In a landmark decision, the government agreed to an increase to the pay of NHS junior and senior doctors in England, based on the recommendation of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB). This pay rise will equate to an increase of 6% for senior doctors i.e., consultants and SAS doctors, and for junior doctors, an agreed average pay increase of 6% with a one-off uplift of £1,250.  This pay increase is not only a testament to the power of the industrial action by NHS doctors over the past several months. Whilst an acknowledgement of the efforts and hard work of NHS doctors, this pay increase fails to fully consider the rationale behind these strikes and the BMA’s calls for the UK government to fully restore pay to 2008-09 levels. In contrast, strike action was suspended in Scotland, following a 12.4% pay offer from the Scottish government. Whilst the Scottish pay offer is a move in the right direction, IMG Connect remains fully in support of doctors taking part in industrial action. The decision to go on strike is not taken lightly, but is a fundamental right of doctors who want to protect the NHS and its ability to provide quality care to patients and our communities, whilst also ensuring their work and wellbeing are properly valued and compensated. Sources https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-staff-receive-pay-rise https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1624 For more information on working in the NHS or how this pay increase will affect you as an NHS doctor or IMG, contact us at info@imgconnect.co.uk.                

Guest blog, written by Dr Jon Turvey, Core Psychiatry Trainee, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust  Dreams of providing quality psychiatric care within the dynamic medical landscape of a job in the NHS, often lead overseas psychiatrists from healthcare systems around the world to embark on the journey towards Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych).  As a crucial milestone on the path to a career in psychiatry within the UK, the MRCPsych examinations provide an internationally recognised credential that sets the bar for clinical excellence, comprehensive medical knowledge and training, and confident decision-making skills in the field.  In this blog, we’ll be covering some of the key aspects of the Paper A and B exams, as well as introducing you to PassMRCPsych, an online learning and resources platform for MRCPsych aspirants, summarised in the headings below:  Why does MRCPsych matter? An overview of MRCPsych Paper A Unpacking MRCPsych Paper B IMG Psychiatrists partners with PassMRCPsych Mapping your MRCPsych journey Using PassMRCPsych for exam success Why does MRCPsych Matter? The value of holding MRCPsych cannot be understated, serving as both a symbol of your medical competence as a psychiatrist and giving you a competitive edge in the NHS job market. Attaining full MRCPsych demonstrates to potential employers that you have the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to provide high-quality care to patients.  MRCPsych also provides a steppingstone for further specialist training and can significantly enhance career prospects for international psychiatrists, more easily facilitating entry into more senior positions in the NHS, such as specialty doctor, the new specialist grade and consultant roles.   An overview of MRCPsych Paper A Paper A is a written exam comprising 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and extended-matching questions (EMQs), sat over 3 hours and now held online, through test centres. Paper A forms the foundation of the MRCPsych and focuses on the basic sciences that underline psychiatric practice. It touches on areas such as neurosciences, psychology, and social sciences, which are the cornerstone of psychiatry and set the scene for more advanced topics.  The average pass mark is typically around 60-70%, although this varies slightly depending on the difficulty of the paper for each diet. As per the latest statistics from the Royal College website, approximately 65% of candidates pass Paper A each diet.   You can find a detailed breakdown of the Paper A exam here.  Unpacking MRCPsych Paper B Similarly to Paper A, Paper B comprises 150 MCQs and EMQs sat over 3 hours through a remote test centre. Paper B requires an understanding of more nuanced clinical topics like psychopathology, treatment protocols, and management strategies for psychiatric disorders. It's about applying your foundational knowledge to real-world scenarios and demonstrating effective clinical decision-making.  For Paper B, the average pass mark usually ranges around 65-70%, with a pass rate of approximately 60%.  See here for an in-depth overview of the Paper B exam.  Partnering with PassMRCPsych As an exciting development in our provision of medical education, IMG Connect and PassMRCPsych have forged a partnership to offer extensive support to overseas doctors preparing for the MRCPsych exams. This collaboration aims to ensure your exam success through a series of exam-focused webinars and a continuously evolving and up-to-date revision resource to keep pace with the demands of the MRCPsych exams, along with discounts on revision course subscriptions.  Mapping Your Journey: A 4-Month Study Plan Navigating the MRCPsych exams is no easy feat. It demands rigorous and methodical preparation for UK trainees and IMGs alike. Here's a 4-month study plan for each exam to keep your preparation on track:  Month 1: Get to Grips with the Syllabus - Familiarise yourself with the syllabus and identify key areas that you need to focus on (these may be areas you are less familiar with or those not covered by your current practice). Use this month to dive into the revision notes on PassMRCPsych. Join the IMG Psychiatrists Facebook group for access to Paper A and Paper B study courses to support your study alongside your PassMRCPsych resources.  Month 2: Deep Dive into Topics - In this month, start working on each topic systematically. Use the revision notes to ensure you cover every aspect and create your own short notes for quick revision closer to the exam date.  Month 3: Challenge Yourself - This is the month to test your knowledge. Attempt the MCQs in the question bank regularly. This will help you gauge your understanding and identify areas of weakness. Don’t forget to read the explanations when you get the answers wrong!  Month 4: Revise and Review - Revision is the key to retaining information. Revisit your short notes, attempt more MCQs, and make full use of the PassMRCPsych mock tests to familiarise yourself with the exam pattern. This final month should be dedicated to reinforcing your learning, particularly on topics which you need to keep in your short-term memory.  Remember, while this study plan serves as a roadmap, you should adapt it to suit your personal learning style and pace e.g., time available to prepare and external commitments. The aim is to ensure comprehensive understanding and effective retention of knowledge.  PassMRCPsych - Your Companion in Success The seemingly vast MRCPsych syllabus might appear intimidating, but with the right guidance and resources, passing Paper A and Paper B can transform from an uphill task into an achievable goal. Here's where PassMRCPsych comes into play.  The online platform is armed with resources tailored specifically to the MRCPsych syllabus, from comprehensive revision notes that decode every topic in the syllabus, to an MCQ question bank with over 5000 questions, and mock exams providing the perfect opportunity to test your knowledge under timed conditions.  Better still, PassMRCPsych can also be used through a mobile app (on both iOS and Android), ensuring that your study materials are just a tap away and facilitating the seamless switch from studying at your desk to revising on-the-go.   It’s important to acknowledge that the MRCPsych exams come with a not insignificant cost. Understanding the financial constraints that often accompany rigorous exam preparations, PassMRCPsych offers highly competitively priced subscriptions which ensure that every aspirant, regardless of their budget, has access to top-notch preparation resources.  Dr Aisha, a satisfied user, shared her experience:   "PassMRCPsych.com was instrumental in my MRCPsych journey. The meticulous revision notes, the challenging MCQs, and the realistic mock exams provided an unparalleled learning experience. The convenience of a mobile app made it possible for me to study anywhere, anytime. And the affordable subscription didn't put a dent in my pocket while offering unparalleled resources."  Your Future Awaits With your career goals within reach, embark on your journey towards conquering the MRCPsych exams by subscribing to PassMRCPsych for Paper A and Paper B. Utilise their exhaustive resources and mock exams, and watch your preparation transform into success!  For a walkthrough of the PassMRCPsych platform and resources, join the IMG Psychiatrists Facebook group.  To receive the latest news and updates on all things psychiatry, including the MRCPsych, 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.              

Are you a histopathologist from Hong Kong looking to live and work in the UK? Do you want to know how to find the best jobs for overseas pathologists in the NHS?   With recent experience of working with Hong Kong Pathologists on their journey to the UK, we thought that we’d share a few snippets of information to help get you started.   In this blog we will cover the following topics:  What do Hong Kong doctors need to work in the UK? As a Hong Kong pathologist, will I fit into the NHS? What kind of jobs can I find in the UK? Where can I find NHS jobs in histopathology? Can I get access to CESR? What if I don’t have FRCPath Histopathology? How do I register with the GMC? What visa will I need to work in the UK? BNO or Tier 2? Getting started Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.  Requirements to work in the UK To be eligible to work in the NHS, histopathologists from Hong Kong must have full GMC registration – this requires completion of the Royal College of Pathologists exams in the relevant specialty I.e. histopathology (FRCPath), as well as an English language exam and Certificate of Good Standing (CGS).  From our experience, the majority of Hong Kongers are either aware of the UK Royal College exams or have already completed these as part of their specialist pathology training, so great news - you are more than likely already halfway there!  If you are unsure about the requirements for FRCPath, you can find an overview of FRCPath Histopathology here.  How Hong Kong Pathologists fit into the NHS Pathologists from Hong Kong are a great fit for the NHS. And no matter your specialist training or sub-specialty interest in within histopathology, our NHS clients would consider you to be a high calibre candidate. Why? The training in Hong Kong is thorough and highly regarded here in the UK among NHS clients.   If you are not sure about how your experience will translate to working in the NHS, then we are here to help - IMG Connect are experienced working with all areas of sub-specialty within pathology, across all major organ sites.   Senior Histopathology Jobs in the NHS This all depends on the experience and qualifications you gained in Hong Kong. Whilst there are a lot of similarities between our two healthcare systems, there are also a lot of differences too.    Attaining full FRCPath demonstrates the ability to report on cases and as such typically qualifies candidates to work independently as consultants in the UK. Think of it as like the FHKCPath and the accompanying Fellowship of FHKAM (Pathology) examinations.     NHS clients will look out for your experience and training combined with this postgraduate qualification in order to work out what level you will start at.   For consultant histopathologists who have already completed their anatomical pathology specialist training in Hong Kong, you will most likely enter the NHS as a locum consultant or in other senior positions such as Specialty Doctor (SAS), or Specialist Grade. This is generally up to the NHS Client, although, if starting in a specialist position, the aim here is that you will receive support to acclimatise to the UK system, in order to quickly work towards a consultant post. This will be agreed before your arrival in the UK.    There is demand in all areas of histopathology, particularly at the consultant level. So, it is important to understand where you fit into the NHS, and we would be delighted to guide you through the process. Send in your CV or register with us through the buttons above or below, and we will arrange an informal chat with you to discuss your job options in full.    Finding NHS Histopathology Jobs You can get full access to the most recent histopathology job postings straight to your inbox through IMG Connect.  The latest NHS pathology jobs cover general histopathology and cytology, as well as a number specialised or part-specialised posts where you may report one anatomical area extensively, or perhaps 2-3 areas. With just a few clicks, you can create an account and customise job preferences to receive email alerts on job that suit your professional and personal needs.  Sign up here to receive up-to-date information on NHS jobs which you can tailor to your job preferences and receive straight to your inbox.   CESR for Hong Kong Pathologists As the UK FRCPath qualification is not commonly taken during the Hong Kong residency programme, CESR presents itself as a more favourable option for some.   CESR is a big process that involves submitting around 800 - 1000 pages of verified evidence that you’ll need to gather from the last 5-6 years of clinical practice, either in the UK or overseas.   Given the Hong Kong Royal College of Pathologists' curriculum is so closely aligned with the UK’s Royal College, pathologists from Hong Kong are actually some of the best primed to attain Specialist Registration via CESR, without working in the UK first.  Whether it’s quicker to complete FRCPath, or to prepare a CESR application directly from Hong Kong, entirely depends on your background and experience. With that in mind, if you want to understand more, please send across a copy of your CV to our team and we can talk you through your options.   For a detailed guide on CESR for histopathologists, see our IMG Resources library.  Routes to the UK for Hong Kong Pathologists The standard test of knowledge in the Histopathology curriculum in the UK is FRCPath Histopathology, although you do not need this to register with the GMC.  There are four main routes to the UK for Hong Kong pathologists:  The differences between these routes can be best understood through our explainer blog here.  Essentially, whilst FRCPath can be more time-consuming and expensive than other routes, our advice is that it is well and truly worth the investment – histopathology is a consultant-led specialty in the UK and therefore FRCPath Histopathology opens up many more opportunities (particularly for more experienced pathologists) than alternatives such as PLAB or Sponsorship.  Clients look out for FRCPath, and combined with your experience, this will move your CV to the top of the pile.    As discussed above, although Hong Kong histopathology training is well aligned with the UK system, CESR can either be an easier or more arduous route to GMC Registration depending on your level of experience.   Remember however:  CESR = Specialist Registration and FRCPath = General Registration  If you would like to pursue the CESR route and would like to know more about pathology jobs that offer CESR support, do get in touch.  If you are just beginning your journey through the FRCPath Histopathology exams, please see our blog here for an overview of the exams.  We also have an online IMG Histopathologists community on Facebook which as well as providing support and resources on FRCPath, also offers guidance on GMC registration and other aspects of relocating to and working in the UK.  How to Register with the GMC Once all the necessary components for GMC registration have been completed, Hong Kong IMGs can then apply for full GMC registration with license to practice.   There are further checks involved in the registration process, such as verification of medical degrees, however these are steps that will be taken care of with your IMG Connect recruitment specialist.  However, if you’d like to learn more about these processes, you can find information in our blog breaking down the steps to GMC registration for overseas doctors here.   Visas for Hong Kong Doctors Honk Kong residents with British National (overseas) status can apply to travel to the UK to live for up to five years with dependent family members, through the British National (Overseas) visa.   You also have the option of securing a Skilled Worker visa, or Health & Care visa to give the most recent term. We know that securing a visa in Hong Kong can be challenging at the moment, so if you think that the Health & Care Visa is a good option for you, don’t hesitate to connect with us to discuss your options.    For a detailed guide to your visa options as a Hong Kong doctor, you can read our blog discussing the differences between the Tier 2 Skilled Worker and BNO visas here.   Getting started We are here to help with all questions, big or small, whether you are starting out on your journey or ready to look explore jobs. Register below or get in touch to speak with one of our dedicated histopathology recruiters.   We hope this helps and wish you the best of luck in your search!    To receive the latest news and updates on all things histopathology, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation:             

For international doctors looking to work in the UK, it is important to understand the salary you will be offered with your NHS job and how this can be different depending on the country you are working in within the UK.   The NHS follow pay guidelines that are used to fairly and uniformly determine consultant pay, however these do differ across countries in the UK.   What is an SAS doctor? SAS stands for Staff grade, Associate Specialist, and Specialty Doctor. They 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 training pathway).  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.  SAS doctors maintain their skills through the CPD system and there are routes, through gaining CESR (Specialist Registration) or applying for a training post, for SAS doctors to become consultants if they wish to.  Basic Pay Specialist Grades and Specialty Doctors in England and the other home countries have their own contracts in place for senior doctors. These contracts are based on a full-time work commitment of 10 programmed activities (PAs) per week, each having a time-tabled value of four hours.   The basic pay thresholds in the UK are shown below:  England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland England SAS doctors currently earn a basic rate of between £52,530 and £82,400 as Specialty Doctors and from £83,945 to £95,275 as Specialist Grade doctors in England.  Specialty Doctor  Years of experience  Basic Salary  0 (min)  £52,530 1  2  3  £60,519 4  5  6  £67,465 7  8  9  £74,675 10  11  12  £82,400 13  14  15  16  17    Associate Specialist / Specialist Grade  Years of experience  Basic Salary  0 (min)  £83,945 1  2  3  £87,000 4  5  6  £95,275 The most recent full pay circular for England can be found here.  Scotland SAS doctors currently earn a basic rate of between £45,193 and £84,272 as Specialty Doctors and from £63,361 to £103,074 as Associate Specialists in Scotland. Specialty Doctor  Years of experience  Basic Salary  0 (min)  £45,193  1  £49,057  2  £54,080  3  £56,772  4  £60,651  Threshold 1  5  £64,516  6  7  £68,466  8  9  £72,418  10  Threshold 2  11  £76,370  12  13  14  £80,321  15  16  17  £84,272    Associate Specialist  Years of experience  Basic Salary  0 (min)  £63,361  1  £68,454  2  £73,546  3  £80,271  4  £86,099  Threshold 1  5  £88,517  6  7  £91,673  8  9  £93,880  10  Threshold 2  11  £96,945  12  13  14  £100,008  15  16  17  £103,074  The most recent full pay circular for Scotland can be found here.  Wales SAS doctors currently earn a basic rate of between £51,765 and £81,200 as Specialty Doctors and from £82,722 to £93,887 as Specialists in Wales. Specialty Doctor  Years of experience  Basic Salary  1  £51,765 2  3  4  £59,637 5  6  7  £66,482 8  9  10  £73,587  11  12  13  £81,200 14  15  16  17  18    Specialist  Years of experience  Basic Salary  1  £82,722 2  3  4  £88,305 5  6  7  £93,887 The most recent full pay circular for Wales can be found here.  Northern Ireland SAS doctors currently earn a basic rate of between £51,000 and £80,000 as Specialty Doctors and from £81,500 to £92,500 as Associate Specialists in Northern Ireland. Specialty Doctor Years of experience  Basic Salary  Pay Point 0   £51,000   1   1 2 3   £58,756   2 4 5 6   £65,500  3 7 8 9   £72,500 4 10 11 12   £80,000 5 - top 13 14 15 16 17   Specialty Doctor Years of experience  Basic Salary  Pay Point 1   £81,500   1   2 3 4   £87,000   2 5 6 7 £92,500  3 (top)   The most recent full pay circular for Northern Ireland can be found here.  Job Planning and Programmed Activities As part of your contract, your job plan will be created in partnership with your new NHS employer. This is an annual agreement that sets out your duties, responsibilities and objectives for the length of your contract.  There are four basic categories of contractual work which will be included in your job plan: direct clinical care (DCC), supporting professional activities (SPAs), additional responsibilities and external duties.  There are ways that consultants will be able to earn more than the basic rates above and these can include additional rotas and PAs. This will also be discussed in the creation of your job plan.  Sources https://www.nhsemployers.org/system/files/2023-02/Pay%20and%20Conditions%20Circular%20%28MD%29%202-2023.pdf  https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pcs/PCS2022(DD)01.pdf  https://www.nhs.wales/files/pc-resources/042023-md-circular/  https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-hsc-tc8-03-2022.PDF  Getting started NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.  Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.  For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.              

