll need to join a Performers List and an Induction or Returner Scheme. You can read more about this here.
Who can apply for GP registration?
Doctors may be eligible for entry onto the GP Register if you have a relevant European GP qualification. You can check which GP qualifications are accepted on the GMC’s evidence of qualifications page. You must also check your qualification is on the list of relevant European qualifications, and that:
The title of it is exactly the same as the one in the list
AND
The qualification was issued on or after the reference date listed.
#IMG Tips
Use the GMC website – there are many useful resources on the GMC website, including a very helpful registration route finder to help you determine which registration you should apply for.
Research/ think about the types of evidence you will need and make a plan for your application, particularly if you will have to sit any exams.
If you want to contact our specialists use our Candidate Portal today!
So there it is, the different types of GMC registration in a nutshell. This is important to understand, particularly for IMGs looking to relocate to the UK and find work in the NHS. If you have any further questions about GMC registration or your route to the UK, please get in touch with us here.
Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:
The General Medical Council’s medical register is a full list of all the doctors qualified to work in the UK. Within this, there are different types of registration which doctors must hold to work in different posts in the UK.
All practicing physicians must hold one of these types of registration with a license to practice.
In this article we will discuss the following:
Provisional Registration
Full Registration
Specialist Registration
GP Registration
IMG Tips
1. Provisional Registration
The purpose of provisional registration is to allow medical graduates to complete an approved internship (FY1). After this, trainees will receive a certificate of experience with which they can apply for full registration.
Provisional registration can be held for a maximum of three years and 30 days (1,125 days) only, which would be enough time within which to complete a 12-month internship. This registration will expire after the allotted time, and you will be removed from the register, however, more time can be provided, and you can find out whether you will be eligible here.
What roles can I take with provisional registration?
With provisional registration, the only service post you are able to take is an FY1 service post, other than an approved UK FY1 programme.
Who can apply for provisional registration?
If you are eligible for full registration, you cannot apply for provisional registration.
Applications for provisional registration will be considered from:
UK medical graduate who completed their medical degree at a UK university
Doctors who graduated from outside the UK with an acceptable primary medical qualification (PMQ) and have passed the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB), but have not completed an internship
Doctors who qualified within certain European countries but do not hold the accompanying certificate required to complete their relevant European qualification – you can see a full list of these countries here.
2. Full Registration
Doctors require full registration to work in unsupervised medical practice in the NHS, UK private practice, or to move onto the second year of their internship (FY2) in an approved training programme require a full license to practice.
What roles can I take with full registration?
With full registration, doctors can take up any post aside from GP posts and substantive consultant posts.
Who can apply for full registration?
There are certain criteria you must meet before you are eligible for full registration:
1. Completed the first year (FY1) of the Foundation Programme in the UK
2. Be a Swiss or UK national (or benefit from enforceable community rights) and have either:
A formal qualification listed in The Directive on Recognition of Professional Qualifications; OR
An acceptable primary medical qualification from outside the EEA (which has been recognised in Switzerland) with evidence of an acceptable pattern of experience
3. Be an international medical graduate (IMG) with an acceptable PMQ, and enough clinical experience to practice medicine in the UK – you can do this in one of 5 ways:
A pass in the PLAB test
Sponsorship by a GMC approved sponsor
An acceptable postgraduate qualification or overseas licensing exam
Relevant European Qualification (REQ)
Eligibility for entry onto the Specialist or GP register
Full registration does not have a time limit, but doctors should note that they are required to go through a revalidation process every five years to avoid the license to practice being withdrawn.
You can read more about the routes to GMC Registration through our IMG Resources library.
3. Specialist Registration
The specialist register is an online list of doctors who are eligible to work as fixed term, honorary or substantive consultants in the NHS, excluding foundation trusts.
If a doctor is on the Specialist Register, it will say so as part of their status on the register, and you will be able to see the specialties (and sub-specialties) they are qualified in, as well as the date they joined the specialist register in each specialty.
Types of Specialist Registration
There are three types of certificates issued by the GMC, and the type of certificate you will receive at the end of your training defines which training route you are on.
You can read more about Specialist Registration for IMGs here.
What roles can I take with Specialist registration?
Doctors who are on the Specialist Register can take up permanent or substantive consultant positions.
Who can apply for Specialist registration?
Eligibility for Specialist Registration depends on your nationality, qualifications and experience. To meet the minimum eligibility requirements to apply you must have either:
A specialist qualification in the specialty you’re applying in
OR
At least six months continuous specialist training in the specialty you’re applying in
You’ll need to provide evidence of how you’re eligible as part of your application. This could be a copy of your qualification or evidence of your employment. In your application you must show that you meet the requirements of the CCT curriculum in your specialty.
4. GP Registration
GP Registration is a requirement for any doctor who wishes to be eligible for appointment to a general practitioner (GP) position in the UK.
Please note that unlike in many countries, GPs in the UK are family and community medicine specialists and if you are an IMG general physician, you would need to apply for full registration, not GP registration.
What roles can I take with GP registration?
Doctors who are on the GP Register can take up posts as General Practitioners in the UK. As well as being on the GP Register, you’ll need to complete a number of other processes before you can start work as a GP in the UK. You'll need to join a Performers List and an Induction or Returner Scheme. You can read more about this here.
Who can apply for GP registration?
Doctors may be eligible for entry onto the GP Register if you have a relevant European GP qualification. You can check which GP qualifications are accepted on the GMC’s evidence of qualifications page. You must also check your qualification is on the list of relevant European qualifications, and that:
The title of it is exactly the same as the one in the list
AND
The qualification was issued on or after the reference date listed.
#IMG Tips
Use the GMC website – there are many useful resources on the GMC website, including a very helpful registration route finder to help you determine which registration you should apply for.
Research/ think about the types of evidence you will need and make a plan for your application, particularly if you will have to sit any exams.
If you want to contact our specialists use our Candidate Portal today!
So there it is, the different types of GMC registration in a nutshell. This is important to understand, particularly for IMGs looking to relocate to the UK and find work in the NHS. If you have any further questions about GMC registration or your route to the UK, please get in touch with us here.
Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:
Overseas doctors from any country in the world can apply for Specialist Registration in the UK, provided certain eligibility criteria are met, though there are different routes available based on the doctor’s qualifications and training.
In this blog we’ll be exploring Specialist Registration in clinical oncology for overseas clinical or radiation oncologists more closely. We’ll look at all aspects of Specialist Registration, focusing more closely on the Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR), including the application process, costs, and eligibility criteria, along with some other topics, summarised in the headings below:
What is Specialist Registration?
What route to Specialist Registration is best for me as an overseas oncologist?
Do I have to complete CESR before I can work in the UK?
Do I need FRCR (Oncology) for Specialist Registration?
What is the CESR equivalence process?
What evidence do I need to submit for a CESR in clinical oncology?
How much does CESR cost?
How long is the CESR application process?
#IMG Tips
How do I get started?
Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.
Specialist Registration
Specialist Registration in any CCT specialty means that you can be appointed to a substantive (or permanent) consultant position in the NHS. All clinical oncologists who wish to take permanent consultant roles in the UK must show evidence of skills, knowledge, and experience equivalent to a CCT in order to apply for Specialist Registration.
For clinical oncologists, attaining specialist registration will mean you are qualified to practice independently as a consultant in the NHS.
Specialist Registration is additional to full registration with the GMC and is therefore not required to practice as a clinical oncologist in the UK.
Routes to Specialist Registration
There are three types of certificates issued by the GMC for Specialist Registration, and the type of certificate you receive depends on the training route you followed.
CCT for UK-trained Oncologists
For doctors who have completed a GMC-approved training programme, an application must be made to the GMC for a CCT in their specialty within 12 months of their completion date in order to qualify. After this point, they will be required to use the CESR route to apply directly to the GMC if they wish to attain Specialist Registration.
CCT for EEA-trained Oncologists
Doctors who have trained outside the UK or Switzerland, but within an EEA country, will be awarded CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) after a successful specialist registration application. Specialist Certifications from across the EU are deemed as equivalent by the GMC, and therefore a straightforward application can be made. You can read more about this in the Specialist Registration section under your country on the GMC website here.
CESR-CP for doctors who have completed only part of a GMC-approved training programme
CESR(CP) is a simplified route to Specialist Registration for doctors who joined their specialty training programme after ST1, and therefore do not meet the requirement of 4 years duration in GMC-approved training on completion, as they began their training overseas and completed it in the UK.
CESR for Overseas Oncologists
For overseas doctors who have completed their full training outside of a GMC-approved training programme, CESR is the route they will usually take towards attaining Specialist Registration. This route does not require further training, rather the submission of an application.
Clinical Oncology Positions in the NHS without CESR
It is important to note that you can apply for more senior oncology roles such as a specialty doctor (SAS), specialist grade or a locum consultant without being on the Specialist Register.
Similarly, overseas doctors do not require CESR before moving to the UK to work in the NHS.
In these NHS roles, you will have better pay and responsibilities that are more appropriate to your level of experience compared to a trainee. While working in these positions, you can collect evidence of your competences, particularly those specific to the UK clinical oncology curriculum.