As an overseas doctor looking to work in the UK, it is essential to understand the salary that comes along with your NHS job and how this can be different from one country in the UK to another.   Whilst the NHS has guides that are used to fairly and uniformly determine consultant pay, these do differ across the UK.   Basic Pay  Consultants in England and the other home countries each have their own consultant contracts in place. These are based on a full-time work commitment of 10 programmed activities (PAs) per week, each having a time-tabled value of four hours.   The basic pay thresholds in England and their equivalents in the rest of the home countries are shown below:  England  Scotland Wales Northern Ireland England  Consultants currently earn a basic rate of between £93,666 and £126,281 in England.  Threshold  Years completed as a consultant  Basic Salary  1  0  £93,666 2  1  £96,599 3  2  £99,532 4  3  £102,465        5  4        £105,390 5  6  7  8        6  9        £112,356 10  11  12  13        7  14        £119,323 15  16  17  18  8  19+  £126,281 The most recent full pay circular for England can be found here.  The National Clinical Impact Award (NCIA) scheme aims to reward consultants who contribute most to the delivery of safe and high-quality care and the improvement of NHS services. You can apply for a new award after you have completed a full year in an eligible role.  Scotland  Consultants currently earn a basic rate of between £96,963 and £128,841 in Scotland.  Threshold  Years completed as a consultant  Basic Salary  1  1 (starting salary)  £96,963  2  2  £99,011  3  3  £101,957  4  4  £104,906        5  5        £107,846  6  7  8  9        6  10        £114,846  11  12  13  14        7  15        £121,846  16  17  18  19  8  20+  £128,841  The most recent full pay circular for Scotland can be found here.  All consultants who have reached point five of the pay scale are eligible for consideration for discretionary points, except for distinction award holders. Consultants granted discretionary points are not normally considered again for two years, although this may vary.  Wales  Consultants currently earn a basic rate of between £87,354 and £113,408 in Wales.  Threshold  Years completed as a consultant  Basic Salary  1  0 (starting salary)  £87,354 2  1  £90,137 3  2  £94,789 4  3  £100,191  5  4  £106,363 6  5  £109,882 7  6  £113,408 The most recent full pay circular for Wales can be found here.  Please note that the pay scale above is for substantive or permanent doctors in Wales.  For locum consultants, there is a fixed pay point of £100,381 which will apply regardless of years of consultant experience.  Commitment awards are available to all consultants after three years’ service at the top of the consultant pay scale, who demonstrate their commitment through satisfactory job plan reviews. They are then eligible at three-yearly intervals, until they have achieved eight award levels.  Northern Ireland  Consultants currently earn a basic rate of between £88,799 and £119,723 in Northern Ireland.  Threshold  Years completed as a consultant  Basic Salary  1  1 (starting salary)  £88,799  2  2  £91,581  3  3  £94,362  4  4  £97,141        5  5        £99,913  6  7  8  9        6  10        £106,520  11  12  13  14  7  15  £113,124  8  16+  £119,723  The most recent full pay circular for Northern Ireland can be found here.  Job Planning and Programmed Activities  As part of your contract, your job plan will be created in partnership with your new NHS employer. This is an annual agreement that sets out your duties, responsibilities and objectives for the length of your contract.  There are four basic categories of contractual work which will be included in your job plan: direct clinical care (DCC), supporting professional activities (SPAs), additional responsibilities and external duties.  There are ways that consultants will be able to earn more than the basic rates above and these can include additional rotas and PAs. This will also be discussed in the creation of your job plan.  Getting started  NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.  Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.  For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.               Sources  https://www.nhsemployers.org/sites/default/files/2021-08/Pay-and-Conditions-Circular-MD-3-2021.pdf   https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pcs/PCS2022(DD)01.pdf  https://www.nhs.wales/files/pc-resources/042023-md-circular/  https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-tc8-2-2020.pdf 

Are you an overseas histopathologist looking to sit the FRCPath exams?  Today we’re bringing you a guide on how to prepare for the FRCPath Histopathology Part 1 exam from Dr Maria, clinical fellow in cellular pathology in London. Maria passed the FRCPath Part 1 exam in March 2021 and is sharing her top tips for FRCPath aspirants, including study planning, revision materials and what you should know about the Part 1 exam.  1. Create a plan and schedule for your study (this is most important!)  I started studying around 3 months before the exam, spending 2-3 hours per day on weekdays and around 5-7 hours on study at the weekend.  REMINDER: This all depends on how much you know already. You cannot focus constantly for hours, so you should schedule your studying time around the way that you know you work best.  Leading up to the exam  Try to keep at least 2 weeks free prior to the exam to re-revise problematic topics and genetics.  The day before exam  Be kind to yourself. Have a good meal, try to relax if you can and avoid stressing too much. Go to bed early and have a good, long sleep.  2. Revision materials  I had been revising using my old notes, where I studied from these books (the best for trainees in my opinion):  Foundation in Diagnostic Pathology series Dermatopathology  Pulmonary Pathology  Hematopathology  Head and Neck Pathology  Gynecologic Pathology  Bone and Soft Tissue Pathology  Cell and Tissue Based Molecular Pathology  Pulmonary Pathology  Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology  Genitourinary Pathology  Breast Pathology  Neuropathology  Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology  Diagnostic Pathology series Diagnostic Pathology: Head and Neck  Diagnostic Pathology: Genitourinary  Diagnostic Pathology: Spleen  Diagnostic Pathology: Thoracic  Diagnostic Pathology: Neuropathology  Diagnostic Pathology: Hepatobiliary and Pancreas  Diagnostic Pathology: Nonneoplastic Dermatopathology  Diagnostic Pathology: Neoplastic Dermatopathology  Diagnostic Pathology: Bone  Diagnostic Pathology: Breast  Diagnostic Pathology: Familial Cancer Syndromes  Diagnostic Pathology: Molecular Oncology  Diagnostic Pathology: Infectious Diseases  Diagnostic Pathology: Gastrointestinal  Diagnostic Pathology: Kidney Diseases  Diagnostic Pathology: Placenta  Diagnostic Pathology: Gynaecological  Diagnostic Pathology: Transplant Pathology  Diagnostic Pathology: Cardiovascular  Diagnostic Pathology: Intraoperative Consultation  Diagnostic Pathology: Cytopathology  Diagnostic Pathology: Paediatric Neoplasms  Diagnostic Pathology: Endocrine  Diagnostic Pathology: Normal Histology  Diagnostic Pathology: Lymph Nodes and Extra-nodal Lymphomas  Diagnostic Pathology: Blood and Bone Marrow  Diagnostic Pathology: Vascular  Diagnostic Pathology: Hospital Autopsy  There are so many books, and it would be too expensive to purchase them all, so stick to what you've got in your department or can borrow from friends or colleagues.  The Pathology Outlines website is also excellent for quick review and genetics! There are also MCQs.  Some trainees study from the Robbins Pathology books, however, in my opinion, this book alone is not enough for the Part 1 exam.  For the MCQs, I used the following resources:  Practical Applications in Histopathology, Cytopathology and Autopsy: an MCQ/ EMQ Resource – Limci Gupta, Jayson Wang, Val Thomas  Anatomic Pathology Board Review – Jay H. Lefkowitch  Robbins Review of Pathology - Edward Klatt, Vinay Kumar  Sternberg's Diagnostic Surgical Pathology Review – Pier Luigi Di Patre, Darryl Carter  Various past papers I found within my network  If you have access to old presentations from FRCPath Part 1 courses, I’d suggest having a look at them. It’s a good idea to use them to review and revise a topic, followed by some MCQs on that topic.  TOPIC  START DATE  DURATION  Breast  27 October 2020  6 days  GIT  2 November  8 days  Liver, GB, Pancreas  10 November  8 days  Skin  18 November  6 days  Endocrine System  24 November  7 days  CNS  1 December  7 days  Renal & Urinary  8 December  9 days  Bone  17 December  5 days  Soft Tissue  22 December  9 days  CVS  31 December   5 days  Thoracic Pathology (Lung & Mediastinum)  5 January 2021  7 days  Lymph Node  12 January  7 days  MGT  19 January  7 days  FGT & Placenta  26 January  8 days  Oral & Nasal  3 February  7 days  Autopsy & Forensic  10 February  7 days  General  17 February  7 days  Cytopathology  24 February  5 days  Clinical Governance  1 March  5 days  Syndromes & Paediatric  6 March  5 days  General Revision  11 March onwards  -  This is a guide to the revision schedule I used for my FRCPath preparation. I actually started studying in December, so I had less time to fit this all in, but I was able to revise faster to cover everything.  3. FRCPath Part 1 Exam  The questions in the FRCPath Part 1 exam are usually quite straightforward, so you either know the answer or you don't, nothing misleading or tricky.  Some key topics you’ll need to know for the exam:  Genetics and the mutation of tumours (and yes...you'll need to learn each tumour that has any typical mutation and its name)  Immunohistochemistry of lesions  Microscopic pictures (all the micro images I had in the test depicted typical morphology)  Genetic syndromes, the mutations behind them and what lesions are most common  Datasets - they are quite wordy, so focus only on pTN, and the stage of each organ system  Audit  Parts of a microscope  There were some questions from general pathology (necrosis, inflammation, etc.), but I’d say most of the questions were from GI, breast, gynae, skin, soft tissue and kidney.  However, you'll have at least a few questions from each of the other organ systems, so it's better to study everything rather than focus on the most common ones only.  #IMG Tips  Prepare early – try to start your preparation early to give yourself enough time to cover all the relevant sections on the Royal College curriculum.  Find the right materials to support your study – it's good to use a combination of resources for your study to reinforce existing knowledge and benchmark your progress. Try to find the right materials for you as early as possible to hit the ground running with your revision.  Familiarise yourself with the Royal College curriculum – we cannot stress this enough! All countries have different training programmes, so being well versed in what the RCPath will be looking for is key.  Join the IMG Histopathologists community – as well as support on Royal College exams, our online community of international pathologists and dedicated pathology recruiters offers guidance on other aspects of working in the UK, including finding NHS posts and CESR.  Getting started  Attaining FRCPath Histopathology is a great first step for histopathologists wanting to find senior roles in the NHS. It can be difficult for overseas trainees to prepare for the first exam in the Royal College examination suite, but this quick guide from a successful FRCPath pathologist is a great start for pathologists pursuing the postgraduate route to GMC registration and finding work in the UK. For more information on the FRCPath exams, take a look at our IMG Resources library. If you have any further questions about FRCPath, your route to the UK as an overseas histopathologist, or any other aspect of GMC Registration, 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:             

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.              

To help make your MRCEM journey a success - here we’ll take a closer look at MRCEM Primary, including eligibility, dates, fees & exam centers. We will also provide some tips to give you the best chance of passing first time - giving you MRCEM success and moving closer towards full Membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (MRCEM).  Designed to help you prepare and sit the exam, we consider the following topics:  What is the MRCEM Primary?  What is the content and structure?  Can I sit the exam more than once?  What is the curriculum?  Am I eligible?  How can I apply? Where and when can I take the exam? How much will it cost me?  How do I prepare for each exam and what resources are available? Passed? What next?  What is the MRCEM Primary?  The MRCEM Primary Examination is the first examination in a series of three and is mapped to the Emergency Medicine 2015 Curriculum. You can find more detailed information provided in the RCEM Basic Sciences Curriculum (June 2010) which is available here or as a downloadable PDF. The MRCEM Part A has been replaced by the MRCEM Primary exam with effect from August 2016.  Completion of the MRCEM examinations (Primary/ Intermediate/ OSCE) results in the award of membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.  The Royal College strongly advises all applicants to familiarise themselves with the Basic Sciences Curriculum when preparing to sit the MRCEM Primary Examination. General advice is to get to know the curriculum as early as possible and use it as a road map for your study plan.  What is the content and structure?  The MRCEM Primary exam consists of one 3-hour paper of 180 multiple choice, single best answer questions (SBAQs).  You must choose one best answer from a choice of five feasible answers.  The paper will examine all the domains of knowledge in the Basic Sciences Curriculum including: Anatomy Physiology Pathology Microbiology Pharmacology Evidence Based Medicine Can I sit the exam more than once?  Candidates are permitted a maximum of six attempts in which to pass the MRCEM Primary Examination.  Previous attempts at the MRCEM Part A examination prior to August 2016 do not count towards the number of available attempts.  The examination is conducted in English and candidates are advised that IELTS Level 7 is the expected standard for completion of the MRCEM examinations. Remember, you will need to have a pass of 7.5 average in all areas of IELTS to complete your GMC registration. What is the curriculum?  The blueprint for the MRCEM Primary Examination is as follows:  Category Sub-Category Questions Anatomy Upper limb  Lower limb  Thorax  Abdomen  Head and Neck  Central Nervous System Cranial Nerve Lesions 60 Physiology Basic cellular physiology Respiratory physiology Cardiovascular physiology Gastrointestinal physiology Renal physiology  Endocrine physiology 60 Pharmacology Gastrointestinal pharmacology  Cardiovascular system  Respiratory system  Central Nervous System  Infections Endocrine system  Fluids and electrolytes  Muscoskeletal system  Immunological products and vaccines Anaesthesia 27 Microbiology Principles of microbiology  Pathogen groups 18 Pathology Inflammatory responses  Immune responses  Infection  Wound healing  Haematology 9 Evidence Based Medicine Statistics Study methodology Principles of critical appraisal 6 TOTAL   180 Am I eligible?  To be eligible you must hold a Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) that is recognised by the GMC for registration purposes. You do not need to be registered with the GMC to enter. Don’t forget! You may need a visa to enter a different country to sit the exam. Failure to check this could prevent you from sitting the exam and your examination fee will not be refunded. How can I apply? All applications are made online. Please note, the application can take some time to complete so it is always advisable to apply well in advance of the deadlines. Applications submitted after the application period will not be accepted.  Links to all application forms and application windows are available here. Where and when can I take the exam? How much will it cost me?  Exam dates and locations for 2019 are currently available, these are regularly updated by the Royal College and can be found here.  Examination Centre Fees MRCEM Primary Short Answer Question Paper   London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Leeds, Cardiff £310 Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Reykjavik, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat £390 How do I prepare for the exam and what resources are available? With lots of resources available online, we have discussed with IMGs the best place to start looking for materials relating to the exams. Most IMGs recommended starting with the Royal College, who have created useful resources to help you to prepare for the exams. See below:  Curriculum:  Applicants are tested on a range of common and important disorders in Emergency Medicine as set out in the Emergency Medicine Training Curriculum 2015. Information Packs: These provide detailed information for the relevant examination components so that you can best prepare for your studies and what to expect on the day: MRCEM Primary Sample questions:  Test your knowledge using example questions from the current exam syllabus provided by the Royal College, see below: • Primary – sample questions Glossary of Terms:  The royal college uses many terms that may cause confusion, so take plenty time to understand the terms and definitions used in this guide.  Candidates are expected to be rigorous in their use of these terms. Glossary of terms used in RCEM exams. Online resources:  There are lots of resources online, such as videos on YouTube, MRCEM courses and useful reading materials. We think that these are a great addition to your study plan, just be sure to check your sources.  For a useful 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, take a look at our blog: IMG Connects Top Tips for exam preparation  Passed? What next?  If you are completing the papers in order, the next step will be to apply for MRCEM Intermediate Certificate. For more information take a look at our blog where we explore MRCEM Intermediate and everything that you need to know about how to sit the exam, including syllabus, dates, results, fees and preparation.  IMG Jobs  Search and find live emergency medicine NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor jobs, doctor salary & relocation for emergency medicine specialists Get in Touch Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss emergency medicine doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.