These positions also facilitate a faster route to the UK than the CESR route, which can take a substantial amount of time.
Get in touch with us to find out more about senior positions in the NHS with CESR support.
FRCR (Oncology) for Specialist Registration
Whilst it is always beneficial to complete FRCR (Oncology), particularly for doctors who have trained outside the UK or an EEA country, overseas doctors looking to join the Specialist Register do not need to have completed the Royal College postgraduate exams.
The standard test of knowledge in the Clinical Oncology curriculum are the FRCR (Oncology) exams, so passing these exams confirms the attainment of the competencies of the core curriculum.
FRCR (Oncology) is only a requirement for doctors looking to attain Specialist Registration via the CCT route.
Similarly, UK trainees would have completed MRCP (UK) before beginning their clinical oncology training, which is also not required for oncologists going through the CESR route.
However, CESR applicants who have not successfully completed these exams must provide alternative evidence that demonstrates equivalent knowledge to oncologists who have passed the FRCR (Oncology) exams and the appropriate level of non-oncology expertise and that you can appropriately manage the acutely unwell patient.
Even if the competencies covered by the exam require something that someone in your position would not routinely undertake (in your sub-specialty for example), you must still provide evidence of it – as the evaluators will not make assumptions outside of the evidence presented.
You can read more about the evidence required in the specialty specific guidance here.
CESR Equivalence Process
Equivalence describes the process of assessing an overseas applicant’s training and experience against the current clinical oncology training programme requirements, in order to be awarded CESR.
The equivalence process involves submitting a written body of evidence to the GMC, consisting of:
training and/or competence
skills and knowledge
The Royal College of Radiologists will assess each application against the relevant curriculum before providing a recommendation to the GMC, who will then make a decision.
Please note that Equivalence procedures are the responsibility of the GMC. Applications are made through their Certification Department and initial enquiries should be directed there.
Evidence Requirements for CESR in Clinical Oncology
Skills & Experience: The evidence provided for a CESR application in oncology must cover the knowledge, skills, and qualifications to demonstrate the required competencies in all areas of the Clinical Oncology Curriculum. If evidence is missing from any area of the curriculum, the application will fail.
Primary Evidence: To demonstrate that you can do what is required by the curriculum, you need to submit primary evidence of your clinical practice which shows how you work on a day-to-day basis: letters, reports, assessments etc. References, retrospective case summaries, and reflective notes can all be used in a CESR application, but by themselves they are not sufficient.
Audit and Governance: You are required to submit evidence of your active leadership in audit, including evidence that you have completed at least one audit cycle
Currency of evidence: Your evaluators will be looking for evidence of current competency, generally defined as within the last five years. If you have completed training before this point, it is crucial that you provide evidence of maintaining competency across the whole area of the curriculum.
The GMC asks that only evidence that is strictly relevant is sent as it will help them to process the application quicker. The guidance on compiling your evidence will help you to decide what is relevant and what is not – you can find this on the GMC website here.
As a general guide, the GMC usually expects to see about 800 - 1000 pages of evidence, divided into four different domains, reflecting those of Good Medical Practice. The GMC recommends that you apportion the evidence provided as shown below:
Domain 1 – Knowledge, skills, and performance
Domain 2 – Safety and quality
Domain 3 – Communication, partnership, and teamwork
Domain 4 – Maintaining trust
Please note, you cannot compensate for evidence lacking in one area by providing more evidence in another area.
The full list of evidence required for each domain can be found on the GMC website here.
The Cost of CESR Applications
All oncologists applying for Specialist Registration must pay a fee. As of 1st April 2022, for CESR, this fee is £1,727. For CESR-CP and CCT, the cost is £452.
How long does it take to complete an application for CESR in Clinical Oncology?
The GMC estimate that it can take between six and eight months to receive a decision, from the date you submit your CESR application.
As there is a substantial amount of evidence to gather for a CESR application, the process of preparing all the necessary documentation and applying for CESR can take even longer than this, and a typical candidate will usually set out to complete this within 1 – 3 years.
It is worth noting that more senior oncologists, such as consultants, are more likely to have achieved all the competences outlined in the curriculum.
The indicative period of training for a CCT in clinical oncology is seven years, so it is highly unlikely that you would achieve the competencies required for a CCT in a shorter period of time. Therefore, CESR is not suitable for more junior oncologists.
#IMG Tips
Research/think about the types of evidence you will need and begin to gather your evidence well in advance of making your application.
Gather evidence prospectively – this is much easier than retrospectively trying to pull together the evidence under additional pressures.
Make sure that your evidence is of the highest possible quality and is current – you will be assessed against the most recent curriculum.
Ensure that the evidence you collect demonstrates your competence across the whole of the Clinical Oncology curriculum, not just your sub-specialty.
Remember to refer to the most up-to-date Clinical Oncology CCT Curriculum and Specialty Specific Guidance for the evidence requirements in your specialty.
Create a CESR ‘to-do list’ with sections under the GMC’s 4 domain headings – organise your evidence directly into these sections to manage your progress.
Do not submit original documents – all your copies, other than qualifications you’re getting authenticated must be accompanied by a pro formas signed by the person who is attesting to the validity and accuracy of your evidence (your verifier).
Ask an IMG Connect recruitment specialist about NHS oncology posts with CESR support. These are not always advertised by a Trust, but we can help you find a role which aligns well with your career goals in the NHS.
Join the online community - join the IMG Oncologists Facebook group for access to a community of like-minded clinical and radiation oncology CESR aspirants and dedicated oncology recruiters.
In this group you will find tailored resources for oncology, including guidance on CESR applications, completely free to all doctors.
You can access our IMG Oncologists community here.
Sources
https://www.rcr.ac.uk/clinical-oncology/careers-and-recruitment/specialist-registration-cesr
https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/registration-applications/specialist-application-guides/specialist-registration-cesr-or-cegpr
https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/sat---ssg---clinical-oncology---dc3556_pdf-48456770.pdf
Getting started
Many oncology IMGs likely haven’t completed a UK-approved training programme, but you could be eligible for Specialist Registration with the GMC via the CESR route. Take a look at our guide to CESR applications for oncology for more information on how to apply and what to expect.
If you have any further questions about Specialist Registration, your route to the UK, or would like guidance in finding NHS posts which offer CESR support, please get in touch with us here.
Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:
One of the most important questions to consider when searching for an NHS job as a doctor is, 'What salaries do doctors receive in the UK?
The NHS is one of the most developed health systems in the world and international doctors form an integral part of delivering high quality patient care, as such they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.
In this short article we provide an overview of doctor's pay in the UK by grade, salary estimates are based on the NHS Doctor Salary pay scale.
It is important to note that the below rates of pay are a guide based on current NHS pay scales, and it is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the pay opportunities before you start applying for posts in the UK.
It is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on your experience and demand.
For overseas doctors, posts will include competitive rates of pay, additional pay for extra hours worked, benefits and pensions.
FY1 & FY2
In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1), your basic salary is £32,398.
As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premia.
Specialty Training (ST1 – ST8)
If you are a doctor starting your specialist training, your basic salary starts at £43,923 and can progress to £63,152.
As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premia.
Specialty doctors
Specialty doctors currently earn from £52,530 to £82,400 basic pay.
The basic contract is for 40 hours.
Consultants
Consultants currently earn from £93,666 to £126,281 basic pay.
As a consultant you can be paid for additional duties and may be eligible for Clinical Excellence Awards, which reward outstanding performance. The basic contract is for 40 hours per week.
If you take on extra responsibilities (i.e. management or education) you can also expect to be paid additional supplements.
Pay and terms and conditions
Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website.
Why not browse our live doctor jobs and check your doctor's salary in the UK.
You can find more overviews on doctor salary and pay conditions here.
IMG Jobs
Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss NHS opportunities for overseas, including a typical doctor's salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
To receive the latest news and updates on the Royal Colleges, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.
Getting to grips with the different titles given to doctors in the UK can be difficult, not least because they may differ from those used in other countries and there may be several titles to describe a certain role.
It is important for overseas doctors to have a working knowledge of the different doctor titles in the UK in order to understand how their experience may translate to the UK in terms of seniority of roles as well as the pay they may be entitled to.
In this blog we will be breaking down all the different names given to UK doctors (both in and out of training), clarifying the meaning of these terms to paint a clearer picture of designations in the NHS.
We will cover these titles within the following groups:
Doctors in Training
Doctors in non-Training Jobs
Broad Terms for UK Doctors
Doctors in Training
Doctors in GMC-approved training programmes have designations according to the period and specific year of their training – generally the abbreviation of the training, followed by a number.
Foundation Training
Other Titles / Designations: F1, F2, FY1, FY2, F3+, SHO, Junior Doctor, Trainee
These are doctors in a Foundation Programme, having graduated from medical school. In the UK, this is a 2-year programme equivalent to an internship.
During Year 1 of Foundation Training, doctors are referred to as F1/ FY1 and during Year 2, they are F2/ FY2.
Although Foundation Training lasts two years, doctors who may be unsure of which specialty to pursue may work in non-training jobs before applying to a training post. The naming structure for these roles is the same, depending on the years in their role.
Core Training
Other Titles / Designations: CT1, CT2, CT3, ST1, ST2, ST3, SHO, Junior Doctor, Trainee
These are doctors in Core Training who are at the initial stage of an ‘uncoupled’ training programme. An uncoupled training programme is one in which there is a break in training where doctors are required to apply to higher specialty training upon completion of core training. Core training usually lasts from two to three years.
For ‘run-through’ training programmes, doctors at ST1 would have come from Foundation Training and have automatic entry into higher specialty training through their initial application to ST1.
Specialty Training
Other Titles / Designations: ST3+, StR, SHO, Junior Doctor, Trainee
Higher specialty training generally begins at ST3/ ST4 and can go up to ST9 depending on the specialty.
The curriculum for each specialty will provide the typical training period, however this is indicative (doctors may take longer than this to complete their specialty training for any number of reasons).
SHO
The term SHO stands for Senior House Officer, less commonly known as a House Officer. This is an older term for a very junior doctor, typically equivalent to an F1/ F2, although the term can be used to describe doctors up to CT2 (up to higher specialty training).
Trainee
The term trainee can refer to any doctor in a training programme (generally from CT1 to ST9). These doctors may be referred to as residents in other countries. This can but does not generally include doctors in Foundation Training.
Doctors in non-Training Jobs
Doctors in non-training positions are often given titles which align with their training counterparts, so it’s easier to understand at what level they are practising, but there are no hard and fast rules.
SHO
Other Titles / Designations: Junior Clinical Fellow, Junior Doctor, Middle Grade
As with doctors in training, a non-training SHO would typically be equivalent to an F1/ F2, but it may be more common for a doctor not in training to have this title since an equivalent doctor in training would most likely be referred to as an F1/ F2.
Senior Clinical Fellow
Other Titles / Designations: Junior Doctor
This is a slightly confusing term which is usually for doctors at ST3+ level and generally have not completed a UK training programme. The role of these doctors often includes a combination of research and specialist clinical work.
SAS Doctor
Other Titles / Designations: Senior Doctor, Specialist
SAS stands for Staff grade, Associate Specialist, and Specialty Doctor. These doctors will have at least four years of full-time postgraduate training, two of which have been in their relevant specialty.
They are experienced and senior doctors in fixed term or permanent posts (outside a UK training programme) and can work across primary, community and inpatient care.
Many SAS doctors have made a positive choice to step into a SAS position from a traditional consultant training pathway. This could be for reasons such as geographical stability or wanting to familiarise themselves with the NHS system before working up to a consultant position.
Broader Terms
There are also several terms which may more broadly be used to describe a doctor's level.
Junior Doctor
This term can be used to describe anyone from F1 up to ST9These are qualified doctors in clinical training.
Registrar
Other Titles / Designations: SpR, Junior Doctor, Middle Grade
This is another slightly older term. Registrar or SpR (Specialty Registrars) refers to the main training grade where doctors are undertaking higher specialty training (this is the earliest you can specialise).
It can refer to both trainees and non-trainees and is generally equivalent to ST3 and above (doctors who have completed their foundation training but are still in training in a specialty area of medicine). This term is therefore commonly used to describe more senior trainees and generally aligns with its use overseas.
Senior Doctor
Other Titles / Designations: Specialist Grade, Specialty Doctor, Associate Specialist, GP, Consultant
As ‘junior doctor’ and ‘senior doctor’ are indicative of whether or not a doctor is in training, senior doctors are those able to practise independently – those working as a consultant, SAS doctor or GP.
Consultant
Other Titles / Designations: Senior Doctor
Consultants are senior doctors that have completed full medical training in a specialised area of medicine. They usually work in hospitals or community settings. They have clinical responsibilities and administrative responsibilities in managing SAS and junior doctors.
There are two types of consultants:
Substantive - These are consultant who have been appointed to the Specialist Register for their area of medicine by the GMC. These doctors will either have completed a GMC-approved training programme (CCT) or completed an application for CESR or CESR-CP. You can learn more about Specialist Registration for overseas doctors here.
Locum - These are consultants who are appointed into an equivalent consultant post but are not required to be on the Specialist Register. Locum consultants are unable to take up a permanent position (only fixed term). A locum consultant’s work tends to be more clinical, however there may also be teaching and management responsibilities involved. It is also important to distinguish between two types of locums here: Trust Locums and Agency Locums. As the name suggests, agency locums work with a private agency and will generally receive an hourly wage. Trust locums on the other hand are appointed by the NHS Trust themselves and will be on a fixed-term contract which can be renewed.
GP
GP stands for General Practitioner, and these are doctors who are responsible for the primary care of patients, covering illnesses and ailments across many specialist areas.
GPs are fully trained and are allowed to practice independently without supervision and all qualified GPs are listed on the GMC’s GP Register.
Unlike is often the case in overseas healthcare systems, general practitioners are not synonymous with doctors specialising in general medicine, so a general practitioner overseas may not necessarily have the same title in the UK.
Locum Doctor
These are doctors who are covering a role within a healthcare setting.
All doctors (aside from F1 doctors) can work as locums. Like all practising physicians, locum doctors are fully registered with, and regulated by, the GMC.
Sources
https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/international-doctors/life-and-work-in-the-uk/toolkit-for-doctors-new-to-the-uk/doctors-titles-explained
Hopefully, this article goes some way to demystify these terms and titles for international doctors interested in working in the UK. For more information including working in the NHS, doctors' benefits and salaries and how to register with the GMC, take a look through our IMG Resources library.
Acute medicine SCE is the higher postgraduate qualification delivered by the Royal College of Physicians as a specialist qualification for acute medicine doctors.
It is one of 11 SCEs offered by the Royal College and offers physicians a postgraduate qualification which demonstrates to prospective employers the achievement of a standard equivalent to UK specialist doctors.
Here we take a closer look at the MRCP (UK) Acute Medicine Specialty Certificate Examination for doctors who have chosen to specialise in acute medicine. We cover the content of the exam, as well as fees and the eligibility criteria, all summarised below along with a broad look at the following topics:
What is the acute medicine SCE?
Where does the SCE fit into my training?
What is the structure of the acute medicine SCE?
How do I apply for the exams and what do they cost?
Where can I sit the exams as an overseas acute medicine doctor?
How should I prepare for the exams as an IMG?
I’ve passed, what’s next?
Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for.
MRCP (UK) Acute Medicine SCE
The acute medicine specialty certificate exams are administered as a compulsory component of assessment for Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in acute medicine for all UK trainees.
The purpose of an SCE is to:
ensure that certified specialists have sufficient knowledge of their specialty to practice safely and competently as consultants
complement workplace-based assessments
provide a rigorous national assessment to establish public confidence
offer a challenge similar to sub-specialty certification examination in North America
SCE as Part of Training in Acute Medicine
Since the MRCP(UK) exams are taken during the Internal Medicine Training years (ST1-ST3), the acute medicine SCE allows physicians to demonstrate that they are able to practice independently at a consultant level.
The SCE has no official entry requirements (both for UK and overseas candidates); however, UK trainees would normally take the SCE in their penultimate year of higher specialty training (ST6). UK trainees should have made at least one attempt by the time of their penultimate year assessment.
For in-depth guide to the MRCP exams, see our IMG Resources library here.
Exam Structure
The SCE assesses candidates on a wide range of common and important disorders, as set out in the syllabus of the curriculum. This should be taken as an indication of the likely number of questions – the actual number may vary:
Topic
Number of questions
Cancer and palliative care and haematology
10
Cardiovascular medicine
20
Clinical pharmacology and poisoning
10
Critical care medicine
10
Diabetes and endocrine medicine
14
Gastroenterology and hepatology
20
Infectious diseases
14
Medicine in the elderly
18
Musculoskeletal system
12
Neurology and ophthalmology
20
Renal medicine
10
Respiratory medicine
20
Other*
22
Total
200
*Other: Allergy; Clinical genetics; Dermatology; Immunology; Patient safety and risk management; Psychiatry; Public health and health promotion
The questions in each category are distributed across both papers.
All SCEs are computer-based and are administered by Pearson VUE at a test centre in the UK or internationally.
Acute Medicine SCE Applications
SCEs are held once a year and applications are made online through My MRCP(UK) account, within the Upcoming Exams section of the Royal College website.
The application process is as follows:
Register online through My MRCP(UK) (candidates have the opportunity at this point to register any special arrangements)
Request a preferred test country and city
Pay applicable examination fee
Application is confirmed via an automatically generated email
Receive test centre confirmation email from Pearson VUE within four weeks of the examination date.
The Royal College of Physicians has created a helpful video guide on SCE applications which you can watch here.