Vacancies for Emergency Medicine doctors from outside the UK can be found in a variety of ways, which for some doctors can sometimes be time-consuming and confusing. Working with IMG Connect will give you easy access to vacancies for consultants, clinical fellows, registrars, specialty doctors, trust doctors, as well as LAS posts. The IMG Connect job search is a dedicated online recruitment service for overseas doctors looking to secure a job in the NHS. View our latest Doctor Jobs in the NHS, here.  Save time and get expert advice based on your preferences  Performing a job search online can take up a lot of your time, so at IMG Connect we are here to do the time-consuming work for you. Upon registering, you will have a dedicated consultant whose role is to find jobs that match your skills, and apply for NHS jobs on your behalf.  You can receive jobs updates by E-mail to view new posts to suit your job search every day. Create a profile – it takes 30 seconds It really is that easy, so why not take advantage of our resources, time and energy to find you the right job in the NHS suited to your preferences. By providing us with some key details we can quickly assess which jobs are best suited to your preferences, and even email you job alerts for new exciting roles which we think will interest you! We understand you, and our clients When looking for an Emergency Medicine job in the NHS, it can be hard to try to find out key information before applying, such as: What specialty specific training there will be?  Am I likely to get a training post after taking this role? Can the trust support CESR applicants and is their CESR programme established enough for my needs?  What career progression is available for me with the Emergency Medicine Specialty?  What is the job plan and how much time will I spend on the ward?  What is it like to work and live there?  What salary will I get paid, and can I get extra pay for additional shifts?  It can be tricky to get all the answers you want before applying online, so we spend our time getting to know both our clients and you, finding out as much key information as possible to help you to make the right decisions. Including details on the Emergency Medicine department, hospital & trust, as well as an overview of what it is like to live in the area, including housing and the cost of living, as well as access to schools for your children, childcare and finding work for spouses.  Making an impact We will also provide you with top tips on CV writing, job applications and interviews, ensuring that your application and interview makes the most impact with our NHS clients.  Making it personal  Once registered, you can quickly search and apply for NHS jobs using our job search, and take advantage of many useful articles written to support you through your journey to the UK. In addition, when you sign up to 'job alerts' we will automatically email you each time a relevant Emergency Medicine vacancy comes available that you may be interested in. Once logged in, you can also save job details and make applications.  By registering with IMG Connect, you will: Have a dedicated consultant who understands your preferences and will do the time-consuming job searches and applications for you. Find your ideal NHS position among thousands of unadvertised vacancies - from consultant to registrar, or specialty doctor to SHO.  Be the first to hear about new vacancies – registering with IMG Connect means that your CV will gain priority with our NHS clients, and will be professionally represented by international recruitment experts. To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps: Register with IMG Connect Fill in the 'Personal details' section. Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant  Sign up to receive 'job alerts’  Search our live emergency medicine jobs Searching for Emergency Medicine jobs in the NHS could not be easier If you want to find out more about the many Emergency Medicine roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas Emergency Medicine into consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS roles, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, royal college qualifications and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you! For the latest news and updates on all things emergency medicine, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

Vacancies for psychiatrists from outside the UK can be found in a variety of ways, which for some doctors can sometimes be time-consuming and confusing. Working with IMG Connect will give you easy access to vacancies for consultants, clinical fellows, registrars, specialty doctors, trust doctors, as well as LAS posts. The IMG Connect job search is a dedicated online recruitment service for overseas doctors looking to secure a job in the NHS. View our latest Doctor Jobs in the NHS, here.  Save time and get expert advice based on your preferences  Performing a job search online can take up a lot of your time, so at IMG Connect we are here to do the time-consuming work for you. Upon registering, you will have a dedicated consultant whose role is to find jobs that match your skills, and apply for NHS jobs on your behalf.  You can receive jobs updates by E-mail to view new posts to suit your job search every day. Create a profile – it takes 30 seconds It really is that easy, so why not take advantage of our resources, time and energy to find you the right job in the NHS suited to your preferences. By providing us with some key details we can quickly assess which jobs are best suited to your preferences, and even email you job alerts for new exciting roles which we think will interest you! We understand you, and our clients When looking for a psychiatry job in the NHS, it can be hard to try to find out key information before applying, such as: What specialty specific training there will be?  Am I likely to get a training post after taking this role? Can the trust support CESR applicants and is their CESR programme established enough for my needs?  What career progression is available for me within the psychiatry specialty?  What is the job plan and how much time will I spend on the ward?  What is it like to work and live there?  What salary will I get paid, and can I get extra pay for additional shifts?  It can be tricky to get all the answers you want before applying online, so we spend our time getting to know both our clients and you, finding out as much key information as possible to help you to make the right decisions. Including details on the psychiatry department, hospital & trust, as well as an overview of what it is like to live in the area, including housing and the cost of living, as well as access to schools for your children, childcare and finding work for spouses.  Making an impact We will also provide you with top tips on CV writing, job applications and interviews, ensuring that your application and interview makes the most impact with our NHS clients.  Making it personal  Once registered, you can quickly search and apply for NHS jobs using our job search, and take advantage of many useful articles written to support you through your journey to the UK. In addition, when you sign up to 'job alerts' we will automatically email you each time a relevant Psychiatry vacancy comes available that you may be interested in. Once logged in, you can also save job details and make applications.  By registering with IMG Connect, you will: Have a dedicated consultant who understands your preferences and will do the time-consuming job searches and applications for you. Find your ideal NHS position amongst thousands of unadvertised vacancies - from consultant to registrar, or specialty doctor to SHO.  Be the first to hear about new vacancies – registering with IMG Connect means that your CV will gain priority with our NHS clients, and will professionally represented by international recruitment experts. To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps: Register with IMG Connect Fill in the 'Personal details' section. Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant  Sign up to receive 'job alerts’  Search our live psychiatry jobs Searching for psychiatry jobs in the NHS could not be easier If you want to find out more about the many different psychiatry roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas psychiatrists into consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS roles, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, royal college qualifications and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you!

The MRCEM OSCE exam requires a considerable amount of revision and preparation.... And we are often asked by Emergency Medicine doctors where they should look for MRCEM OSCE resources, online revision materials, mock stations and preparation courses. Here we compile the best advice, tips, courses and resources available for the Membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (MRCEM) OSCE exam whilst also address some understandable concerns about the effect of COVID-19 on availability of test centres and upcoming exams. What is the MRCEM OSCE? The MRCEM OSCE consists of 18 stations (16 patient encounters & 2 rest stations), each one lasting for about 7 minutes. The MRCEM OSCE exam will not only test your theoretical knowledge, but also your resus skills and communication skills. Even candidates who are working in an emergency medicine department (ED or ER) often find these OSCEs difficult. Even if you have strong background knowledge in Emergency Medicine the exams can still be tricky due to a heavy reliance on testing your communication skills and etiquette.  Preparation is therefore vital for all doctors who intend to take the MRCEM OSCE (part C) exam. This can be broken down into the following:  Practical day-to-day work (colleague observations & feedback, peer groups, study groups)  Online revision resources (subscriptions, reading materials, tutorials, videos) Courses (face to face, online) In general, emergency medicine course tutors advise setting aside at least 2-3 months preparation in addition to your Emergency Medicine experience. How has the COVID-19 coronavirus afffected MRCEM exam centres & dates? The Royal College of Emergency Medicine took the difficult decision to cancel all events for the months of April, May and June following the escalation of the virus. As the UK and most of the world remain in some form of lockdown, the Royal College has not announced when it is expecting to open up it's centres again. Understandably this will be tied into government advice and that of the WHO whilst most examiners involved in the OSCE examinations will be tied into urgent clinical duties. IMG Connect is keeping a very close eye on the examination schedule and will keep all our IMGs informed as soon as the College publishes some updates. You can find the updated exam schedule here. However, this does not mean you cannot use the time to prepare for your OSCE! So how to get started? The first step is to ensure you are familiar enough with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Curriculum (2015), and to use this to create your study plan covering the whole curriculum, whilst also identifying areas of weakness to strengthen.  Take a look through Mastering Emergency Medicine – a practical guide to re-enforce your solid background in Emergency Medicine knowledge before you start approaching the stations. Note that this book was first published in 2009, and some aspects may be slightly outdated.  Familiarise yourself with the stations, techniques and format by watching online videos and tutorials - you can find both free and paid tutorials online.  YouTube has many great videos available to get you started, covering basics of examination and OSCE guides through to mock OSCE scenarios:  Mcleods Examination videos (Basics of examination) OSCE guides - Geeky Medics   Bromley webinars and tutorials  Watching these videos before you start your practice sessions (and then repeatedly throughout your study plan) will give you a huge boost.    Resources for MRCEM OSCE General advice is to use a variety of resources, including reading materials, online subscriptions to videos and tutorials, podcasts and videos. The following have helped IMGs on their journey to successful completion of the MRCEM OSCE:  Bromley Emergency Courses online tutorials:  Revision communication videos  Revision examination videos Revision procedure videos  MRCEM OSCE course Podcast Geeky Medics – Emergency Medicine Practical work - peer groups and senior colleague observations The best way to practice and solidify what you have learnt from your studies is to organise group sessions and observations at work. Observations at work  Ask senior colleagues to observe and offer feedback to you on a regular basis on the EM ward. Receiving quality feedback in a formal setting is widely regarded as fundamental to your advances in emergency medicine practice.  Group sessions When organising a peer group of Emergency Medicine OSCE aspirants, advice is to have a maximum of three/four persons per group. Three works very well because you can each play a role during role play sessions.  When conducting role plays, you may want to organise yourselves as follows:  Patient (use instructions for the actor provided in the textbooks, remember each patient has a backstory and there are many aspects the actor must show, including emotion) Exam Candidate Examiner (takes notes, observes, marks the checklist and gives immediate and detailed feedback on all aspects of the marking sheet) Remember to take turns and swap roles, work as the patient, exam candidate and the examiner. Stick to the exam format, for example set a time limit of about 7 minutes which will allow you to get a clear understanding of how to pace yourself and finish before 7 minutes. Remember not to be too fast, or too slow, helping you to make every second count. Feedback is crucial to improving your practice. As you practice together, look at the checklists after you perform each station and find out if you are missing anything.  When taking up the examiner role ensure to give detailed feedback covering all marking criteria (intro, examination, body language and winding up - the four key areas that can improve your score). Once the examiner has delivered their feedback, discuss as a group, considering how to improve in all aspects of the exam criteria.  Build stamina Once you have a routine in place for peer group practical OSCE simulations, build up towards completing a full set of stations. This should be done for each member of your group. The exam can be tiring, which can in turn affect your performance on the day of the exam. For example, if exhausted at the final stations, it can be hard to maintain your clear communication and positive body language, so a full run through will help you to understand what it will be like on the day and what you need to do to ensure that you are consistently performing.  Record sessions Try recording your group scenarios. IMGs who have done this repeatedly informed us that this was one of the single most important methods for seeing first-hand how to improve. We are after all our own worst critics! Take notes on the way you enter the room, move, talk, express yourself, your non-verbal cues, body language and interactions. Take a course  There are various workshops organised by expert course tutors in Emergency Medicine designed to help you pass. You can find these online and anecdotal evidence suggests that taking a face to face course improves your chances of passing the MRCEM OSCE exam.  Speak to an IMG Consultant to check what courses might be suitable for you, if there is not a course where you live, it may be possible for us to organise one for you and your peers.  Is a course necessary?  Many overseas doctors preparing for their FRCEM or MRCEM Emergency Medicine examinations wonder if they should take a course as part of their preparation. In short, we advise that all IMGs should attend as many courses as possible. The knowledge gained on an MRCEM or FRCEM course goes well beyond the exam.  One issue is of course that courses cost a considerable amount of money, but if you consider that taking a course increases your chances exponentially of passing the examinations first time, the cost is offset by not having to pay to re-sit and all the additional costs that come with it (i.e. flights & accommodation). Finding courses can be tricky  So take some time to work out what you specifically need help with and the stage you are at in the process. Search online to find the course that will suit your needs the most.  Speak to your peers, some may have attended a course that they felt had a positive impact on the learning and preparation.  Once you think you have found a course that suits your needs, such as an MRCEM OSCE course, check reviews posted by other IMGs to be sure of the quality of the tutoring.  If you have found a course that suits your needs, has good reviews recommendations from your peers, then it will likely be worth the investment. As a direct result you will likely pass the exams much quicker, helping you to secure the Emergency Medicine job that you want in the NHS. On the day of exam - tips from IMGs Passing any exam is not easy, passing the Membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (MRCEM) OSCE examination even more so. In speaking with IMGs about their journey through the MRCEM OSCE exams, we have heard many thoughts about what it takes to pass. To help IMGs preparing to take the test, here we share some tips from past examinees and OSCE course tutors.  Firstly, it is good to know that every IMG taking the test is in the same position as you, perhaps anxious about how to prepare and worried about the exam day. We are told that the exam is just an ordinary day on the ward, so why then do so many excellent practicing EM physicians struggle to pass at first attempt? It is perhaps important to say that the advice below is not just from not just those IMGs who passed first time, but from those who had to learn from their mistakes and take the test a second or even third time.  The most common thing that we hear is that IMGs must adapt their skill set to the requirements of the NHS system as well as changing their mindset to be able to work under intense observation.  Further reasons they struggle are:  1. Anxiety Experiencing anxiety during exams is completely natural and the fact that the OSCE stations are only 7 minutes adds to this in the Part C. The only way to combat exam anxiety is to accept that is both natural and inevitable. The best way to prepare and suppress the adrenergic surge is with practice, practice and more practice. The best way to practice is under exam conditions and if possible, this should be timed and observed by different examiners. We are not of the opinion that this practice should be done last minute in the week before the exam, instead, your practice should start long before this point. Ask your senior colleagues in the ED to observe and comment upon your history taking and examination skills. If you can get into a routine of doing this with 3 to 5 patients per day you will be able to run through nearly all the most likely scenarios in only 12 shifts. Another great strategy is to teach OSCEs to the more junior doctors within the department. Teaching can be a powerful learning tool and has helped many aspirants with their revision. 2. Lack of practice Make no mistake – the exam is very tough. Over 50% of candidates failed the 2016 sitting. Unless you are freakishly good at cramming you will need to set aside at least 3 months to prepare. IMGs will all study in different ways. Remember you have been through many exams all on your own. Whatever revision method works for you, stick to it. Once you know that you are going to study, make a revision plan and stick to it.  Practice in any way that you can. As above, be sure to ask senior colleagues to observe and offer feedback to you on a regular basis on the EM ward.  To practice out of work, form a small group of colleagues who are also taking the test and run through role plays, taking turns to be patient, doctor or examiner.  Pay careful attention to time keeping as it is very common for candidates to run out of time, particularly in history taking and communication skills stations. 3. Lack of familiarisation with curriculum If you don’t know what you could be tested on, you won’t know what to prepare. The MRCEM OSCE is mapped to the competences of Year 1-3 of the Emergency Medicine 2015 Curriculum which is available on the 2015 Curriculum page. You should familiarise yourself with the Year 1-3 competences in preparation for sitting this examination.   4. Not being able to communicate effectively  Many IMGs have made the mistake of thinking that communication is only about what you say, not considering how you say it, and what you look like when you are saying it. Of course, you may be anxious, which can make you behave differently and say things in a different way. So, if you have practiced as above, make sure you incorporate practicing communicating not just focusing on what you say, but also your body language when saying it. Remember that between 70% of our communication is non-verbal! Try to speak audibly and clearly and if at all possible, sit at the same level as the patient with an open posture. Attempt to make a connection with the patient, maintain good eye contact and give them your undivided attention. Treat actors and mannequins as if they are real patients, interact with them in the same way that you would on the EM ward. Be direct and to the point but deliver any bad news in a sensitive and empathetic manner. Always check whether the patient has understood what you have said and ask if they have any questions. 5. Reading and deciphering the instructions  It is vitally important to read the instructions very carefully before entering a station. Easy marks are frequently lost by nervous or over-confident candidates that have overlooked key information or made assumptions by misreading. This is a mistake many IMGs have made, so learn from their mistakes and be sure to read everything carefully. Once read, make a plan of how you will approach the scenario. Once your minute is up… deep breath and smile!  If you have any questions about how to prepare for the MRCEM OSCE exam, including advice on courses, resources, mock scenarios, online materials and revision books, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant. IMG Jobs  Search and find live emergency medicine NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor jobs, doctor salary & relocation for emergency medicine specialists Get in Touch Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss emergency medicine doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.

One of the main reasons that overseas doctors want to work in the Emergency Medicine departments across the UK, is the excellent opportunity for access to training such as the Specialist Training Programme, career progression, including CESR, and sub-specialty development.  This short article provides useful information on the training and development available, how to access the training, the best route to becoming a consultant in the UK with entry to the specialist register, no matter what stage of your training. Emergency Medicine Training, leading to CCT We start with an overview of the Emergency Medicine Training in the NHS. Trainees may enter the emergency medicine training programme via: The EM (Emergency Medicine) core training programme at ST1. This is a three-year core training programme (starting from ST1 and ending at ST3).  For the first two years, trainees will spend 6 months in EM, Intensive Care Medicine, Anaesthetics and Acute Medicine. This is followed by a further year in trauma and paediatric EM.  The start of specialty training (ST4-6) subject to having achieved the necessary competences required for completion of ST3.  Once ST6 is completed, then a doctor will be added to the specialist register for medicine and hold the title of CCT. This means that they can apply for and practice at a consultant level in the NHS.  CESR For senior Emergency Medicine doctors (experienced specialty doctors, consultants and heads of departments) there is also the option of CESR. You can apply directly for CESR from overseas, or secure a post in the NHS with CESR support and complete your application in the UK. This is a good option for those wanting to take up their first role in the NHS as a specialty doctor (leading to consultant) or as a locum consultant. Applying from abroad can be lengthy, and it is certainly not the quickest route towards specialist registration. Most IMGs prefer to secure a post with CESR support, so speak to your IMG Consultant to learn more about the best route to the UK for senior doctors seeking consultant jobs in Emergency Medicine. Most senior Emergency Medicine job vacancies advertised will offer support with CESR, access to training and career progression, and senior managers will encourage you to develop your own professional interests. Emergency medicine departments in the NHS are particularly supportive of doctors seeking to develop both personally and professionally. To find out what jobs are on offer take a look here.  If you think that a Specialty Doctor post with CESR support is suited to you, or if you are a consultant or head of department, then you can find out more information here.  For further advice on how to secure the right job for you in the NHS, take a look at our the following article. IMG Jobs  Search and find live emergency medicine NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor jobs, doctor salary & relocation for emergency medicine specialists Get in Touch Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to see what Emergency Medicine job opportunities there are for you, including access to CESR support, Core and Specialty training.  For the latest news and updates on all things emergency medicine, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

Here we explore the best way to answer NHS interview questions requiring detailed answers. The main thing to remember is that it is important to answer any NHS interview question honestly, providing details from your own clinical perspective and experiences. One useful approach to structuring your answers is called the STAR technique.  STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result  The technique is designed to help you to formulate clear, concise and relevant answers to competency-based or behavioural questions (questions that require you to give specific examples demonstrating particular skills, attributes or behaviours). During your NHS job interview you will be asked to provide details or descriptions of a time when you have faced a problem or challenge, what steps you took to deal with it and what the outcome or results were.  In answering competency-based or behavioural NHS interview questions, you should consider how to provide information for the panel to evaluate your mindset and your skill set. NHS employers will analyse your behaviours, values and approach to situations defined against the skills and qualities that high-level doctors have exhibited in the role you are applying for. In your answers to NHS interview questions, employers are looking for evidence of your clinical skills, problem-solving skills, analytical ability, perseverance, team work and collaboration, quantitative skills, or expertise.  STAR can be used to answer such questions; each letter stands for a part of your answer.  S – Situation Describe the context of the job, task or challenge that you were facing. Be specific.  T – Task Describe your duty or responsibility in this particular situation.  A – Action Describe how you completed the task or met the challenge. Focus on what you did, not what anyone else did. Say “I”.  R - Result Finally, explain the outcome or results that came about as a direct result of your actions. Emphasize what was achieved and what you learned.  We can’t predict what questions you will be asked during an NHS interview, but you’ll benefit from preparing several scenarios from the jobs you’ve held and what you anticipate will be required in the job you are applying for.  We advise that you make a list of the skills and/or experiences that are required for the job. Take a look at the job description or personal specification to find the skills/qualities required in the role and match these to your qualifications or experience. Then, consider specific examples of occasions when you displayed those skills. For each example, name the situation, task, action, and result. We also suggest that IMGs take a look at our series of articles on preparation for NHS interviews, giving you the best chance of securing the doctor role that you want in the UK. 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 doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding CESR, a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable NHS jobs & hospital locations for you. Follow us on social media for news and updates on GMC registration, the Royal College and NHS through the links below:             

Are you an overseas pathologist preparing for FRCPath Histopathology Part 2 exam? Overseas doctors often wonder how to prepare for the FRCPath Part 2 examination, especially when so much content and advice online appears geared towards UK applicants and trainee. So what study courses, resources and support is available to an overseas histopathologists looking to take the test? Here we have compiled some of our advice and resources available to help you prepare for the exam, whilst we also address some of the changes in availability of test centres and upcoming exams as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. What is FRCPath Part 2? First a quick reminder of what the FRCPath Histopathology Part 2 is. The Part 2 exam consists of six components which are taken over two days. Each component comprises a different number of cases provided in 20-minute stations or slots. The components include both written and face-to-face elements with the examiner where candidates should demonstrate and discuss both clinical & practical knowledge as well as complex diagnoses and special techniques. This is done through elements of interpreting and writing reports, interpretation and OSPE. If you want to have a more detailed overview of the FRCPath exam then take a look through the article published in our online IMG Library here, or take a look through the Royay College of Pathologists website here.  So how do I get started with my preparation? Starting is often the hardest thing to do, and as there are many resources available online, it's hard to tell where the best place is to start. After discussing this with consultants who've passed (both UK trainees and IMGs), most recommended starting with the Royal College, who have posted some useful resources on their website to aid in your preparation. Curriculum: The exam questions are based on the Curriculum for Specialist Training in Histopathology. As a first step, we recommend becoming familiar with this curriculum as early as possible to reinforce your knowledge and to provide a solid foundation for your study plan. Knowing the curriculum is key - as this is what you will be tested on. Regulations and guidelines: Ensure you have read both the general regulations and guidelines and the specialty specific regulations and guidelines. Social Media study groups: There are many social media study groups available across various platforms. These include Telegram, Facebook, WhatsApp and to a lesser extent LinkedIn. IMG Connect hosts study groups for FRCPath Part 1 and 2 exams - these are forums that bring together international doctors from all over the world into one constructive, communicative and moderated space where you can share exam tips, stories and woes, and the opportunity to buddy-up with similar colleagues looking to pass the test.  If you think you would be interested in joining either the IMG Connect FRCPath 1 or Part 2 Study groups, please email info@imgconnect.co.uk to speak to the histopathology specialist and request your admission. Online Courses for FRCPath Histopathology: There are a few online courses which provide preparation, from full mock exams to individual component courses. We've spoken with some IMGs to understand which courses they favoured, and below we have summarised a few of these. With all courses, it is advised that you register your interest as early as possible as they are in high demand. Pathology Online Hub - FRCPath Part 2 Histopathology Full Mock Exam This is a complete mock exam course with interactive live discussion sessions and individual feedback for each participant. Sessions will be delivered by UK based pathologists with extensive experience of teaching for the FRCPath exam. Participants will be provided with the mock exam for all the 7 components of FRCPath 2 under strict timed conditions closely simulating the real exam. Mock exam will include: Cytology, Short surgical cases, Long cases, Frozen section, Macroscopic examination, OSPE 1 Viva and OSPE 2 Written. Live sessions will include: Exam format and tips on how to prepare with a structured study plan, Review and discussion of all mock exam answers, Group performance summary, Common pitfalls in exam and how to avoid them, and Tips on answering technique for exam. Duration  3 days Cost  £270 (£70 registration fee and £200 payable 8 weeks prior to course start date) Next start date  TBC Website  www.pathologyonlinehub.com/full-mock-course   Oxbridge Medica - FRCPath Part 2 Mock Course This is an online 2-day practical course with both a mock examination and seminars preparing trainees for the FRCPath Part 2 Examination. This is a unique course giving trainees that all important pre-exam Mock (under exam conditions) with the papers individually marked and scored in line with the actual exam. The course speakers have knowledge of the Royal College exam - some of them are examiners, and all are experienced teachers. Duration  2 days (Day 1 = mock exam | Day 2 = review and preparation) Cost  £300 (£75 registration fee and £225 payable 4 weeks prior to course start date) Next start date  TBC Website  http://oxbridgemedica.org/product/frcpath-part-2-mock-course-20th-21st-september-2021/   Oxbridge Medica - FRCPath Part 2 Surgical Course This is an online 2-week Surgical Revision Course preparing trainees for the FRCPath Part 2 Examination and is exam oriented and includes surgical and cytology mock tests, live-streamed lectures and feedback. The course aims to provide an approach to the part 2 examination, and to cover common exam cases, whilst the trainers have been selected for their expertise within their disciplines, both in their clinical acumen but also their teaching skills. The format of the course is intense and demanding but also rewarding. Duration  2 weeks, intensive Cost   £800 (£75 registration fee and £725 payable 4 weeks prior to course start date) Next start date  TBC Website  oxbridgemedica.org/product/frcpath-part-2-surgical-course-1st-14th-september-2021 IMG Histopathologists FRCPath Part 2 Course This is a tailored FRCPath Histopathology course for overseas pathologists sitting the Part 2 exam. This course offers weekly sessions which provide an approach to the FRCPath exams for IMGs specifically, guiding them through the preparation for the exam, delivered by an experienced NHS consultant pathologist and specialist histopathology recruiters. These sessions are completely free to all doctors. The course is supplemented by additional advice and guidance on FRCPath and other registrations, GMC registration support, as well as guidance and webinars on other topics such as finding work in the NHS, relocation support and specialist registration. You can access our IMG Histopathologists FRCPath Part 2 Course by joining the Facebook group here. What other helpful FRCPath 2 resources are out there? 1. What I wish I'd known - A series of YouTube videos produced by the Royal College of Pathologists. The videos are interviews and advice from four pathologists sharing their experiences of the FRCPath Part 2 exam and what they wish they’d known before taking the exam. 2. FRCPath Part 2 Past Examination Surgical Cases – These are from Virtual Pathology at the University of Leeds. The slides can be magnified, and each case comes with a diagnosis. 3. How to Survive and Thrive in the FRCPath Part 2 - This is a detailed breakdown of the complete exam with advice and marking guidance, created by Dr James Henry, Consultant Cellular Pathologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. How has COVID-19 affected FRCPath UK and Overseas test centres & upcoming exams? The Spring session was postponed for international candidates in response to the pandemic, but discussions are taking place on the possibility of the FRCPath exam taking place at an overseas centre in Autumn 2021. Whilst the Royal College will try to accommodate as many international candidates as possible, priority will be given to candidates entering for the January sitting. IMG Advice to FRCPath 2 Aspirants Finding courses can be tricky and mock exams can cost a lot of money, so take your time to consider your options and what best suits your needs, whether that is a paid short course, or free materials which you can access whenever you need them. Speak to peers and supervisors - they may be able to offer advice based on first-hand experience of the courses or general preparation. Of course, if you need further advice on choosing an FRCPath Part 2 online course, or on this stage of qualifying to work for the NHS, don’t hesitate to get in touch with IMG Connect and request to speak to our Histopathology specialist, Marcus Anderson. He'll be happy to help. The team at IMG Connect hopes that this article and has been useful for any overseas histopathologists looking to take the FRCPath Part 2 exam. Good luck IMGs! 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:             

Vacancies for stroke medicine specialists from outside the UK can be found in a variety of ways, which for some doctors can sometimes be time-consuming and confusing. Working with IMG Connect will give you easy access to vacancies for consultants, clinical fellows, registrars, specialty doctors, trust doctors, as well as LAS posts. The IMG Connect job search is a dedicated online recruitment service for overseas doctors looking to secure a job in the NHS. View out latest Doctor Jobs in the NHS, here.  Save time and get expert advice based on your preferences  Performing a job search online can take up a lot of your time, so at IMG Connect we are here to do the time-consuming work for you. Upon registering, you will have a dedicated consultant whose role is to find jobs that match your skills, and apply for NHS jobs on your behalf.  You can receive jobs updates by E-mail to view new posts to suit your job search every day. Create a profile – it takes 30 seconds It really is that easy, so why not take advantage of our resources, time and energy to find you the right job in the NHS suited to your preferences. By providing us with some key details we can quickly assess which jobs are best suited to your preferences, and even email you job alerts for new exciting roles which we think will interest you! We understand you, and our clients When looking for a stroke medicine job in the NHS, it can be hard to try to find out key information before applying, such as: What specialty specific training there will be?  Am I likely to get a training post after taking this role? Can the trust support CESR applicants and is their CESR programme established enough for my needs?  What career progression is available for me within the stroke medicine specialty?  What is the job plan and how much time will I spend on the ward?  What is it like to work and live there?  What salary will I get paid, and can I get extra pay for additional shifts?  It can be tricky to get all the answers you want before applying online, so we spend our time getting to know both our clients and you, finding out as much key information as possible to help you to make the right decisions. Including details on the stroke medicine   department, hospital & trust, as well as an overview of what it is like to live in the area, including housing and the cost of living, as well as access to schools for your children, childcare and finding work for spouses.  Making an impact We will also provide you with top tips on CV writing, job applications and interviews, ensuring that your application and interview makes the most impact with our NHS clients.  Making it personal  Once registered, you can quickly search and apply for NHS jobs using our job search, and take advantage of many useful articles written to support you through your journey to the UK. In addition, when you sign up to 'job alerts' we will automatically email you each time a relevant Stroke medicine vacancy comes available that you may be interested in. Once logged in, you can also save job details and make applications.  By registering with IMG Connect, you will: Have a dedicated consultant who understands your preferences and will do the time-consuming job searches and applications for you. Find your ideal NHS position among thousands of unadvertised vacancies - from consultant to registrar, or specialty doctor to SHO.  Be the first to hear about new vacancies – registering with IMG Connect means that your CV will gain priority with our NHS clients, and will professionally represented by international recruitment experts. To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps: Register with IMG Connect Fill in the 'Personal details' section. Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant  Sign up to receive 'job alerts’  Search our live stroke medicine jobs Searching for stroke medicine jobs in the NHS could not be easier If you want to find out more about the many different stroke medicine roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas stroke medicine specialists into consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS roles, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, royal college qualifications and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you!             

Working with IMG Connect will give you easy access to rheumatology jobs for consultants, clinical fellows, registrars, specialty doctors, trust doctors, as well as LAS posts. Vacancies for rheumatologists from outside the UK can be found in a variety of ways, which for some doctors can sometimes be time-consuming and confusing. The IMG Connect job search is a dedicated online recruitment service for overseas doctors looking to secure a job in the NHS. View out latest Doctor Jobs in the NHS, here.  Save time and get expert advice based on your preferences  Performing a job search online can take up a lot of your time, so at IMG Connect we are here to do the time-consuming work for you. Upon registering, you will have a dedicated consultant whose role is to find jobs that match your skills, and apply for NHS jobs on your behalf.  You can receive jobs updates by E-mail to view new posts to suit your job search every day. Create a profile – it takes 30 seconds It really is that easy, so why not take advantage of our resources, time and energy to find you the right job in the NHS suited to your preferences. By providing us with some key details we can quickly assess which jobs are best suited to your preferences, and even email you job alerts for new exciting roles which we think will interest you! We understand you, and our clients When looking for a Rheumatology job in the NHS, it can be hard to try to find out key information before applying, such as: What specialty specific training there will be?  Am I likely to get a training post after taking this role? Can the trust support CESR applicants and is their CESR programme established enough for my needs?  What career progression is available for me within the Rheumatology Specialty?  What is the job plan and how much time will I spend on the ward?  What is it like to work and live there?  What salary will I get paid, and can I get extra pay for additional shifts?  It can be tricky to get all the answers you want before applying online, so we spend our time getting to know both our clients and you, finding out as much key information as possible to help you to make the right decisions. Including details on the rheumatology department, hospital & trust, as well as an overview of what it is like to live in the area, including housing and the cost of living, as well as access to schools for your children, childcare and finding work for spouses.  Making an impact We will also provide you with top tips on CV writing, job applications and interviews, ensuring that your application and interview makes the most impact with our NHS clients.  Making it personal  Once registered, you can quickly search and apply for NHS jobs using our job search, and take advantage of many useful articles written to support you through your journey to the UK. In addition, when you sign up to 'job alerts' we will automatically email you each time a relevant  Rheumatology vacancy comes available that you may be interested in. Once logged in, you can also save job details and make applications.  By registering with IMG Connect, you will: Have a dedicated consultant who understands your preferences and will do the time-consuming job searches and applications for you. Find your ideal NHS position among thousands of unadvertised vacancies - from consultant to registrar, or specialty doctor to SHO.  Be the first to hear about new vacancies – registering with IMG Connect means that your CV will gain priority with our NHS clients, and will professionally represented by international recruitment experts. To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps: Register with IMG Connect Fill in the 'Personal details' section. Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant  Sign up to receive 'job alerts’  Search our live rheumatology jobs Searching for Rheumatology jobs in the NHS could not be easier If you want to find out more about the many different rheumatology roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas rheumatologists into consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS roles, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, royal college qualifications and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you!             