Cost
The cost of the SCE exams are as follows:
UK centres: £665
International centres: £833
Exam Centres
UK Centres
Candidates who choose to sit the acute medicine SCE in the UK must contact Pearson VUE to book their test. There are up to 137 test centres throughout the UK for each SCE, and the Royal College of Physicians advise that candidates should book their exam as early as possible to secure their preferred test centre, as bookings operate on a first come first served basis.
International Centres
Candidates are given a choice of regions and are then asked to nominate a particular city in that region as their desired test location. The Royal College of Physicians will pass this request to Pearson VUE once the application period has closed, and Pearson VUE will confirm final test centre details to candidates via email at least three weeks before the date of the examination. If the exam is not available in a requested location, candidates will be offered a choice of the nearest available test centres.
Please note, international candidates should not book their own test centre with Pearson VUE - attempting to do so may delay a candidate's application.
The full list of international SCE test centres can be found here.
Preparation and Resources for the Acute Medicine SCE
It can be difficult for IMGs to know where to start with their preparation and revision. This list should provide a good starting point for any international acute medicine doctors preparing to sit the SCE:
Curriculum - Applicants are tested on a range of common and important disorders in Acute Medicine as set out in the Joint Royal Colleges’ Curriculum for Acute Medicine Specialist Training. We recommend getting to know the curriculum as early as possible and using it as a blueprint for your study.
Guidelines - These tools are helpful for supplementing your knowledge:
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)
The Society for Acute Medicine (SAM)
Textbooks
Oxford Textbook of Medicine (Eds David A. Warrell, Timothy M. Cox, John D. Firth. Published by Oxford University Press)
Oxford Handbook of Acute Medicine (Eds Punit Ramrakha, Kevin Moore, Amir Sam. Published by Oxford University Press)
Journals
Acute Medicine (Published by Rila)
Clinical Medicine (Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London)
Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Sample questions: It is a good idea to regularly assess your knowledge and progress using example questions from the current exam syllabus. You can find these here.
For an overview of how to prepare for exams, including advice on study groups, online community support, best use of online resources & Royal College materials and courses, check out our blog: IMG Connects Top Tips for exam preparation.
I’ve passed! What’s next?
First of all, congratulations - this is a massive achievement! With your MRCP(UK) and acute medicine SCE in hand, you can apply for a full GMC registration with a license to practice. Once the GMC has approved your application, you can work as a doctor in the UK. Great stuff!
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG medicine recruitment specialist to discuss GMC registration, acute medicine positions in the NHS, including typical NHS salaries, the most suitable UK locations and hospitals for you, and relocation.
To receive the latest news and updates, including the Royal Colleges, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.
As an NHS employee, you will pay Income Tax and National Insurance on your wages through the PAYE system.
Overseas doctors will have tax and national insurance automatically deducted from their monthly salary. How much deducted depends on how much you earn.
PAYE stands for Pay As You Earn.
Some income is tax-free. You can earn a certain amount of income each year, called your Personal Allowance, before you need to pay any Income Tax.
The personal allowance is a fixed amount set against your gross income.
In all four UK countries, the Personal Allowance is set at £12,500 (tax-free income). It is worth noting that if you earn more than £125,000 you will not receive a personal allowance.
The Personal Allowance will also be set at £12,500 for 2020/21.
Any pay above the personal allowance is then taxed according to your salary and pension.
Tax bands in England, Wales & Northern Ireland
Band
Taxable income
Tax rate
Personal Allowance
Up to £12,500
0%
Basic rate
£12,501 to £50,000
20%
Higher rate
£50,001 to £150,000
40%
Additional rate
over £150,000
45%
How much you pay is fixed as a percentage according to a band system. In Scotland the tax bands vary from those set in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, see below:
Tax bands in Scotland
Band
Taxable income
Scottish tax rate
Personal Allowance
Up to £12,500
0%
Starter rate
£12,501 to £14,549
19%
Basic rate
£14,550 to £24,944
20%
Intermediate rate
£24,945 to £43,430
21%
Higher rate
£43,431 to £150,000
41%
Top rate
over £150,000
46%
You can check that you are paying the right amounts using this online government tool. This will allow you to check the following your Personal Allowance and tax code are accurate. As well as helping you to understand how much tax you’ve paid in the current tax year and how much you’re likely to pay for the rest of the year. Your NHS employer will set your salary, and you will be automatically set up to pay your pension, tax and national insurance. However, at IMG Connect we think that it’s important to check you have the right tax code and are paying the right amount.
Can I make any more savings?
You will get tax relief on your pension payments. The NHS pension scheme is an attractive one, with very few schemes in the UK even coming close to this benefit. Find out more about your NHS benefits here.
Getting started
For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.
In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the specific guidance on NHS applications for entry onto the Specialist Register through the Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) for psychiatrists.
We’ll cover the eligibility criteria, application process, and most importantly the required evidence, along with some other topics, summarised in the headings below:
What is CESR and who is it for?
Do overseas psychiatrists need MRCPsych for CESR?
What is the CESR equivalence process?
What evidence is required for a CESR in psychiatry?
Where will I find this evidence?
Submitting a CESR Application
How much does CESR cost?
How long does it take to receive a decision?
How long does it take to complete?
Do I have to complete CESR before I can work in the UK?
#IMG Tips
How do I get started?
Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.
An Introduction to CESR
The CESR, or Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration, is the route to specialist registration for psychiatrists who have not completed a GMC-approved training programme but who are able to demonstrate that their specialist training, qualifications and experience are equivalent to the requirements for the award of CCT in the UK.
CESR holders can be appointed to substantive (or permanent) consultant positions in the NHS. As a psychiatrist, attaining specialist registration will mean you are qualified to practice independently as a psychiatry consultant in the NHS.
Psychiatrists must satisfy the GMC that their specialist training or specialist qualifications, when considered together, are equivalent to a CCT in the specialty in question. Doctors who have undertaken a minimum of 6 months training or obtained a specialist qualification and acquired specialist medical experience or knowledge as a psychiatrist within a non-training post, and are currently practicing, may apply to the GMC for assessment of their competencies.
Overseas doctors do not require CESR before moving to the UK to work in the NHS. Often, experienced psychiatrists will secure a post in the UK, and work towards CESR whilst in post. Typically, CESR is a preferred route towards specialist registration for overseas trained psychiatrists.
An overseas psychiatrists training may not have covered all the ground of the CCT curriculum, but they may be able to show competence in the missing area through experience in a fixed term Specialty Doctor, Specialty Grade, Associate Specialist, or Acting Consultant post in the NHS. In this case, overseas psychiatrists will likely complete the MRCPsych exams to gain GMC registration and start working in the NHS, before completing CESR.
MRCPsych for Specialist Registration
Overseas doctors looking to join the Specialist Register are not required to have completed the Royal College postgraduate exams. In this case, MRCPsych is only a requirement for doctors looking to attain Specialist Registration via the CCT route.
The standard test of knowledge in the CCT curriculum is the MRCPsych exam, so passing these exams confirms the attainment of the competencies of the core Curriculum.
However, if CESR applicants have not successfully completed MRCPsych, they must provide alternative evidence that demonstrates equivalent knowledge to psychiatrists who have passed the exams.
Even if the competencies covered by the exam require something that someone in your position would not routinely undertake (in your sub-specialty for example), you must still provide evidence of it – as the evaluators will not make assumptions outside of the evidence presented.
This is not to be confused with the requirements for registering for a full licence to practice with the GMC – many overseas applicants choose to complete MRCPsych.
Specialist Registration is additional to full registration with the GMC and is therefore not required to practice as a psychiatrist in the UK.
You can read more about the full MRCPsych examination suite in our IMG Resources library.
The CESR Equivalence Process
Equivalence refers to the process of assessing an overseas applicant’s training and experience against the current psychiatry training programme requirements, in order to be awarded CESR.
The equivalence process involves submitting a written body of evidence to the GMC, consisting of:
training and/or competence; AND
skills and knowledge
The Royal College of Psychiatrists will assess each application against the relevant Curriculum before providing a recommendation to the GMC, who will then make a decision.
Please note that Equivalence procedures are the responsibility of the GMC. Applications are made through their Certification Department and initial enquiries should be directed there.
Evidence Requirements for CESR in Psychiatry
Skills & Experience: The evidence provided for a CESR application in psychiatry must cover the knowledge, skills and qualifications to demonstrate the required competencies in all areas of the General Psychiatry Curriculum, and the Advanced Module in the sub-specialty you are applying in. If evidence is missing from any area of the curriculum, the application will fail.
Primary Evidence: To demonstrate that you can do what is required by the curriculum, you need to submit primary evidence of your clinical practice which shows how you work on a day-to-day basis: letters, reports, assessments etc. References, retrospective case summaries, and reflective notes can all be used in a CESR application, but by themselves they are not sufficient.
Audit & Governance: You are required to submit evidence of your active leadership in audit, including evidence that you have completed at least one audit cycle
Currency of evidence: Your evaluators will be looking for evidence of current competency, generally defined as within the last five years. If you have completed training before this point, it is crucial that you provide evidence of maintaining competency across the whole area of the curriculum.