Vacancies for Dermatologists from outside  the UK can be found in a variety of ways, which for some doctors can sometimes be time-consuming and confusing. Working with IMG Connect will give you easy access to vacancies for consultants, clinical fellows, registrars, specialty doctors, trust doctors, as well as LAS posts. The IMG Connect job search is a dedicated online recruitment service for overseas doctors looking to secure a job in the NHS. View out latest Doctor Jobs in the NHS, here.  Save time and get expert advice based on your preferences  Performing a job search online can take up a lot of your time, so at IMG Connect we are here to do the time-consuming work for you. Upon registering, you will have a dedicated consultant whose role is to find jobs that match your skills, and apply for NHS jobs on your behalf.  You can receive jobs updates by E-mail to view new posts to suit your job search every day. Create a profile – it takes 30 seconds It really is that easy, so why not take advantage of our resources, time and energy to find you the right job in the NHS suited to your preferences. By providing us with some key details we can quickly assess which jobs are best suited to your preferences, and even email you job alerts for new exciting roles which we think will interest you! We understand you, and our clients When looking for a Dermatology job in the NHS, it can be hard to try to find out key information before applying, such as: What specialty specific training there will be?  Am I likely to get a training post after taking this role? Can the trust support CESR applicants and is their CESR programme established enough for my needs?  What career progression is available for me within the Dermatology Specialty?  What is the job plan and how much time will I spend on the ward?  What is it like to work and live there?  What salary will I get paid, and can I get extra pay for additional shifts?  It can be tricky to get all the answers you want before applying online, so we spend our time getting to know both our clients and you, finding out as much key information as possible to help you to make the right decisions. Including details on the Dermatology department, hospital & trust, as well as an overview of what it is like to live in the area, including housing and the cost of living, as well as access to schools for your children, childcare and finding work for spouses.  Making an impact We will also provide you with top tips on CV writing, job applications and interviews, ensuring that your application and interview makes the most impact with our NHS clients.  Making it personal  Once registered, you can quickly search and apply for NHS jobs using our job search, and take advantage of many useful articles written to support you through your journey to the UK. In addition, when you sign up to 'job alerts' we will automatically email you each time a relevant  Dermatology vacancy comes available that you may be interested in. Once logged in, you can also save job details and make applications.  By registering with IMG Connect, you will: Have a dedicated consultant who understands your preferences and will do the time-consuming job searches and applications for you. Find your ideal NHS position among thousands of unadvertised vacancies - from consultant to registrar, or specialty doctor to SHO.  Be the first to hear about new vacancies – registering with IMG Connect means that your CV will gain priority with our NHS clients, and will professionally represented by international recruitment experts. To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps: Register with IMG Connect Fill in the 'Personal details' section. Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant  Sign up to receive 'job alerts’  Search our live Dermatology jobs Searching for Dermatology jobs in the NHS could not be easier If you want to find out more about the many different Dermatology roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas Dermatologists into consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS roles, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, royal college qualifications and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you!

As an overseas doctor where should you start with your PACES exam preparation? With lots of resources available online, we discussed with successful candidates for them the best place to start looking for exam materials. Whilst there are lots of fantastic courses available for IMGs to help pass their PACES exam first time, most IMGs recommended starting their preparation with free resources from the Royal College of Physicians. Using these will give you strong foundations to further supplement with any further studies or courses which you may decide to invest in. We have provided the Royal College's official resources below: Curriculum PACES station 4 examiner guidance examples PACES sample scenarios Videos - what to expect on the day PACES candidate videos Candidate guidenotes PACES marksheets General Exam Tips & Preparation  Passed? What next? It is recommended that to give yourself the best chance, you gain clinical experience involving care of emergency patients, adults and children. We advise you to regularly invite senior colleagues to observe and provide feedback on your clinical assessments, so you will be comfortable with the PACES format and give you confidence in approaching and examining patients with examiners present. Curriculum: Applicants are tested on a range of common and important disorders in General Medicine as set out in the Joint Royal Colleges Specialty Training Curriculum for Core Medical Training. We recommend getting to know the curriculum as early as possible, using it as a road map for your study plan.  PACES station 4 examiner guidance examples: This useful guide contains examples of the types of statements found in the examiner guidance section of station 4 scenarios. This will help you to understand what the examiner is looking for.  PACES sample scenarios: These will provide you with the most accurate and relevant scenarios to prepare you for the real thing. Sample scenarios cover Station 2, 4 & 5 (‘history taking’, ‘communication skills and ethics’ and ‘clinical consultations’ respectively. Most of these have been previously used in a recent exam, but please note that during the exam you will only receive the section marked ‘information for the candidate’. Videos - what to expect on the day: These helpful videos will give you a true reflection of what to expect on the day of the exam, easing some of the pressure and ensuring you can focus on the task at hand.  PACES candidate video: Whilst there are lots of useful videos online that are easy to find, the PACES candidate video contains important information about the exam, and practical examples of how the exam will run.  Candidate guidenotes: These guidenotes created by the Royal College help IMGs to understand what to expect on the day, from your arrival to the completion of the test.  PACES Marksheets: To help you understand how PACES is marked here are some examples of full marksheets. It can also be useful to understand how IMGs have failed the exam in the past, as this will give you the best chance to pass first time. The ‘how I failed PACES’ guide provides tips to help you to identify where you might be going wrong, along with practical advice to help you to improve.  General Exam Tips & Preparation: For a useful 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 - take a look at our blogs on exam tips and preparation.  Passed? What next?  First of all, congratulations! After you have passed all parts of MRCP(UK) you can apply for a full registration with a license to practice. Once the GMC have approved your application, you can work as a doctor in the UK.  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 doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding CESR, a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable NHS jobs & hospital locations for you. Follow us on social media for news and updates on GMC registration, the Royal College and NHS through the links below:             

Experienced overseas Emergency Medicine trust doctors, or consultants who have completed specialist training, can apply for specialty doctor posts in the NHS with CESR programmes included in the job plan.  So, if you are committed, motivated and enthusiastic in embracing the CESR application once in the UK, this could be the best route towards gaining entry to the specialist register. Many trusts are piloting such projects, which will support you via a CESR programme tailored to your needs. Specialist Register for Emergency Medicine All consultants (other than a locum consultant appointments) must be on the specialist register of the General Medical Council (GMC). To be eligible to apply for specialist registration with the GMC, doctors must have successfully completed a GMC-approved training programme leading to CCT, or applied for a certificate confirming Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR). Doctors who have not completed a full GMC-approved training programme and wish to have their training, qualifications and experience assessed for eligibility for entry onto the specialist register must make an application under The General and Specialist Medical Practice Order for a CESR. Working with IMG Connect & our NHS Clients Working with our NHS clients, we are offering CESR Specialty doctor roles, with the opportunity of being mentored by CESR Consultants to guide you in your application toward CESR and to participate in a job plan that is tailored to your needs. Such CESR programmes are locally developed and targeted for both International Doctors coming to work in the NHS and non-trainees wanting to apply for a CESR in Emergency Medicine. As an Emergency Medicine doctor your CESR programme will include dedicated one-to-one mentoring and a course mapped on the GMC domains for successful completion of your application.  Benefits of the CESR programme Such Specialty doctor vacancies will give you the benefit of support on your journey to achieving consultant status, give you the opportunity to adapt to working in the NHS, and help you to further your career at the most senior level.  Furthermore, job plans will typically provide you with a dedicated mentor for CESR applicants by Emergency Medicine CESR Consultants who will take you through the application process. In some circumstances practical experience will be delivered via simulation and workshops where you are at the centre of the learning experience. Most NHS trusts have experienced Emergency Medicine CESR consultants who will be available to give you support, mentorship and coaching. The post are intended to provide the emergency medicine clinician with the support and training required to successfully complete all aspects of the CESR process and attain specialist registration, allowing you to take a substantive emergency medicine post and work as a consultant in the NHS.  IMG Jobs  Search and find live emergency medicine NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor jobs, doctor salary & relocation for emergency medicine specialists Get in Touch Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss emergency medicine doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. For the latest news and updates on all things emergency medicine, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

IMGs will want to know what an NHS consultant salary could mean as monthly take-home pay in Northern Ireland. To help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use! How much will I take home? Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.  It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.  The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses. Take-Home Pay Expectations in Northern Ireland Threshold Annual gross salary* Estimated annual take-home pay** Estimated monthly take-home pay** 1 £88,799 £60,533 £5,046 2 £91,581 £62,166 £5,181 3 £94,362 £63,779 £5,315 4 £97,141 £65,391 £5,449 5 £99,913 £66,999 £5,583 6 £106,520 £69,527 £5,794 7 £113,124 £72,037 £6,003 8 £119,723 £74,544 £6,212   *before tax and pension **based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions To explore the pay and salary conditions across all grades in the UK take a look at our series of blogs on career structure and pay for NHS doctors in our IMG Resources library. IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources In our IMG Resources library you can 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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on NHS Jobs, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:             

IMGs will want to know what an NHS consultant salary could mean as monthly take-home pay in Wales. To help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use! How much will I take home? Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.  It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.  The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses. Take-Home Pay Expectations in Wales Threshold Annual gross salary* Estimated annual take-home pay** Estimated monthly take-home pay** 1 £87,354 £59,715 £4,967 2 £90,137 £61,329 £5,111 3 £94,789 £64,027 £5,336 4 £100,191 £67,122 £5,594 5 £106,363 £69,468 £5,789 6 £109,882 £70,805 £5,900 7 £113,408 £72,145 £6,012   *before tax and pension **based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions To explore the pay and salary conditions across all grades in the UK take a look at our series of blogs on career structure and pay for NHS doctors in our IMG Resources library. IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources In our IMG Resources library you can 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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on NHS Jobs, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:             

IMGs will want to know what an NHS consultant salary could mean as monthly take-home pay in England. To help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use! How much will I take home? Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.  It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.  The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses. Take-Home Pay Expectations in England Threshold Annual gross salary* Estimated annual take-home pay** Estimated monthly take-home pay** 1 £93,666 £63,376 £5,281 2 £96,599 £65,077 £5,423 3 £99,532 £66,778 £5,565 4 £102,465 £67,986 £5,666 5 £105,390 £69,098 £5,758 6 £112,356 £71,745 £5,979 7 £119,323 £74,392 £6,199 8 £126,281 £77,207 £6,434   *before tax and pension **based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions To explore the pay and salary conditions across all grades in the UK take a look at our series of blogs on career structure and pay for NHS doctors in our IMG Resources library. IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources In our IMG Resources library you can 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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on NHS Jobs, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:               

Understanding your NHS job's salary is essential for overseas doctors new to the UK and Northern Ireland in particular. Doctors are a fundamental part of delivering high quality patient care within HSC Northern Ireland and as such, they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.  NHS pay scales can be confusing, particularly for overseas doctors. Here we hope to provide some clarity to help you understand the NHS grades and how they fit on the various NHS pay scales in Northern Ireland. In this article we will take a look at the following topics:   Typical NHS doctor’s salary in Northern Ireland FY1 & FY2 Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8) Specialty Doctor Associate Specialist Consultants Where do I fit on the pay scale? Doctors in training pay scale Specialty Doctor Pay Scale Specialist Grade Pay Scale Consultant Pay Pcale Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms & conditions Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for. Trust doctor jobs and IMGs' pay It is important to note that the majority of overseas doctors will start their career in the UK in a fixed-term Trust doctor role (also known as a service post), before taking up a training position. Doctors across all grades can enter a service post, which is to say that they are not in training or entering specialty training.  As such, most of our adverts for fixed term or permanent posts will be service jobs, these are usually SAS doctor, consultant, SHO or Trust doctor posts at the equivalent of FY2, ST1/2, ST3+. These can be attractive due to the improved salaries that can be negotiated for fixed term contracts, based on experience and demand.  The pay scales that we have included in this article are to be used as a guide or starting point for negotiating your Trust doctor role (or service post).  Typical NHS doctor’s salary in Northern Ireland FY1 & FY2 In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) your basic salary is £26,713. In year two this increases to £33,133.  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 premiums.  Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8)  If you are a doctor starting your specialist training, your basic salary starts at £35,405 and can progress to £46,842. 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 premiums.  Specialty Doctor Specialty doctors currently earn from £51,000 to £80,000 basic pay.  The basic contract is for 40 hours. As a specialty doctor you can be paid for additional duties, extra hours worked, weekend work and on calls.  Specialist Grade A key element of recent SAS contract reform is the introduction of a new grade, called the Specialist grade oo Associate Specialist, which will provide an opportunity for career progression for highly experienced specialty doctors. Associate Specialists doctors can earn a basic of between £81,500 to £92,500. Consultant Consultants currently earn from £88,799 to £119,723 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.  So where do I fit on the pay scale? There are a few key points when considering where you fit on the pay scale:  Job title Experience Hours worked Trusts can be different Job title The first thing to consider is your job title.  At the Consultant level, it is straight forward, you will be a consultant. However, at the Specialty Doctor level, you could be working as an SAS doctor, a Specialty Doctor or a Trust Grade doctor. As an ST or SHO you could also work across several levels.  Each could command a different pay scale depending on the level of work and experience required.  Take some time to check the job title that you are applying and interviewing for, and subsequently the pay scale that you can expect.  Experience within your chosen field Next, consider the number of years of experience you have in your specialty, this is crucial to identifying your position on the pay scale.  This is important as an NHS Trust will calculate your pay for a Specialty Doctor in Medicine by deducting two of your years of experience to compensate for the Core Training years in the UK. Please note, for some specialties this does not apply, check with an IMG Consultant for more information.  Hours you will work The second thing to consider is how many hours you will be working. For both SAS Doctors and Consultants, the hours are usually established using PAs (programmed activities). Each PA is worth 4 hrs of your week, and a standard week is 40 hrs. A standard salary is based on a full working week of 10 PAs (40 hours). If you work above 10 PAs, then you will gain additional salary on top of your basic pay.  NHS trusts can be different The last thing to consider before we look at the pay scales, is that some NHS Trusts can interpret the pay scales and a doctor’s experience in different ways. All NHS Trusts should be following the same pay scale structures when recruiting and offering salaries to doctors, but this is not always the case!   This blog is a guideline, and if you are not sure of how to approach this discussion with an HR department, it can be very useful for an IMG Connect consultant to assist with the negotiations to ensure that your experience is always taken into account. NHS Pay Scales in Northern Ireland Doctors in Training Service level jobs are in high demand at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay. It is also important to remember that once in the UK, you will have the option to apply for training, depending on your entry level.  The below pay scale reflects the pay at each level depending on the entry points to training, which are FY1/ F1, ST1/ CT1 and ST3/ 4.  The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Foundation Doctors & Specialty Registrars Scale   Foundation Doctor 1 M220 Foundation Doctor 2 M230 Specialty Registrar (fixed term) M240 Specialty Registrar (core training) MN39 Specialty Registrar (full) MN37 Min £26,713 £33,133 £35,405 £35,405 £35,405 1 £28,381 £35,298 £37,573 £37,573 £37,573 2 £30,046 £37,466 £40,597 £40,597 £40,597 3     £42,428 £42,428 £42,428 4     £44,634 £44,634 £44,634 5     £46,842 £46,842 £46,842 6         £49,050 7         £51,256 8         £53,463 9         £55,670 SAS Doctor Pay Scale SAS stands for Staff Grade, Associate Specialist and Specialty Doctor. They will have at least four years of full-time postgraduate training, two of which have been in the relevant specialty. Specialist Grades and Specialty Doctors in Scotland have their own contracts in place for senior doctors these contracts are based in full-time work commitment of 10 programmed activities per week it has been timetabled value of four hours. The new pay structure will enable SAS doctors to access the top of the pay scale more quickly than the current system, increasing the career average earnings. It is important to note that your pay will reflect your experience within your chosen field.  The pay code on the left-hand side of the table below correlates to the number of years’ experience that you qualify for in your chosen specialty, and the number of years that the HR department are going to attribute to you.  Remember to discount any years that you have worked in an internship. And if you are working in a medicine specialty, deduct any core training years.  In the first threshold, for every year of experience you gain, this entitles you to a pay rise. In the second threshold, you will receive an increase every two years, and in the third, every three years.  The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Specialty Doctor Years' Experience Basic Salary Pay Point 0 £51,000 1 1 2 3 £58,756 2 4 5 6 £65,500 3 7 8 9 £72,500 4 10 11 12 £80,000 5 - top 13 14 15 16 17   Specialist Grade Years' Experience Basic Salary Pay Point 1 £81,500 1 2 3 4 £87,000 2 5 6 7 £92,500 3 (top) Consultant Pay Scale Service level consultant doctor jobs are in high demand in Scotland at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.  At the consultant grade, HR departments will look at your years of experience within your specialty, as a consultant.  On the table below, you can see that all you need to do is count up the total number of complete years of experience (12 months each) as a consultant, and then count down the rows to establish your salary position.  Like the above, the salary is based on a standard working week of 10 PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  Remember, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Threshold  Years completed as a consultant  Basic Salary  1  1 (starting salary)  £88,799 2  2  £91,581 3  3  £94,362 4  4  £97,141       5  5        £99,913 6  7  8  9        6  10        £106,520 11  12  13  14        7 15        £113,124 16 17 18 19 8 20+ £119,723 The most recent full pay circular for Northern Ireland can be found here.  Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms & conditions Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website.  You may be eligible for additional pay on top of your basic salary if you work above the standard 10 PAs, work on call & weekends, or take on extra responsibilities. All doctors are eligible for NHS pensions and benefits.  Sources https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-hsc-tc8-03-2022.PDF  Getting started  NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.  Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.  For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.              

Understanding your NHS job's salary is essential for overseas doctors new to the UK. Doctors play an integral part in delivering high quality patient care in the NHS and as such, they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.  NHS pay scales can be confusing, particularly for overseas doctors. Here we hope to provide some clarity to help you understand the NHS grades in Scotland and how they fit on the various NHS pay scales. In this article we will take a look at the following topics:   Trust doctor jobs and pay for IMGs Typical NHS doctor’s salary in Scotland FY1 & FY2 Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8) Specialty Doctor Specialist Grade / Associate Specialist Consultant Where do I fit on the pay scale? Doctors in training pay scale SAS Doctor pay scale Consultant pay scale Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms and conditions Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for. Trust Doctor Jobs & IMGs' Pay It is important to note that the majority of overseas doctors will start their career in the UK in a fixed term trust doctor role (also known as a service post), before taking up a training position. Doctors across all grades can enter a service post which means to say that they are not in training or entering specialty training.  As such, most of our adverts for fixed term or permanent posts will be service level jobs, these are usually SAS doctor, consultant, SHO or Trust doctor posts at the equivalent of FY2, ST1/2, ST3+. These can be attractive due to the improved doctor’s salaries that can be negotiated for fixed term contracts, based on experience and demand.  The salary pay scales that we have included in this article are to be used as a guide or starting point for negotiating your trust doctor role (or service post).  Typical NHS Doctor’s Salary in Scotland FY1 & FY2 In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) your basic salary is £27,653, increasing to a maximum of £31,106. 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 premiums.  Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8) If you are a doctor starting your specialist training in 2019, your basic salary starts at £36,472 and can progress to £48,251. 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 premiums.  Specialty Doctor Specialty doctors currently earn from £45,193 to £84,272 basic pay.  The basic contract is for 40 hours. As a specialty doctor you can be paid for additional duties, extra hours worked, weekend work and on calls.  Specialist Grade / Associate Specialist A key element of recent SAS contract reform is the introduction of a new grade, called the Specialist Grade (or Associate Specialist), which will provide an opportunity for career progression for highly experienced specialty doctors. Associate Specialists can earn a basic of between £63,361 to £103,074. Consultant Consultants currently earn from £91,474 to £121,548 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.  Placement onto Pay Scale There are a few key points when considering where you fit on the pay scale:  Job title Experience Hours worked Trusts can be different Job Title The first thing to consider is your job title.  At the Consultant level, it is straight forward, you will be a consultant. However, at the Specialty Doctor level, you could be working as an SAS doctor, a Specialty Doctor or a Trust Grade doctor. As an ST or SHO you could also work across several levels.  Each could command a different pay scale depending on the level of work and experience required.  Take some time to check the job title that you are applying and interviewing for, and subsequently the pay scale that you can expect.  Experience within your chosen field Next, consider the number of years of experience you have in your specialty, this is crucial to identifying your position on the pay scale.  This is important as an NHS Trust will calculate your pay for a Specialty Doctor in Medicine by deducting two of your years of experience to compensate for the Core Training years in the UK. Please note, for some specialties this does not apply, check with an IMG Consultant for more information.  Hours you will work The second thing to consider is how many hours you will be working. For more senior doctors, including Specialty Doctors, Associate Specialists/ Specialist Grades and Consultants, the hours are usually established using PAs (programmed activities). Each PA is worth 4 hrs of your week, and a standard week is 40 hrs. A standard salary is based on a full working week of 10 PAs (40 hours). If you work above 10 PAs, then you will gain additional salary on top of your basic pay.  NHS trusts can be different The last thing to consider before we look at the pay scales, is that some NHS Trusts can interpret the pay scales and a doctor’s experience in different ways. All NHS Trusts should be following the same pay scale structures when recruiting and offering salaries to doctors, but this is not always the case!   This blog is a guideline, and if you are not sure of how to approach this discussion with an HR department, it can be very useful for an IMG Connect consultant to assist with the negotiations to ensure that your experience is always taken into account. NHS Pay Scales in Scotland Doctors in Training Service level jobs are in high demand at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay. It is also important to remember that once in the UK, you will have the option to apply for training, depending on your entry level.  The below pay scale reflects the pay at each level depending on the entry points to training, which are FY1/ F1, ST1/ CT1 and ST3/ 4.  The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Foundation Doctors & Specialty Registrars Scale   Foundation Doctor 1 MN13 Foundation Doctor 2 MN13 Specialty Registrar (fixed term) MN35  Specialty Registrar (core training) MN39 Specialty Registrar (full) MN37 Min £27,653 £34,299 £36,472 £36,472 £36,472 1 £29,380 £36,543 £38,704 £38,704 £38,704 2 £31,106 £38,787 £41,821 £41,821 £41,821 3     £43,706 £43,706 £43,706 4     £45,978 £45,978 £45,978 5     £48,251 £48,251 £48,251 6         £50,527 7         £52,800 8         £55,073 9         £57,349 SAS Doctor Pay Scale SAS stands for Staff Grade, Associate Specialist and Specialty Doctor. They will have at least four years of full-time postgraduate training, two of which have been in the relevant specialty. Specialist Grades and Specialty Doctors in Scotland have their own contracts in place for senior doctors these contracts are based in full-time work commitment of 10 programmed activities per week it has been timetabled value of four hours. The new pay structure will enable SAS doctors to access the top of the pay scale more quickly than the current system, increasing the career average earnings. It is important to note that your pay will reflect your experience within your chosen field.  The pay code on the left-hand side of the table below correlates to the number of years’ experience that you qualify for in your chosen specialty, and the number of years that the HR department are going to attribute to you.  Remember to discount any years that you have worked in an internship. And if you are working in a medicine specialty, deduct any core training years.  In the first threshold, for every year of experience you gain, this entitles you to a pay rise. In the second threshold, you will receive an increase every two years, and in the third, every three years.  The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Pay Point Specialty Doctor Associate Specialist Pay Point Progression 0 £45,193 £63,361 1 year 1 £49,057 £68,454 1 year 2 £54,080 £73,546 1 year 3 £56,772 £80,271 1 year 4 £60,651 £86,099 1 year Threshold 1 5 £64,516 £88,517 2 years 6 £68,466 £91,673 2 years 7 £72,418 £93,880 2 years Threshold 2 8 £76,370 £96,945 3 years 9 £80,321 £100,008 3 years 10 £84,272 £103,074 N/A Consultant Pay Scale Service level consultant doctor jobs are in high demand in Scotland at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.  At the consultant grade, HR departments will look at your years of experience within your specialty, as a consultant.  On the table below, you can see that all you need to do is count up the total number of complete years of experience (12 months each) as a consultant, and then count down the rows to establish your salary position.  Like the above, the salary is based on a standard working week of 10 PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  Remember, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Years consultant experience Basic salary Pay point 1 £91,474 1 year 2 £93,406 1 year 3 £96,185 1 year 4 £98,967 1 year 5 £101,741 5 years 6 £101,741 4 years 7 £101,741 3 years 8 £101,741 2 years 9 £101,741 1 year 10 £108,345 5 years 11 £108,345 4 years 12 £108,345 3 years 13 £108,345 2 years 14 £108,345 1 year 15 £114,949 5 years 16 £114,949 4 years 17 £114,949 3 years 18 £114,949 2 years 19 £114,949 1 year 20 £121,548 N/A Additional Pay, Benefits, Pensions and Terms & Conditions Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in the pay and conditions circulars here. You may be eligible for additional pay on top of your basic salary if you work above the standard 10 PAs, work on call & weekends, or take on extra responsibilities. All doctors are eligible for NHS pensions and benefits.  Sources https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pcs/PCS2022(DD)01.pdf Getting started  NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.  Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.  For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.              

Understanding your NHS job's salary is essential for overseas doctors new to the UK. Doctors play an integral part in delivering high quality patient care in the NHS and as such, they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.  NHS pay scales can be confusing, particularly for overseas doctors. Here we hope to provide some clarity to help you understand the NHS grades in Wales and how they fit on the various NHS pay scales. In this article we will take a look at the following topics:   Trust doctor jobs and pay for IMGs Typical NHS doctor’s salary in Wales FY1 & FY2 Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8) Specialty Doctor Specialist Grade / Associate Specialist Consultant Where do I fit on the pay scale? Doctors in training pay scale Specialty Doctor pay scale Associate Specialist pay scale Consultant pay scale Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms and conditions Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for. Trust Doctor Jobs & IMGs' Pay It is important to note that the majority of overseas doctors will start their career in the UK in a fixed term trust doctor role (also known as a service post), before taking up a training position. Doctors across all grades can enter a service post which means to say that they are not in training or entering specialty training.  As such, most of our adverts for fixed term or permanent posts will be service level jobs, these are usually SAS doctor, consultant, SHO or Trust doctor posts at the equivalent of FY2, ST1/2, ST3+. These can be attractive due to the improved doctor’s salaries that can be negotiated for fixed term contracts, based on experience and demand.  The salary pay scales that we have included in this article are to be used as a guide or starting point for negotiating your trust doctor role (or service post).  Typical NHS Doctor’s Salary in Wales FY1 & FY2 In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) your basic salary is £27,115, increasing to a maximum of £30,502. 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 premiums.  Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8) If you are a doctor starting your specialist training in 2019, your basic salary starts at £35,940 and can progress to £47,547. 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 premiums.  Specialty Doctor Specialty doctors currently earn from £51,379 to £80,331 basic pay.  The basic contract is for 40 hours. As a specialty doctor you can be paid for additional duties, extra hours worked, weekend work and on calls.  Specialist Grade / Associate Specialist A key element of recent SAS contract reform is the introduction of a new grade, called the Specialist Grade (or Associate Specialist), which will provide an opportunity for career progression for highly experienced specialty doctors. Associate Specialists can earn a basic of between £81,903 to £92,958. Consultant Consultants currently earn from £87,354 to £113,408 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.  Placement onto Pay Scale There are a few key points when considering where you fit on the pay scale:  Job title Experience Hours worked Trusts can be different Job Title The first thing to consider is your job title.  At the Consultant level, it is straight forward, you will be a consultant. However, at the Specialty Doctor level, you could be working as an SAS doctor, a Specialty Doctor or a Trust Grade doctor. As an ST or SHO you could also work across several levels.  Each could command a different pay scale depending on the level of work and experience required.  Take some time to check the job title that you are applying and interviewing for, and subsequently the pay scale that you can expect.  Experience within your chosen field Next, consider the number of years of experience you have in your specialty, this is crucial to identifying your position on the pay scale.  This is important as an NHS Trust will calculate your pay for a Specialty Doctor in Medicine by deducting two of your years of experience to compensate for the Core Training years in the UK. Please note, for some specialties this does not apply, check with an IMG Consultant for more information.  Hours you will work The second thing to consider is how many hours you will be working. For more senior doctors, including Specialty Doctors, Associate Specialists/ Specialist Grades and Consultants, the hours are usually established using PAs (programmed activities). Each PA is worth 4 hrs of your week, and a standard week is 40 hrs. A standard salary is based on a full working week of 10 PAs (40 hours). If you work above 10 PAs, then you will gain additional salary on top of your basic pay.  NHS trusts can be different The last thing to consider before we look at the pay scales, is that some NHS Trusts can interpret the pay scales and a doctor’s experience in different ways. All NHS Trusts should be following the same pay scale structures when recruiting and offering salaries to doctors, but this is not always the case!   This blog is a guideline, and if you are not sure of how to approach this discussion with an HR department, it can be very useful for an IMG Connect consultant to assist with the negotiations to ensure that your experience is always taken into account. NHS Pay Scales in Wales Doctors in Training Service level jobs are in high demand at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay. It is also important to remember that once in the UK, you will have the option to apply for training, depending on your entry level.  The below pay scale reflects the pay at each level depending on the entry points to training, which are FY1/ F1, ST1/ CT1 and ST3/ 4.  The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Foundation Doctors & Specialty Registrars Scale   Foundation Doctor 1 MN13 Foundation Doctor 2 MN13 Specialty Registrar (fixed term) MN35  Specialty Registrar (core training) MN39 Specialty Registrar (full) MN37 Min £27,115 £33,633 £35,940 £35,940 £35,940 1 £28,808 £35,833 £38,137 £38,137 £38,137 2 £30,502 £38,031 £41,209 £41,209 £41,209 3     £43,068 £43,068 £43,068 4     £45,305 £45,305 £45,305 5     £47,547 £47,547 £47,547 6         £49,787 7         £52,028 8         £54,267 9         £56,510 Specialty Doctor Pay Scale Service level specialty doctor jobs are in high demand in England at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.  It is important to note that your pay will reflect your experience within your chosen field.  The pay code on the left-hand side of the table below correlates to the number of years’ experience that you qualify for in your chosen specialty, and the number of years that the HR department are going to attribute to you.  Remember to discount any years that you have worked in an internship. And if you are working in a medicine specialty, deduct any core training years.  In the first threshold, for every year of experience you gain, this entitles you to a pay rise. In the second threshold, you will receive an increase every two years, and in the third, every three years.  The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Specialty Doctor Pay Scale Code Scale Value Basic Salary MC75-01 1 £51,765 MC75-02   £51,765 MC75-03   £51,765 MC75-04 2 £59,637 MC75-05   £59,637 MC75-06   £59,637 MC75-07 3 £66,482 MC75-08   £66,482 MC75-09   £66,482 MC75-10 4 £73,587 MC75-11   £73,587 MC75-12   £73,587 MC75-13 5 £81,200 MC75-14   £81,200 MC75-15   £81,200 MC75-16   £81,200 MC75-17   £81,200 MC75-18   £81,200 Specialist Grade / Associate Specialist SAS stands for Staff Grade, Associate Specialist and Specialty Doctor. They will have at least four years of full-time postgraduate training, two of which have been in the relevant specialty. Specialist Grades and Specialty Doctors in Wales have their own contracts in place for senior doctors these contracts are based in full-time work commitment of 10 programmed activities per week it has been timetabled value of four hours. The new pay structure will enable SAS doctors to access the top of the pay scale more quickly than the current system, increasing the career average earnings. Associate Specialist Pay Scale Code Scale Value Basic Salary MC70–01 1 £82,722 MC70-02   £82,722 MC70-03   £82,722 MC70-04 2 £88,305 MC70-05 MC70-06     £88,305 £88,305 MC70-07 3 £93,887 Consultant Pay Scale Service level consultant doctor jobs are in high demand in Wales at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.  At the consultant grade, HR departments will look at your years of experience within your specialty, as a consultant.  On the table below, you can see that all you need to do is count up the total number of complete years of experience (12 months each) as a consultant, and then count down the rows to establish your salary position.  It is important to note that for locum consultants, there is a fixed pay point of £100,381 which will apply regardless of your years of consultant experience. Therefore, the consultant pay scale below only applies to substantive or permanent contracts. Like the above, the salary is based on a standard working week of 10 PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  Remember, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Consultant Pay Scale Code Years completed as a consultant Basic Salary ZM81 / ZK81 / ZL81 / ZC81 Min £87,354 1 £90,137 2 £94,789 3 £100,191 4 £106,363 5 £109,882 6 £113,408 Additional Pay, Benefits, Pensions and Terms & Conditions Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in the pay and conditions circulars here. You may be eligible for additional pay on top of your basic salary if you work above the standard 10 PAs, work on call & weekends, or take on extra responsibilities. All doctors are eligible for NHS pensions and benefits.  Sources https://www.nhs.wales/files/pc-resources/042023-md-circular/  Getting started  NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.  Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.  For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.              