The GMC asks that only evidence that is strictly relevant is sent as it will help them to process the application quicker. The guidance on compiling your evidence will help you to decide what is relevant and what is not – you can find this on the GMC website here.
As a general guide, the GMC usually expects to see about 800 - 1200 pages of evidence, divided into four different domains, reflecting those of Good Medical Practice. The GMC recommends that you apportion the evidence provided as shown below:
Domain 1 – Knowledge, skills and performance
Domain 2 – Safety and quality
Domain 3 – Communication, partnership and teamwork
Domain 4 – Maintaining trust
Please note, you cannot compensate for evidence lacking in one area by providing more evidence in another area.
The full list of evidence required for each domain can be found on the GMC website here.
Gathering Evidence for a CESR Application
Domain 1 – Knowledge, skills and performance
Qualifications
Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ)
Specialist medical qualification(s)
Curriculum or syllabus (if undertaken outside the UK)
Specialist registration outside the UK
Honours and prizes
Other relevant qualifications
Assessments and appraisals
Appraisals and assessments
RITAs, ARCPs and training assessments
360˚ and multi-source feedback
Awards and discretionary points letters
Personal development plans (PDP)
Logbooks, records of daily clinical practice and portfolios
Logbooks
Consolidation, cumulative data sheets, summary lists and annual caseload statistics
Medical reports
Case histories
Referral letters discussing patient handling
Patient lists
Departmental (or trust) workload statistics and annual caseload statistics
Rotas, timetables and job plans
Portfolios (electronic or revalidation)
Details of posts and duties (including both training and experience posts)
Employment letters and contracts of employment
Job descriptions
Job plans
Research, publications and presentations
Research papers, grants, patent designs
Publications within specialty field
Presentations, poster presentations
CPD and CME
CPD record certificates, certificates of attendance, workshops and at local, national and international meetings or conferences
CPD registration points from UK Medical Royal College (or equivalent body overseas)
Membership of professional bodies and organisations
Teaching timetables
Lectures
Feedback or evaluation forms from those taught
Letters from colleagues
Attendance at teaching or appraisal courses
Participation in assessment or appraisal and appointments processes
Domain 2 – Safety and quality
Participation in audit, service improvement
Audits undertaken by applicant
Reflective diaries
Service Improvement and clinical governance meetings
Safety
Health and safety
Domain 3 - Communication, partnership and teamwork
Communication
Colleagues
Patients
Partnership and teamwork
Working in multidisciplinary teams
Management and leadership experience
Chairing meetings and leading projects
Domain 4 – Maintaining trust
Acting with honesty and integrity
Honest and integrity
Equality and human rights (including disability, human rights, race, religion and ethnicity awareness and equal opportunities)
Data protection
Relationships with patients
Testimonials and letters from colleagues
Thank you letters, cards from colleagues and patients
Complaints and responses to complaints
Additional areas of evidence
Topics Covered in the MRCPsych Exams
Paper A:
Behavioural science and sociocultural psychiatry
Basic psychology
Social psychology
Social science and sociocultural psychiatry
Human development
Basic neurosciences
Neuroanatomy
Neurophysiology
Neurochemistry
Molecular genetics
Neuropathology
Clinical psychopharmacology
General principles
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacodynamics
Adverse drug reactions
Classification and assessment in psychiatry
Paper B:
Organisation and delivery of psychiatric services
General adult psychiatry
Prevalence/incidence, aetiology, presentation, treatment and outcome of psychiatric disorder in adulthood
Disorders related to pregnancy and childbirth
General hospital psychiatry
Emergency psychiatry
Eating disorders
Psychosexual disorders
Old age psychiatry
Psychotherapy
Dynamic psychotherapy
Family therapy
Cognitive-behavioural therapies
Other therapeutic models
Effectiveness of psychotherapy
Group therapy
Child and adolescent psychiatry
Substance misuse/addictions
Forensic psychiatry
Relationship between crime and mental disorder
Psychiatry and the criminal justice system
Practicing psychiatry in a secure setting
Human rights legislation as it affects patients and psychiatric practice
Learning disability
Services
Epidemiology/Aetiology
Clinical
Research methods, statistics, critical review and evidence-based practice
Translation of clinical uncertainty into an answerable question
Systematic retrieval of the best available evidence
Critical appraisal of the evidence
Application of the results in practice
Evaluation of performance
All these topics covered in the MRCPsych exams can be found in the Core Training in Psychiatry curriculum.
For more guidance on the different types of evidence, see the specialty specific guidance from the GMC for psychiatry.
Validating the evidence
Original documents which are on headed paper with a hospital stamp and original signatures do not need additional validation.
All photocopied evidence should contain a hospital stamp on every page of each document, the validator’s name (printed and in full), job title (printed and in full) and original signature.
Submitting a CESR Application
All CESR applications are submitted online via GMC Online and if you have not already created an account, you can find a guide on how to do so here.
Electronic evidence is required for each of the different evidence sections of the CESR application. Once started, the online application remains open for 12 months, meaning that it can be used as a portfolio to gather evidence against each of the different sections.
Your electronic evidence can be in any of the following formats:
.doc
.pdf
.ppt
.xls
Formats outside of these are unlikely to be accepted.
The Online Application
You will be required to complete the following sections once you begin your application:
Specialty details
Qualification details and professional experience
Details of your referees
Registration and licensing history
Evidence summary
Details of your verifiers
Final declaration and payment
Additional Evidence
Once an Adviser on the Specialist Applications Team has reviewed your initial evidence, they will provide you with information on:
What evidence they’ve accepted
What evidence they’re unable to accept (including the reasons for this)
Advice and guidance on how your application could be strengthened
You’ll have up to 60 days to provide additional documentary evidence in support of your application (30 days if you’ve submitted a Review application).
For further information about the online application process, see the GMC’s User Guide.
The Cost of CESR Applications
All psychiatrists applying for Specialist Registration must pay a fee. For CESR, this fee is £1,676. For CESR-CP and CCT, the cost is £439.
How long does it take to receive a decision?
The GMC estimate that it can take between six and eight months to receive a decision, from the date you submit your CESR application.
How long does it take to complete?
As there is a substantial amount of evidence to gather for a CESR application, the process of preparing all the necessary documentation and applying for CESR can take even longer than this, and a typical candidate will usually set out to complete this within 1 – 3 years.
It is worth noting that more senior psychiatrists, such as consultants, are more likely to have achieved all the competences outlined in the curriculum.
The indicative period of training for a CCT in psychiatry is six years, so it is highly unlikely that you would achieve the competencies required for a CCT in a shorter period of time. Therefore, CESR is not suitable for more junior psychiatrists.
NHS Positions in the NHS without CESR
It is important to note that you can apply for more senior psychiatry roles such as a specialty doctor (SAS), specialist grade or acting consultant without being on the Specialist Register.
Similarly, overseas doctors do not require CESR before moving to the UK to work in the NHS.
When compared to a trainee post, you will likely receive better pay and responsibilities that are more appropriate to your level of experience. While working in these positions, you can collect evidence of your competences, particularly those specific to the UK psychiatry curriculum.
Across the UK there are several NHS Trusts with well-established CESR programmes of support for psychiatrists who have taken up a fixed term post with the view to completing CESR.
These positions also facilitate a faster route to working in UK and attaining Specialist Registration when compared to making an application for CESR from overseas, which can take an additional amount of time.
#IMG Tips
Research/think about the types of evidence you will need and begin to gather your evidence well in advance of making your application.
Gather evidence prospectively – this is much easier than retrospectively trying to pull together the evidence under additional pressures.
Make sure that your evidence is of the highest possible quality and is current – you will be assessed against the most recent curriculum.
Ensure that the evidence you collect demonstrates your competence across the whole of the psychiatry curriculum, not just your sub-specialty.
Remember to refer to the most up-to-date Psychiatry CCT Curriculum and Specialty Specific Guidance for the evidence requirements in your specialty.
Create a CESR ‘to-do list’ with sections under the GMC’s 4 domain headings – organise your evidence directly into these sections to manage your progress.
Do not submit original documents – all your copies, other than qualifications you’re getting authenticated must be accompanied by a proformas signed by the person who is attesting to the validity and accuracy of your evidence (your verifier).
Choose your referees carefully - they will need to be able to comment on direct observation of your clinical competences. At least six (from the last 5 years) are required but it would be preferable to give provide eight to ten (based on previous experience).
Reconstruct your CV from scratch so that it matches the application form - if you submit a CV that doesn’t contain the required information or you have not submitted all evidence as mentioned on the CV, this will delay your application.
Request a CV consultation with one of our experts
Ask an IMG Connect recruitment specialist about NHS psychiatry posts with CESR support. These are not always advertised by a Trust, but we can help you find a role which aligns well with your career goals in the NHS.
Join the IMG Psychiatrists community – as well as support on Royal College exams, our online community of international psychiatrists and dedicated psychiatry recruiters offers guidance on other aspects of working in the UK, including finding NHS posts and CESR.
Getting started
Attaining Specialist Registration through the CESR pathway can be a long but very rewarding process. Look at our introduction to CESR for psychiatrists for a full overview.