Are you an overseas psychiatrist taking the postgraduate route to GMC registration? Are you just beginning your journey through the MRCPsych exams?   Today, we’re back with Dr Kevin Li, who will be sharing some top tips on the MRCPsych Paper A and Paper B for overseas MRCPsych A & B aspirants. Kevin is a brilliant psychiatry specialty doctor who relocated to the UK from Hong Kong, having passed the MRCPsych and received full GMC registration with license to practice.  1. Start with the Royal College website  This is the best place to begin as it has key information including the syllabus - on which the exam is based, helping to guide the course of your preparation and revision.  2. Don’t use resources that are more than 3 years old – 5 years maximum  The curriculum and syllabus for Specialty Training in Psychiatry are updated regularly, so it’s best to find and use resources that are as up-to-date as possible.  3. Don’t combine study for Paper A and Paper B  Focus on each paper as an individual element – they each have different requirements, including what sections of the syllabus they are targeting and how much experience you must have before sitting the exam.   4. Divide your time according to the marks weighting of the sections  For example, general adult and critical review have the most marks in the exam, with 20% and 33.5% respectively, so you should prioritise these in your revision, then try to spend a proportionate amount of time on each section based on the marks it holds.  5. Perfect what you know  If there are any areas you are experienced or confident in, try to perfect these in order to gain the most marks possible in what you find to be the least challenging areas. These areas may also be easier to revise if they are better aligned with your training and practice to date.  6. Which exam should you sit first? It depends  If you want to pass the exams as quickly as possible, it makes sense to apply for the nearest upcoming diet of whichever exam comes first.   Knowledge wise Paper B has more sections and requires a lot more time and practice, particularly for critical review calculations. This combined with the Royal College’s advice of having 12 months’ experience in psychiatry before sitting the exam means that for most people, sitting Paper A first is the best choice.  7. Use diagrams for more challenging topics  Find or better still, create diagrams to better illustrate and explain the mor difficult to understand topics. Especially where you have little experience of a topic, it can be helpful to represent it visually.  8. Keep difficult topics fresh in your mind  If you need longer than 3 months to prepare for either exam, either leave the more difficult topics to the end of your revision or begin with them and be sure to revisit them at the end. You may not retain this information long-term, so it’s important to have it as fresh in your mind as possible when coming up to the exam.  9. Take time off before the exam for intense study  If you can, try to put some time aside in the week(s) coming up to the exam to for a final push of intense study before the exam.  10. Practice is key  Books are great resources for increasing your overall psychiatry knowledge, however they are not necessarily the best resources for the Paper A and Paper B exams. Question banks and past papers such as SPMM are very useful in preparing for the MRCPsych Paper A & B.  Getting started For access to a community of like-minded MRCPsych aspirants and dedicated psychiatry recruiters, join the IMG Psychiatrists Facebook group.   For 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.                         The postgraduate route to GMC registration, whilst not the fastest, can be the most rewarding in the long run. The MRCPsych exams are the central components of psychiatry training in the UK, and as an international psychiatrist, this is the route that allows you to most closely align your qualifications with the requirements of more senior jobs in the NHS. 

NHS jobs for neurologists from outside the UK can be found in a variety of ways, which for some doctors can sometimes be time-consuming and confusing. Working with IMG Connect will give you easy access to vacancies for consultants, clinical fellows, registrars, specialty doctors, trust doctors, as well as LAS posts. The IMG Connect job search is a dedicated online recruitment service for overseas doctors looking to secure a job in the NHS. View our latest Doctor Jobs in the NHS, here.  Save time and get expert advice based on your preferences  Performing a job search online can take up a lot of your time, so at IMG Connect we are here to do the time-consuming work for you. Upon registering, you will have a dedicated consultant whose role is to find jobs that match your skills, and apply for NHS jobs on your behalf.  You can receive jobs updates by E-mail to view new posts to suit your job search every day. Create a profile – it takes 30 seconds It really is that easy, so why not take advantage of our resources, time and energy to find you the right job in the NHS suited to your preferences. By providing us with some key details we can quickly assess which jobs are best suited to your preferences, and even email you job alerts for new exciting roles which we think will interest you! We understand you, and our clients When looking for a Neurology job in the NHS, it can be hard to try to find out key information before applying, such as: What specialty specific training there will be?  Am I likely to get a training post after taking this role? Can the trust support CESR applicants and is their CESR programme established enough for my needs?  What career progression is available for me within the Neurology Specialty?  What is the job plan and how much time will I spend on the ward?  What is it like to work and live there?  What salary will I get paid, and can I get extra pay for additional shifts?  It can be tricky to get all the answers you want before applying online, so we spend our time getting to know both our clients and you, finding out as much key information as possible to help you to make the right decisions. Including details on the neurology department, hospital & trust, as well as an overview of what it is like to live in the area, including housing and the cost of living, as well as access to schools for your children, childcare and finding work for spouses.  Making an impact We will also provide you with top tips on CV writing, job applications and interviews, ensuring that your application and interview makes the most impact with our NHS clients.  Making it personal  Once registered, you can quickly search and apply for NHS jobs using our job search, and take advantage of many useful articles written to support you through your journey to the UK. In addition, when you sign up to 'job alerts' we will automatically email you each time a relevant Neurology vacancy comes available that you may be interested in. Once logged in, you can also save job details and make applications.  By registering with IMG Connect, you will: Have a dedicated consultant who understands your preferences and will do the time-consuming job searches and applications for you. Find your ideal NHS position among thousands of unadvertised vacancies - from consultant to registrar, or specialty doctor to SHO.  Be the first to hear about new vacancies – registering with IMG Connect means that your CV will gain priority with our NHS clients, and will professionally represented by international recruitment experts. To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps: Register with IMG Connect Fill in the 'Personal details' section. Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant  Sign up to receive 'job alerts’  Search our live neurology jobs Searching for Neurology jobs in the NHS could not be easier If you want to find out more about the many different neurology roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas neurologists into consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS roles, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, royal college qualifications and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you!

Vacancies for overseas Geriatricians are plenty...  Working with IMG Connect will give you easy access to vacancies for consultants, clinical fellows, registrars, specialty doctors, trust doctors, as well as LAS posts. The IMG Connect job search is a dedicated online recruitment service for overseas doctors looking to secure a job in the NHS. View out latest Doctor Jobs in the NHS, here.  Save time and get expert advice based on your preferences  Performing a job search online can take up a lot of your time, so at IMG Connect we are here to do the time-consuming work for you. Upon registering, you will have a dedicated consultant whose role is to find jobs that match your skills, and apply for NHS jobs on your behalf.  You can receive jobs updates by E-mail to view new posts to suit your job search every day. Create a profile – it takes 30 seconds We understand you, and our clients When looking for a Geriatric Medicine job in the NHS, it can be hard to try to find out key information before applying, such as: What specialty specific training there will be?  Am I likely to get a training post after taking this role? Can the trust support CESR applicants and is their CESR programme established enough for my needs?  What career progression is available for me within the Geriatric Medicine Specialty?  What is the job plan and how much time will I spend on the ward?  What is it like to work and live there?  What salary will I get paid, and can I get extra pay for additional shifts?  It can be tricky to get all the answers you want before applying online, so we spend our time getting to know both our clients and you, finding out as much key information as possible to help you to make the right decisions. Including details on the Geriatric Medicine department, hospital & trust, as well as an overview of what it is like to live in the area, including housing and the cost of living, as well as access to schools for your children, childcare and finding work for spouses.  Making an impact We will also provide you with top tips on CV writing, job applications and interviews, ensuring that your application and interview makes the most impact with our NHS clients.  Making it personal  Once registered, you can quickly search and apply for NHS jobs using our job search, and take advantage of many useful articles written to support you through your journey to the UK. In addition, when you sign up to 'job alerts' we will automatically email you each time a relevant Geriatric Medicine vacancy comes available that you may be interested in. Once logged in, you can also save job details and make applications. By registering with IMG Connect, you will: Have a dedicated consultant who understands your preferences and will do the time-consuming job searches and applications for you. Find your ideal NHS position amongst thousands of unadvertised vacancies - from consultant to registrar, or specialty doctor to SHO.  Be the first to hear about new vacancies – registering with IMG Connect means that your CV will gain priority with our NHS clients, and will professionally represented by international recruitment experts. To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps: Register with IMG Connect Fill in the 'Personal details' section. Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant  Sign up to receive 'job alerts’  Search our live Geriatric Medicine jobs Searching for Geriatric Medicine jobs in the NHS could not be easier If you want to find out more about the many different Geriatric Medicine roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas Geriatric Medicine Specialists into consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS roles, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, royal college qualifications and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you!

Here we look at finding an NHS doctor job in emergency medicine and why you should choose a career in the NHS. We will explore the growing demand for Emergency Medicine specialists, offering guidance on how to find the right job suited to your own professional preferences, discussing how to research work in the NHS ER, criteria for GMC registration, (MRCEM, FRCEM & IELTS exemption) as well as some useful resources to get you started.  Growth in Emergency Medicine means that the NHS will rely on recruiting more overseas emergency medicine specialists in order to meet growing demand to fill jobs across the country. Emergency care departments and the doctors who work within them are the foundations of the NHS. Staff working in EDs in the UK deliver high quality patient care for all patients presenting with minor or critical life-threatening and life-changing conditions.  We hope that you too will consider working in some of the best ERs in the world across the NHS.  First steps towards your new job in the NHS:  A stable workforce within the ED departments across the UK is crucial, as such at IMG Connect we have developed a specialist approach to Emergency Medicine recruitment. Responding to staffing challenges within EDs in the NHS, we have created a dedicated department for Emergency medicine specialists, where you will work with a dedicated consultant who makes it their responsibility to know your chosen field inside and out. We have taken steps to ensure that IMG Connect and NHS organisations collectively work to help recruit and retain the very best specialists, ensuring a large enough workforce with the right skills, behaviours and values to deliver care in our EDs. No matter what stage you are at in the process of relocating to the UK, you can speak with a specialist consultant in Emergency medicine, who will work with you to establish the areas that we can offer the most effective support for you.  Why choose to work in Emergency Medicine in the UK? The Emergency Department is where the public know to come when they need help, they value the service and in return you have the privilege of helping people when they are most in need. Here are a few of the reasons to work in Emergency Medicine in the NHS:  You work with the full range of illness and injury, in all types of patients. The ED department in the UK means that you will see the ‘best bits’ of all the specialties.  There are no long ward rounds.  Flexible working exists in all departments, giving you the chance to have a better quality of life. Don’t believe the myths! Flexible working as a consultant is the most flexible in the NHS.  Flexible sessional working allows for a more family friendly environment.  The Emergency Department is the front door of the Hospital and the ‘shopwindow’ of the NHS.  Staff morale is high, despite working in a challenging environment.  You will work as part of a team - with a shared team spirit and camaraderie  You will have access to excellent opportunities to develop a special interest in almost any subspecialty or area of interest.  Career progression and stability is always available Access to CESR and the specialist register is widespread, and hospitals are highly supportive to overseas doctors to make sure that this progression happens Recognised subspecialties and niche personal interests are encouraged Consultant vacancies have increased making this specialism more and more of a attractive career choice in EM  EM is an excellent career choice for those looking for flexibility and balance. Do some research:  Don’t just take our word for it, we advise that you do some research online to explore the various opportunities and experiences that await you in the Emergency Department in the NHS.  There are many free resources available to help you explore what it is like to work in an ED in the UK, here are a few that we think will be useful:  The Royal College of Emergency Medicine   Paediatric Emergency Medicine UK   Emergency Medicine Trainees’ Association (EMTA)   Forum for Associate Specialist and Staff Grade Doctors in Emergency Medicine (FASSGEM) The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (Careers) The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (Training) Health Careers Don’t forget, we are always here to answer any questions you may have and offer our support in any way we can.  Find out what jobs are available:  There has been significant investment in the UK geared towards growing the number of ED trust doctors, SHOs, specialty doctors and consultants over recent years. There are many ways to get access to these jobs, including online via NHS jobs, through networks of doctors, and through an agency, such as IMG Connect.  You can search jobs and apply for Emergency Medicne jobs here.  Working with an IMG Connect specialist in Emergency Medicine you will receive access to the widest possible range of current and future vacancies in the UK. Better still, your consultant will spend time getting to know you personally, understanding both your personal and professional relocation needs. A key benefit in terms of working with a specialist is that they will be able to give you an honest assessment of each job, including but not exclusive to, advice on the following: the hospital, standards and CQC reports, working in the ED, the local area, cost of living, housing, quality of life, job expectations and career progression. Advice that is designed to ensure you can settle into life in the UK and focus on your career in the NHS.  Speak to a consultant today to discuss your career options in the NHS and get the widest access to jobs and advice.  Get the right qualifications:  All Emergency Medicine doctors looking to secure a job and work in the UK, whether you are from inside or outside of Europe, will need to satisfy certain criteria to fully register with the Emergency Medical Council (GMC) before beginning their journey in the NHS. If you qualified as a doctor outside the EEA, then you will have to demonstrate that both your medical knowledge & skills and English Language capabilities meet the level required to practice safely in the UK.  In addition, you will need to apply for a visa from the UK Home Office.  Take a look at our articles on each qualification:  English Language Testing Evidence of Knowledge & Skills PLAB MRCEM FRCEM Tier 2 Visas Full GMC Registration English language exemption:  Many trusts or hospitals will be able to offer English Language test exemption for overseas doctors in emergency medicine specifically. This is a process that can be used when an ER needs to meet demand for doctors quickly. Not every hospital will accept IELTS exemption, so relying on this process means that the number of available posts could be reduced slightly. That said, a great number of our NHS partners are able to offer this exemption, to establish what this could mean for you, our best advice is to speak to an IMG Consultant to discuss further.  In summary, Emergency Medicine in the NHS has developed into one of the most exciting and rewarding careers, offering great opportunity for career progression through the specialist training programme or CESR. It attracts individuals who thrive on challenge and variety and can offer professional development in areas of personal interest. Working with an IMG Consultant specialist in Emergency Medicine will give you access to the best advice and job opportunities. As well as helping you to make decisions about the hospitals you wish to work in, they will also ensure you and your family relocate and settle into your new life in the UK. IMG Jobs  Search and find live emergency medicine NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor jobs, doctor salary & relocation for emergency medicine specialists Get in Touch Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss emergency medicine job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding, CESR, a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable NHS job & hospital locations for you. For the latest news and updates on all things emergency medicine, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