If you have any further questions about Specialist Registration, your route to the UK, or would like guidance in finding NHS posts which offer CESR support, please get in touch with us here.
To receive the latest news and updates on all things psychiatry, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.
Training in the NHS offers an extensive training scheme and career development for psychiatrists, with the quality and depth of this programme being recognised as a gold standard throughout the international medical community.
In line with developments and progression in psychiatry across the field and around the world, training provided to UK psychiatry trainees is regularly reviewed and updated. This should make the training programme attractive to UK graduates, as well as IMG psychiatrists seeking the best training programmes for their field and career development.
In this article, we will explore the training pathway for psychiatrists in the UK, with a broad look at the following topics:
What is the NHS Training Pathway?
How do you enter the training pathway?
What does the specialty training programme look like for psychiatry?
What happens after completing the psychiatry training programme?
Can I enter specialty training in the UK as an IMG?
The NHS Training Pathway
The NHS training pathway refers to the complete programme for UK trainees, from foundation training to the completion of specialist or higher training, where candidates may be eligible for a CCT within their chosen specialism, such as General psychiatry or any of its sub-specialties.
It is important for IMGs to understand this process, as it clarifies what stage they can most likely enter the system if they are interested in training in the UK.
Entering the NHS Training Pathway
After graduating from medical school, doctors will receive provisional registration from the GMC which allows them to enter the Foundation programme (a two-year work-based training programme).
Upon completion of the first year (FY1), doctors will gain full registration with the GMC and will be able to apply for further study and training in a specialised area, such as psychiatry – for psychiatry, this first stage is known as Core Psychiatry Training (CT).
Specialty Training in Psychiatry
The UK Specialty Training programme in Psychiatry is 6 years long, and whilst doctors may pass through training quicker depending on how quickly they achieve their competencies, this is rarely the case and psychiatrists will usually take the indicated time, or slightly longer to complete the Specialty Training programme.
Successful applicants entering year one of core psychiatry training (CT1), will follow the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ 2017 Specialist Training in Psychiatry Curriculum.
The Psychiatry training programme
The psychiatry specialty training scheme operates both as a run-through and uncoupled programme, though it is more often un-coupled.
Depending on where your application is successful, you may complete your period of core training, as well as the Royal College exams before making a further application for the next stage of training (requiring two applications). Alternatively, you may be able to apply for run-through training, which guarantees you complete both Core and Higher training in one region, as you are recruited for the full duration of Specialty Training.
Foundation Training (FY1 – FY2)
The foundation programme usually involves six different rotations or placements in medical or surgical specialties. These rotations enable trainees to practise and gain competence in basic clinical skills.
Selection
Here, trainees will either choose whether to enter GP (General Practitioner) training, internal medicine training (IMT) or core training in psychiatry (CT).
Core Psychiatry Training (CT1 – CT3)
This part of training takes place from year 1 to 3, where trainees will work and train in several different sub-specialties within psychiatry. They will gain a broad understanding of psychiatry by rotating between 6-month posts in the following sub-specialties:
General and Community Psychiatry - including Assertive Outreach, Crisis Home Treatment, Outreach for Homeless People, Early Intervention for Psychosis, Rehabilitation and Liaison Psychiatry.
Old Age Psychiatry - including Memory Clinics, Community Teams, Domiciliary Clinics, Young Onset Dementia, Day Hospital and Liaison Psychiatry.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - including Specialist Adolescent and Academic Psychiatry.
Substance Misuse
Learning Disability Psychiatry - including Specialist Asperger Services.
Forensic Psychiatry - including all levels of security.
By the end of CT3, trainees will need to have completed the MRCPsych exams.
Please note, trainees must pass the MRCPsych Paper A, Paper B and CASC exams in order to progress to higher psychiatry training.
For more information of the Royal College of Psychiatrists examination suite, take a look at our IMG Resources library here.
There are two opportunities per year to apply to core psychiatry training. Information about how to apply, including the person specifications, is available via the North West Deanery, who manage the recruitment process.
Selection
Here, trainees who are not currently training in a run-through programme will make applications to a deanery for higher psychiatry training in their chosen specialty. Selection is open by national competition.
Higher Psychiatry Training (ST4 – ST6)
This training takes place from years 4 – 6, where trainees will complete 3 years of yearly rotations in their chosen speciality, building on their core training and develop increasing levels of competence in clinical psychiatry.
There will also be opportunities to work in other sub-specialties including: addictions, eating disorders, neuro-psychiatry, perinatal and social & rehabilitation psychiatry.
Trainees will usually be allocated a certain number of PAs (programmed activities) weekly for special interest or research purposes. As well as sub-specialty opportunities, these can also be used towards educational opportunities such as local training days/conferences in relevant domains, from clinical leadership to humanities.
Completion of the Psychiatry Specialty Training Programme
Upon completion of the training programme, the choice is made as to whether the trainee will be awarded a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in General Adult Psychiatry of one of its sub-specialisms. This will be based on criteria set out in the curriculum by the Royal College. You can find the 2021 curriculum here.
At this point, the psychiatrists are entered onto the specialist register and can now take permanent consultant posts in the NHS.
Specialist Registration for overseas doctors
Doctors who completed part or all of their psychiatry training outside of the UK are eligible for specialist registration through the CESR or CESR-CP pathways. To learn more about specialist registration for overseas doctors, read our blog here.
Joining the Psychiatry Specialty Training Programme as an IMG
It is possible for overseas doctors to join the Specialty Training programme in Psychiatry in the UK, however it is very competitive.
IMGs interested in UK specialty training must have:
Full GMC registration
Completion of a minimum 12-month (FY1 equivalent) internship
English language test
PLAB
AND
12 months post-internship experience by the time you start begin ST1
Although UK trainees are not given priority for specialty training places, it can be very difficult to join the Psychiatry Specialty Training programme without NHS experience.
So here you have it, a broad overview of the NHS Psychiatry Specialty Training pathway for UK trainees. This training scheme is the core of psychiatry training in the UK, and for IMGs looking to join the training programme, understanding of the pathway allows you to better align your overseas training with the relevant stage you wound enter into Specialty Training in the UK.
Getting started
If you have any further questions about the UK training pathway or your route to the UK as an overseas psychiatrist, or would like guidance in finding NHS posts which offer CESR support, please get in touch with us here.
For access to a community of like-minded MRCPsych aspirants and dedicated psychiatry recruiters, join the IMG Psychiatrists Facebook group.
To receive the latest news and updates on all things psychiatry, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.
There are several routes a haematologist can take to register with the GMC and practice in the NHS.
Haematologists looking to secure a job in the NHS must satisfy certain criteria before fully registering with the GMC (General Medical Council) to receive a license to practice. For haematology, these criteria depend on where you received your training, and the qualifications you hold. In this blog, we’ll be giving you a snapshot of the steps you need to take to begin your journey to the UK as an overseas haematologist.
We’ll be covering the following:
Will my training be recognised in the UK?
How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as an EEA haematologist?
How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as a non-EEA haematologist?
How can I demonstrate my English language skills?
What is a certificate of good standing and how do I get one?
What do I need to register with the GMC?
Will I need a visa to work in the UK?
Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.
Recognition of training
For haematologists who trained in an EEA country (all countries inside the EU, also Lichtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland & Norway), there are several options potentially available to you.
Depending on the country and year you completed your residency or basic medical training, the GMC may automatically recognise your qualifications and grant you either General Registration, or Specialist Registration in the UK. To find out if your country’s qualifications will allow you to register for either GMC registration; check the relevant GMC page here.
Knowledge and Skills for EEA Haematologists
Basic Medical Training: If you meet the requirements for basic medical training, you will not need to demonstrate your medical knowledge and skills to work as a doctor in the UK, and would therefore not need to complete a Royal College postgraduate qualification or PLAB to register with a license to practice. You would be granted full registration in this case, without Specialist Registration.
Specialist Training / Residency: If you meet the criteria for entry onto the Specialist Register, then once you have completed the GMC application process, you would be granted Specialist Registration in haematology and can be appointed as a substantive or permanent consultant in the NHS. So as a haematologist, if you hold a Relevant European Specialist qualification, you would be put on the specialist register for haematology and can be appointed as a substantive haematologist in the NHS.
As an EEA haematologist, the main hurdle you will face will be demonstrating that your English skills are of a high enough standard to practice safely as a doctor in the NHS.
Therefore, for European haematologists, this is most likely the easiest route to becoming GMC-registered and being able to practice haematology in the UK.
If you do not meet the GMC requirements for your training to be approved for general or specialist registration, other routes you may consider to GMC registration include PLAB, or (via the postgraduate route) the Royal College exams for haematology (FRCPath). You can find out more about these alternative routes here.
Knowledge and Skills for non-EEA Haematologists
If you qualified as a haematologist outside the EEA, then you will have to demonstrate that both your medical knowledge and skills AND English Language capabilities meet the level required to practice safely in the UK.
Haematologists who have trained from outside the UK and EEA must demonstrate to the GMC they have sufficient knowledge & skills to practice safely in the UK. This can be done through three main routes:
Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB): The PLAB exam is a two-part exam that assesses a doctor’s ability to work safely as an SHO in the NHS, as such it does not demonstrate ability in haematology specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine. That said, for some senior doctors PLAB can be an attractive option, offering a quicker route to the UK, whilst still securing competitive salaries. If taking this option, haematologists can then take up training or a more senior post once they have established themselves in the NHS. Take a look through our comprehensive guides on PLAB.
Royal College of Pathologists: The Royal College of Pathologists is the professional body that regulates the specialism of haematologists in the UK, and Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) is the full qualification attainable by examination. For overseas doctors, attaining FRCPath will satisfy the knowledge & skill criteria for GMC registration and facilitate application for more senior roles in UK pathology. Take a look at IMG Resources library for a complete guide to FRCPath to learn more.
Please note that only UK trainee haematologists are required to also complete the MRCP (UK) examinations. You can read more about this here.
GMC-recognised or equivalent qualifications: Some overseas qualifications and licensing exams are recognised by the GMC and accepted for registration purposes. This is to say these qualifications or licensing exams are considered as meeting the same standards as the Royal College qualifications.
To find out if your qualification is accepted by the GMC, take a look at our blog: Overseas accepted postgraduate qualifications
English Language Testing
Both EEA and non-EEA haematologists, regardless of experience and country of origin, must demonstrate that they have a sufficient grasp and competence of the English language. This can be done by passing either the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or the OET (OET – Occupational English Test). Detailed guides to these tests can be found below:
IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors
OET – a guide for overseas doctors
Experience in English-speaking countries
For doctors who have at least two years of their most recent experience in an English-speaking country, you can use a reference from your current employer or employers over these two or more years to demonstrate competence of the English language. This would exempt you from sitting an English language exam.
Certificate of Good Standing
All doctors registering with the GMC must provide a certificate of good standing from each medical regulatory authority they’ve been registered or licensed with in the last five years.
The medical regulatory authority may send you a certificate of past good standing if you're not currently registered or licensed with them. You can find out which medical regulatory authority to contact via the GMC website here.
If there's no medical regulatory authority in the country to issue a certificate, the GMC will give you further advice once your application has been assessed.
Please note that each certificate is only valid for three months from the date it's signed and must be valid when we approve your application.
GMC Registration
Once you’ve completed your English language exam, you can now apply for full GMC registration with a license to practice. For registration, you must provide evidence of:
English language capabilities - either your IELTS, OET or an approved reference from your current employer (if you have been working in an English-speaking country for the last two years).
AND
Certificate of good standing – the certificate from your medical regulatory authority which demonstrates good standing.
AND
(EEA haematologists) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as an EEA haematologist, this would either be your recognised EEA qualification.
(Non-EEA haematologist) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as a non-EEA haematologist, this would either be PLAB, MRCP or a GMC-approved qualification.
To understand the registration process more fully, read our article on GMC registration for overseas doctors here.
Visas
If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a visa from the Home Office.
A Tier 2 visa is the document given to a skilled worker by the UK Home Office following a job offer from a UK employer with a valid Tier 2 Sponsorship License. The list of valid Tier 2 Sponsors can be found here.
Understand Tier 2 visas and Certificates of Sponsorship in depth by taking a look at our article: Tier 2 Visa application process & documents needed.
Wondering whether you can relocate with your family? Take a look at our blog on the Tier 2 dependent visa below: Tier 2 Dependent visa - Can I bring my family with me to the UK?
So there you have it! Hopefully this clarifies any questions or doubts you may have on your route to the UK as a haematologist planning a career in the NHS. If you have any questions, or wish to know more about the haematology job market then get in touch with our team.
For regular news and updates on all things pathology, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.
The NHS specialty training programme for clinical oncologists is recognised around the world. The quality and depth of oncology training and career development in the UK is recognised as a gold standard across the globe, making it a major attraction for many IMGs when considering a career in the UK.
The NHS training programme for oncology trainees is regularly reviewed and updated, in keeping with advances and progression in the landscape of oncology around the world and throughout the profession.
In this article, we will explore the training pathway for clinical oncologists in the UK, covering the following topics:
What is the NHS Training Pathway?
How do you enter the training pathway?
What does the specialty training programme look like for clinical oncology?
What happens after completing the clinical oncology training programme?
Can I enter specialty training in the UK as an IMG?
Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.
The NHS Training Pathway for Clinical Oncologists
The NHS training pathway refers to the complete programme undertaken by UK trainees, from medical school to the completion of specialist training and being awarded a CCT.
It is a good idea for overseas trainees to familiarise themselves with this as it helps to provide an understanding of at what stage they can most likely enter the system, either in a training or non-training post.
Entering the NHS Training Pathway
After graduating from medical school, doctors receive provisional GMC registration, allowing them to enter the Foundation programme (a two-year work-based training programme).
Upon completion of the first year of this programme (FY1), doctors will gain full GMC registration with license to practice and will be able to apply for further study and training in a specialised area i.e. medicine. This is known as Internal Medicine Training (IMT), formerly known as Core Training (CT).
Specialty Training in Clinical Oncology
The Specialty Training programme in Clinical Oncology runs over a 6-year period, and doctors will usually take the indicated time, or slightly longer to complete the Specialty Training programme.
Successful applicants entering into year one of specialty training (ST1), will follow the Royal College of Radiologists’ 2021 Clinical Oncology Specialty Training Curriculum, which sets the expected syllabus as well as required assessments and workload case numbers.
Clinical oncology training as an uncoupled programme
Clinical oncology specialty training begins at ST3, so after foundation training, there are two options open to trainees before they can start specialist clinical oncology training:
Internal Medical Training (IMT)
Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS)
For IMT, this is a two-year training period and the ACCS training programme lasts 3 years.
Both pathways are followed by an open competition to enter a higher specialty training post. It is important to note that the application following core training is competitive and does not guarantee a specialty training post.
Clinical oncology higher specialty training is indicatively a five-year clinical training programme (including Oncology Common Stem), leading to single accreditation in clinical oncology.
There are a few critical progression points during higher specialty training in clinical oncology, and trainees will also be subject to an annual review of progress via the ARCP process. They will have to complete all the curriculum requirements including passing the MRCP and FRCR (Oncology) exams prior to obtaining CCT.
Foundation Training (FY1 – FY2)
The foundation programme usually involves six different rotations or placements in medical or surgical specialties. These rotations enable trainees to practise and gain competence in basic clinical skills and forms the bridge between medical school and speciality training.
This first year of Foundation Training (or FY1) is referred to as an internship. For IMGs applying for GMC registration, it is essential you can meet the requirements for an internship.
Selection
Here, trainees will either choose to either Internal Medicine Training (IMT), Acute Care Common Stem training (ACCS), or training to become a general practitioner (GP Training).
Specialty Training (ST1 – ST7)
Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training (ST1 – ST2)
Year one trainees begin at ST1 of the Internal Medicine Training Programme. In this first stage, trainees develop a solid foundation of professional and generic clinical capabilities, preparing them for participation in acute medicine at a senior level and to manage patients with acute and chronic medical problems in outpatient and inpatient settings. The curriculum for IMT Stage 1 Training can be found here.
The two-year training period culminates in trainees sitting the MRCP (UK) exams. For more information on the Royal College of Physicians examination suite, take a look at our IMG Resources library here.
Please note, trainees must have gained full MRCP prior to beginning Specialty Training in Oncology.
Selection
Here, trainees will either choose to continue with Internal Medicine Training for a further year, to continue with training in a specialty that supports acute hospital care, or to provide primarily out-patient based services in e.g. oncology.
Clinical oncology recruitment into ST3 posts usually occurs after 2 years of Internal Medicine Stage 1 training. However, trainees who complete the full three-year IMT programme are also eligible and there is no preferential selection for trainees who have completed either two or three years of training.
Oncology Common Stem (ST3)
The Oncology Common Stem (OCS) has a duration of one year and usually takes place in year 3 of specialty training (ST3). Here, the focus is on a trainee’s development of generic capabilities-in-practice (CiPs) expected of all doctors, as well as the common CiPs relating to the key areas of overlap between medical and clinical oncology.
Clinical Oncology and Medical Oncology are the two main medical specialities that manage patients with non-haematological malignancy. They often work in partnership with each other, and both offer systemic therapy to patients, but only clinical oncologists administer radiotherapy and there are other differences in work-pattern, approach and focus.
During OCS training, trainees will gain knowledge of radiotherapy planning and delivery. This will enable them to coordinate the care of cancer patients with the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT), managing patients throughout a treatment pathway.
The new curricular structure of the OCS means that trainees who successfully complete the training year will have gained the necessary competencies to progress to ST4 in either clinical or medical oncology.
For oncologists wishing to pursue clinical oncology, the first exam in the Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists assessment series, First FRCR (Oncology) (Part 1/ CO1), must be passed by the end of ST4.
Candidates do not need to have held a clinical oncology training post to attempt the exam however, so candidates are eligible to sit the exam during ST3.
Click here to learn more about the full FRCR (Oncology) examination suite.
Clinical Oncology Specialty Training & Maintenance of Common Capabilities (ST4 – ST7)
Once trainees have completed the OCS, they will then move onto a subsequent higher specialty-specific programme of their choice I.e. clinical oncology. This programme lasts for four years and takes place from ST4 to ST7, the focus here being to acquire clinical oncology specific CiPs, culminating in trainees’ achievement of Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR Oncology).
The higher specialty-specific programme for clinical oncologists is administered by the Royal College of Radiologists, so the Medical Oncology SCE is not a requirement for clinical oncologists.
Trainees will then sit the Final FRCR (Oncology) Part 2A and 2B exams (CO2A and CO2B), usually from ST6 to ST7. This is to assess their knowledge and skills related to the investigation of malignant disease and the care and management of patients with cancer.
Completion of the Clinical Oncology Specialty Training Programme
Upon completion of the clinical oncology training programme, the choice is made as to whether the trainee will be awarded a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Clinical Oncology. This will be based on high-level learning outcomes – capabilities in practice (CiPs) set out in the curriculum by the Royal College. You can find the 2021 curriculum here.
At this point, clinical oncologists are recommended to the GMC for the award of CCT and entry onto the specialist register for clinical oncology and can now take permanent consultant posts in the NHS.
Specialist Registration for overseas doctors
Doctors who completed part or all of their clinical or radiation oncology training outside of the UK are eligible for specialist registration through the CESR or CESR-CP pathways. To learn more about specialist registration for overseas doctors, read our blog here.
Joining the Clinical Oncology Specialty Training Programme as an IMG
It is possible for overseas doctors to join the Specialty Training programme in Clinical Oncology in the UK, however it is very competitive.
IMGs interested in UK specialty training must have:
Full GMC registration
Completion of a minimum 12-month (FY1 equivalent) internship
English language test
PLAB or a recognised European Medical Degree
AND
12 months post-internship experience by the time you start begin ST1
Please note, whilst UK trainees are not given priority for specialty training spaces, it can be extremely difficult to join the Specialty Training programme if you do not have previous NHS experience.
So there you have it, the NHS Specialty Training pathway for clinical oncology trainees. The training programme forms the basis of clinical oncology training in the UK, and for overseas clinical or radiation oncologists interested in joining the training programme, good knowledge of the pathway allows you to better understand the alignment of your overseas training with the relevant stage of Specialty Training for clinical oncology in the UK.
Join the IMG Oncologists Facebook group for access to a community of like-minded oncologists and dedicated oncology recruiters.
In this group you will find tailored resources for oncology IMGs, including access to our FRCR (Oncology) crash courses, completely free to all doctors.
You can access our IMG Oncologists community here.
For regular news and updates on the Royal College and all things oncology, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:
Geriatric medicine SCE is the higher postgraduate qualification delivered by the Royal College of Physicians as a specialist qualification for geriatric medicine doctors.
It is one of 11 SCEs offered by the Royal College and offers physicians a postgraduate qualification which demonstrates to prospective employers the achievement of a standard equivalent to UK specialist doctors.
Here we take a closer look at the MRCP (UK) Geriatric Medicine Specialty Certificate Examination for doctors who have chosen to specialise in geriatric medicine. We cover the content of the exam, as well as fees and the eligibility criteria, all summarised below along with a broad look at the following topics:
What is the geriatric medicine SCE?
Where does the SCE fit into my training?
What is the structure of the geriatric medicine SCE?
How do I apply for the exams and what do they cost?
Where can I sit the exams as an overseas geriatric medicine doctor?
How should I prepare for the exams as an IMG?
I’ve passed! What’s next?
Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for.
MRCP (UK) Geriatric Medicine SCE
The geriatric medicine specialty certificate exams are administered as a compulsory component of assessment for Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in geriatric medicine for all UK trainees.
The purpose of an SCE is to:
ensure that certified specialists have sufficient knowledge of their specialty to practice safely and competently as consultants
complement workplace-based assessments
provide a rigorous national assessment to establish public confidence
offer a challenge similar to sub-specialty certification examination in North America
For in-depth guide to the MRCP exams, see our IMG Resources library here.
Geriatric Medicine SCE as part of UK training
Since the MRCP(UK) exams are taken during the Internal Medicine Training years (ST1-ST3), the geriatric medicine SCE allows physicians to demonstrate that they are able to practice independently at a consultant level.
The SCE has no official entry requirements (both for UK and overseas candidates); however, UK trainees would normally take the SCE in their penultimate year of higher specialty training (ST6). UK trainees should have made at least one attempt by the time of their penultimate year assessment.
Exam Structure
The SCE assesses candidates on a wide range of common and important disorders, as set out in the syllabus of the curriculum. This should be taken as an indication of the likely number of questions – the actual number may vary:
Acute Illness (Diagnosis & Management)
Number of questions
Anaemia/ Haematology
1
Cardiovascular Medicine
4
Dermatology
1
Endrocrine medicine
2
Gastroenterology
3
Infection
4
Musculoskeletal medicine
2
Neurology
4
Renal medicine inc. fluid/ electric imbalance
2
Respiratory medicine
4
Sensory impairment
2
Chronic Disease & Disability(Diagnosis & Management)
Number of questions
Anaemia/ Haematology
1
Cardiovascular Medicine
4
Dermatology
1
Endrocrine medicine
3
Gastroenterology
3
Infection
4
Musculoskeletal medicine
4
Neurology
4
Renal medicine inc. Fluid/ electric imbalance
3
Respiratory medicine
4
Sensory impairment
2
Cognitive Impairment
Number of questions
Delirium
8
Dementia
12
Geriatric Assessment
Number of questions
Factors affecting health status
5
Measurement of health status
3
Subspecialty Topics
Number of questions
Palliative care
10
Old age psychiatry
7
Orthogeriatrics and osteoporosis
10
Stroke care
15
Tissue viability
6
Other
Number of questions
Basic science and gerontology
6
Continence
10
Falls and poor mobility
16
Surgical liaison
3
Intermediate care & long-term care
9
Nutrition
4
Rehabilitation, transfers of care
14
TOTAL
200
The questions in each category are distributed across both papers.
All SCEs are computer-based and are administered by Pearson VUE at a test centre in the UK or internationally.
Geriatric Medicine SCE Applications
SCEs are held once a year and applications are made online through My MRCP(UK) account, within the Upcoming Exams section of the Royal College website.
The application process is as follows:
Register online through My MRCP(UK) (candidates have the opportunity at this point to register any special arrangements)
Request a preferred test country and city
Pay applicable examination fee
Application is confirmed via an automatically generated email
Receive test centre confirmation email from Pearson VUE within four weeks of the examination date.
The Royal College of Physicians has created a helpful video guide on SCE applications which you can watch here.
Cost
The cost of the SCE exams are as follows:
UK centres: £665
International centres: £833
Exam Centres
UK Centres
Candidates who choose to sit the geriatric medicine SCE in the UK must contact Pearson VUE to book their test. There are up to 137 test centres throughout the UK for each SCE, and the Royal College of Physicians advise that candidates should book their exam as early as possible to secure their preferred test centre, as bookings operate on a first come, first served basis.
International Centres
Candidates are given a choice of regions and are then asked to nominate a particular city in that region as their desired test location. The Royal College of Physicians will pass this request to Pearson VUE once the application period has closed, and Pearson VUE will confirm final test centre details to candidates via email at least three weeks before the date of the examination. If the exam is not available in a requested location, candidates will be offered a choice of the nearest available test centres.
Please note, international candidates should not book their own test centre with Pearson VUE - attempting to do so may delay a candidate's application.
The full list of international SCE test centres can be found here.
Preparation and Resources for the Geriatric Medicine SCE
It can be difficult for IMGs to know where to start with their preparation and revision.
Preparation for the SCE requires a wide breadth of knowledge around the curriculum and should involve reading of textbooks, journals and guidelines. Experience of the MRCP (UK) examinations provides an excellent background to the format of the examination.
Curriculum: Applicants are tested on a range of common and important disorders in Geriatric Medicine as set out in the Joint Royal Colleges’ Curriculum for Geriatric Medicine Specialist Training. We recommend getting to know the curriculum as early as possible and using it as a blueprint for your study.
Sample questions: It is a good idea to regularly assess your knowledge and progress using example questions from the current exam syllabus. You can find these here.
For an overview of how to prepare for exams, including advice on study groups, online community support, the best use of online resources & Royal College materials and courses, check out at our blog here.
I’ve passed! What’s next?
First of all, congratulations - this is a massive achievement! With your MRCP (UK) and geriatric medicine SCE in hand, you can apply for a full GMC registration with a license to practice. Once the GMC has approved your application, you can work as a doctor in the UK. Great stuff!
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG medicine recruitment specialist to discuss GMC registration, geriatric medicine positions in the NHS, including typical NHS salaries, the most suitable UK locations and hospitals for you, and relocation.
To receive the latest news and updates, including the Royal Colleges, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.