NHS doctor interviews require preparation....  And familiarising yourself with NHS interview questions & answers will help you make a great impression to a potential employer. This helpful article on NHS interviews for doctors is aimed at helping you prepare for different scenarios as well as questions and answers to create a good impression.  In this article we look at the following topics:  Preparing for your interview Where do I start with my research? What can i do to prepare? Preparing for the types of questions you may be asked FAQs Clinical questions Competency-based questions Direct questions Behavioural skills questions Prepare questions to ask the interviewers Preparing for your NHS doctor interview: Getting invited to an interview means you’ve passed the first hurdle – your CV must have made a good impression so now it's time to prepare. There are some key questions to consider before you start:  What do you know about the employer? (hospital & trust) What do you know about the service?  What do you know about the job?  What do you know about the team structure? Who will you be reporting to?  What will the interview be like?  Who will be interviewing you? What questions do you need to prepare?  For doctors, these are just a few of the interview questions that you should now be asking yourself as you start to prepare for your NHS interview. Why? Knowing as much as possible about the vacancy that you are interviewing for will help you answer questions with relevant points, ask questions to spark conversation, sound confident and well researched, overall helping you to make a good impact.  Where do I start with my research? Know the trust and department Firstly, find out about the employer and the job. Speak with your IMG Consultant who knows the hospital or trust well, they can provide you with reading materials & information packs, job descriptions, information on recent developments, trust objectives and values.  In some circumstances we will be able to arrange an informal chat with someone working in the Trust, or even better an IMG who has recently joined the Trust and has been through the same situation.  We always recommend taking a broad look at the trust online, use their official website to understand the trust structures, departments and services, as well as recent advances within the department you are applying for and the training programmes offered. It is important to take the time to learn about their department and organisation. Knowing the job you are applying for will give you a better chance of securing it.  Know the interview panel Secondly, discuss with your IMG Connect consultant and find out what the interview will involve, making sure you are prepared.  Consider who will be on the panel and what their roles are. Do some homework and look up the hospital online, you may be able to find some key information to help you to understand your panel in more detail. Use LinkedIn to connect with panel members, or just to look at their experience and contributions to the trust as a whole.  What can I do to prepare?  Think about preparing in the following areas to give yourself the best chance of success in your interview: Job description & person specification: Get to know what the trust wants, and work this into your answers, matching to your skills and experience.  Take time to review and analyse the content of your current CV matched to the specifications of the job that you want and the Trust you want to work for. Consider how you will contribute to the service and how you will meet or exceed their standards.  Trust vision and values: Look up the trust values, measure yourself against them and consider what you will offer to the service. Explore the Trust values and policies for best practice and consider how you will meet/achieve these in your daily work as well as in your career. Conduct research on the hospital and familiarise yourself with any recent developments and advances within the team you are applying for. Consider the training programmes offered via the hospital and the structure of department and staffing. Selling yourself: Your CV functions as a way of recording all your achievements, skills, and experiences, and your interview is your opportunity to share these and sell them to your prospective employer. You will likely be asked questions regarding your career, so review your CV regularly with a focus on points relevant for the role you are interviewing for.  Preparing questions and answers for your interview: You will be asked a range of questions throughout your interview, some short and direct, others more detailed and clinically specific. As such we advise preparing a wide range of questions and answers to give you a head start in the interview and every chance of success.  Preparing for the types of interview questions for doctors that you may be asked: Before we look at each type of NHS interview questions for doctors in detail, it is important to say that you should prepare concise answers. These should of course be full of facts and detail but be succinct – stick to two or three sentences where you can.  FAQs: As part of the interview you will likely be asked a few FAQs, these can be hard to predict and can be general in nature. The interview panel will want to know why you are an excellent fit for the job. Try to answer without giving too much, or too little personal information. These relate to you, your ambition, how you cope in situations, working in the UK, personality traits and so on. Prepare a number of answers you can rely on. We have included some recent examples below:  FAQs Tell me about yourself. Why do you want to work here?  Why do you want to work in this specialty? Where do you see yourself in 3 – 5 years?  Do you have an interest in… further training? Research? Teaching? Audit?  Why do you want to work in the NHS?  What do you know about our service?  What do you know about us?  What impact would you like to make here?  What concerns you about a career in this specialty? What are the challenges facing this specialty in the next five years? Is the clinical governance system really necessary? What are the main issues facing the NHS over the next five years? If you could change one thing in the NHS what would it be? Do you think doctors are misrepresented by the media? What do you want from your career? Looking over your CV, could you pick two or three achievements which you are most proud of? If you could go back to your first day of medical school and do all of your training again, what would you do differently? We are interviewing many high calibre candidates, why should we appoint you? Clinical questions:  Undoubtedly you will be asked relevant questions in a clinical context, do your homework on the service and relate this to your own practice. Clinical questions are hard to predict, so prepare a wide range of responses and review your own practice against the trust you are applying for.  Consider how you deal with certain aspects of your role, including:  Clinical techniques Equipment Prescribing History taking and management planning Clinical judgement Physical examination procedures Knowledge of specialism Ethical dilemmas & practice Professional behaviour Trust policies Communication & team discussions Input from senior colleagues Remember, interview panels want to feel confident that you will be able to adapt quickly to practice in the UK, so don’t forget you will be working in the NHS and all answers should reflect current practice in the UK. Competency-based questions (typically clinical questions): Many clinical questions will ask you to explain what you would do, often these require detailed answers, with several variables. Competency-based questions are focused on actual experiences and ask specific questions that require you to give examples from past experience. Reflect on your practice, how you deal with situations, and how you work with your multidisciplinary team to ensure the best care and outcomes for the patient. The STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a useful model for describing your capability and competency. When preparing answers these should be in depth, a lack of depth means your answer lacks impact. The STAR technique will ensure your answers are structured, don’t talk in broad terms – give specific examples.  Briefly describe: S - the background to the specific situation T - the task being undertaken, specifically describe your responsibility A - what action you took  R - describe the result of your actions Example competency-based questions: Give an example of a time when someone has complained about your work or when you’ve known that someone wasn’t pleased with your work? Give an example of a time you had to work with a group of people on a project or another job? Describe a recent patient interaction which shows your ability to create trust and what steps would you take to develop an effective relationship with your patient. Can you please detail a time when a new and different approach to your patient proved beneficial? What did you do and what was the outcome? Direct questions: Whilst most questions will be broad, be prepared for direct questions, such as:  What specifically qualifies you for this position? What do you know about us?  Why do you want this job? Where do you see yourself in 3 years? Take a second to compose your answer and avoid a jumbled response.  Behavioural skills questions: These cover a wide range of behavioural skills necessary to be successful in your NHS role, i.e. communication, problem-solving, teamwork, managing others, organisation, empathy and so on. As these can be hugely varied in nature, we have included a table of examples:  Communication Skills Describe a situation where your communication skills had a positive effect upon patient care. How do you know that you are a good communicator? How would you like to develop your skills further? Give an example of how your communication skills have enabled you to develop effective relationships with your colleagues. Describe a time when you found it difficult to communicate with a colleague or patient. What did you do and how did you feel? Problem Solving and Decision Making Describe a difficult problem you have faced at work. How did you contribute to the solution? Give an example of a difficult decision you have made recently. How did you decide what to do? Describe a time when you felt that you made the wrong decision. How did you feel and what has happened as a result? What is your strategy dealing with difficult problems at work? Do you always know the right thing to do in any given situation? Managing Others and Team Involvement Describe a time when you have led a team successfully. Describe a time when you have supported a colleague with a work related issue. Outline a situation where you have had to motivate work colleagues to do something that they did not agree with. Which do you prefer, leading a team, or being a team member? Empathy and Sensitivity Why is it important for doctors to demonstrate empathy and sensitivity? Describe a situation where your sensitivity to a patient's perspective altered the way that you managed their care? Describe a situation where you have demonstrated sensitivity or empathy towards one of your colleagues. Do you really need to show sensitivity and empathy to be a good doctor or are clinical skills and knowledge more important? Organisation and Planning How do you keep yourself organised at work? What strategies do you use to plan your work effectively? How do you cope when unexpected and unplanned work is added to your workload? What advice would you give to an FY1 doctor on their first day, about being organised at work? How have your planning skills had a positive impact upon those around you? Vigilance and Situational Awareness Describe an example of when your awareness of a developing situation at work, enabled you to avoid a problem or difficulty. What impact has clinical governance had on your work to date? Why is vigilance an important attribute to have for this specialty? Describe a situation where you lacked awareness of a developing situation, resulting in difficulty for you, your colleagues, or a patient. Coping with Pressure How do you cope with pressure? Describe a situation where you found yourself under conflicting pressures. What did you do to resolve them to the satisfaction of everyone involved? What do you do when you can no longer cope with the pressures of your workload? What strategies do you have in place to manage your workload and the pressure that you are under? How have you used your initiative to manage your work effectively, and reduce the pressure that you are under? Professional Integrity Give an example of a clinical scenario where you made a mistake. What did you do about it? What do you understand by the term 'professional integrity' and can you give an example where you have shown professional integrity at work? Why is it important for doctors to demonstrate integrity in all elements of their work? Is it ever justifiable to bend or break the rules at work? Have you ever done so? What would you do if you overheard a senior colleague making an inappropriate remark to a patient? How would you respond if one of your patients asked you out on a date? Clinical Knowledge and Expertise Describe a difficult clinical scenario you have been involved in. How did you contribute? Describe the most interesting case you have been involved in recently. How did you contribute to the management of the case? Describe a situation where management of a patient did not go as planned. What happened and what did you learn? You may also be asked a range of questions about particular clinical scenarios relevant to your specialty. Research Skills Why is research important? Describe your last audit. Is it important for all doctors to undertake research? Which is more important - research or teaching? Which do you prefer? Tell us about your publications. Prepare questions to ask the interviewers:  “Do you have any questions?” This is almost always asked at the end of an interview. Asking some questions can show you are interested and have done your research. Topics can include training, department structure and staffing, recent advances in the service, technology, equipment and clinical procedures.   Try to treat your NHS interview like a conversation, with well-prepared questions that are based on the job description, service structure and patient care delivery, as well as the vision of the trust as a whole.  For more articles on making a success of your NHS interview, including preparing for interview questions for doctors, take a look at these articles.  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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. Follow us on social media for news and updates on GMC registration, the Royal College and NHS through the links below:             

NHS trust doctor jobs are paid well with numerous posts available across the UK. Trust doctors are employed by the NHS in service posts, and therefore for training purposes only are not regulated by Royal College or Deanery. They are an attractive way for both the NHS and IMGs to ensure doctors are secured into posts quickly. The work of a trust doctor is often indistinguishable from that of a training post, and can therefore be an attractive option for trusts, paving way for the recruitment of overseas doctors.  In this article will explore the both, with particular focus on service jobs. We will include the following topics: What is a trust doctor?  Could I take a training post instead?   What are the benefits of a trust doctor job?  How do I secure a trust doctor job in the NHS?  What is a trust doctor? Trust doctor jobs in the NHS cover a range of grades and apply to all specialties. It is a term applied to a doctor who is working in the NHS in a non-training post.  Typically, the title trust doctor is applied to a doctor working at Senior House Level (FY1 & 2), however the term has now become synonymous with all grades.  It is now a term most commonly applied to doctors from FY1 to ST3, but can be applied to specialty doctors by some trusts.  Trust doctors work in career posts without specialist recognition, but often doctors doing service level jobs secure an ‘approved post’ and complete specialist training, others continue to progress using their experience as the platform. Many of the doctors accepting service posts are from overseas, this can be a quick way to enter the NHS system and start your career in the UK.  Could I take a training post instead?   Yes, training posts in the NHS are very attractive. However, competition for places on training posts within the NHS is highly competitive.  As such for IMGs interested in securing a place on a training post in the NHS, we advise that IMGs obtain a trust doctor or SAS doctor post, depending on experience, for 1 – 2 years. Following which you will be able to apply for a training post, for which you will be given priority.  Not only will this approach give you the best chance of securing excellent training and career progression opportunities in the NHS, it will also give you the chance to settle in to the UK, get to know your trust better, and help you understand the training post that will suit you the most.  Trust doctor posts also offer very competitive rates, so whilst you are getting to know the NHS and settling into life in the UK, you can also ensure that you are financially rewarded What are the benefits of a trust doctor job?  No matter what grade you are working at, there are benefits to a trust doctor role.  Less competition and route to more training The majority of IMGs are keen to enter training pathways at some point, but competition for these positions is very high. Places are offered to UK based applicants first, then EEA followed by Non-EEA applicants. As such, it can be difficult to get a training post when applying for your first NHS role.  However, competition for trust doctor roles are not nearly so competitive and can lead to successful applications for training programmes.  Quicker route to securing your first post For overseas doctors applying for trust doctor posts, as opposed to a training post, the process can be quicker. Less competition and a high demand for doctors will ensure that IMG Connect can secure you interviews quickly.  Financial reward Trust doctor jobs typically offer competitive salaries, with some harder to fill locations able to offer additional incentives. Speak with your IMG Consultant for more information.  Allowing you time to settle into the UK and NHS Taking a trust doctor role can be a great way to allow yourself time to settle into your new job and enjoy living in the UK. By taking on a new culture, employer and healthcare system all at once, you may feel more comfortable taking on a service post avoiding all the extra commitment and learning associated with a training role.  More patient focused roles and less responsibility Trust doctor posts are usually more focused on meeting NHS service requirements compared to trainee roles. Many doctors simply prefer a role where they can spend more time with patients, without the pressured commitment to training, admin and competition associated with training roles. This gives you more time to do the job you love. Balance between work and personal life When taking a service post such as a Trust doctor post, additional working hours and on call commitments can be optional. You will also be given the option to increase your overall hours through weekend and shift work, which will increase your overall take home pay. In most circumstances it is up to you how you want to approach balancing a life at home with work commitments & financial rewards.  Freedom to consider all parts of the UK Entering a training post is not only a commitment to the programme over a number of years, but also the geographical location that the deanery covers. By taking a trust doctor service role instead, you could complete a one-year contract and relocate to a different part of the UK altogether after completing the contract. REGISTER TODAY TO DISCUSS TRUST DOCTOR VACANCIES IN YOUR SPECIALISM How do I secure a trust doctor job in the NHS?  There are many reasons why a trust doctor job can be a great option for IMGs when considering their first NHS post and it is clear that service doctors are vital to the day to day running of the NHS. Of course, many doctors will be keen to get straight onto the specialty training programme, with a clear vision of achieving consultant status. The NHS training programme is recognised the world over for its quality and innovation and as such places are at a premium. Regardless of the route you wish to take, IMG Connect will support any doctor pursing either path and can offer guidance and advice throughout either process. 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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. Follow us on social media for news and updates on GMC registration, the Royal College and NHS through the links below:             

There are many different grades of doctors with respective pay scales in the NHS. The following is a brief overview of the different types of doctor, their pay and roles they fulfill within the UK's National Health Service and in this article we will look at the following: Designations of UK doctors Medical students Junior doctors SAS doctors Consultants Trust doctors General Practitioners Locum doctors Academic doctors  Pay and conditions circulars Designations of UK doctors Other than for medical students, all doctors we list below are medically qualified and can use the title Dr before their name.  For historical reasons in the UK, surgeons may use the title ‘Mr’, ‘Mrs’, ‘Miss’ or ‘Ms’. A doctor that is a university professor may also use the title ‘Professor’ instead of ‘Dr’. Medical students Medical students usually undertake a five-year course of study for undergraduate or a four-year postgraduate course to become a doctor.  Two years studying basic medical sciences is followed by three years more clinically focused training, during which they will work in hospital wards under the supervision of consultants.  Following completion of their medical degree, newly qualified doctors gain provisional registration with the GMC. They will receive their primary medical qualification which is typically denoted in the UK by either: MBBS, MBChB, BM, MBBCh. Junior doctors Medical graduates enter the medical workforce as junior doctors. They are employed on a national negotiated contract on a two-year work-based training programme known as the Foundation Programme. The Foundation Programme is the first level of clinical training for a qualified doctor, bridging the gap between medical school and Specialty Training. The Foundation Programme is carried out in hospitals over two years which are referred to as FY1 and FY2. Upon completion of FY1, a doctor will gain full registration with the GMC. Completion of FY2 allows doctors to apply for further study and training in a specialised area of medicine, known as Specialty Training. Doctors enter Specialty Training at ST1 and the length and type of training will depend on the specialty chosen – specialist training can take up to eight years.  In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) your basic salary is £29,384. In year two this increases to £34,012.  If you are a doctor starting your Specialty Training, your basic salary starts at £40,257 and can progress to £58,398. Staff Grade, Associate Specialist and Specialty Doctors (SAS Doctors): SAS doctors are in non-training roles where the doctor has at least four years of postgraduate training, two of which being in a relevant specialty (FY1, FY2 and two years specialist training). This means doctors can move into these posts at various levels of experience and seniority whilst also gaining experience and promotion within the grade itself. SAS doctors are typically more focused on meeting service requirements when compared to trainee or consultant roles. Often, they have considerably fewer administrative duties when compared to consultants and can have very ‘hands on’ roles with lots of patient contact. Specialty doctors currently earn from £50,373 to £78,759 basic pay. As an overseas doctor, there are many factors that will determine where on this pay scale an HR department places you, so it is hard to provide one general rule to help you estimate what salary you might be eligible for. Whilst the titles staff grade, specialty doctor and associate specialist are all commonly used, recent changes to terminology means that all SAS doctors are now on Specialty Doctor contracts.  WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU WOULD BE PLACED ONTO THE NHS PAY SCALES? REGISTER HERE FOR CONSULTATION AND ADVICE. Consultants Consultants are senior doctors that have completed full specialist medical training in a specialised area of medicine and are listed on the GMC’s specialist register, gaining the accreditation CCT. Doctors can also meet the criteria for specialist registration via the CESR route, consider your eligibility for CESR here. Consultants have clinical and administrative responsibilities in managing SAS and junior doctors. Consultants currently earn from £84,559 to £114,003 basic pay and as an international doctor, your years' completed as a consultant will place you on this scale. Trust doctors: Trust doctors in the NHS are employed for service posts, and trust doctor is a term applied to a doctor who is working in the NHS in a non-training post. Trust doctor jobs in the NHS cover a range of grades and apply to all specialties.  Typically, the title trust doctor is applied to a doctor working at Senior House Level (FY1 & 2), however the term has now become synonymous with all grades. It is now a term most commonly applied to doctors from FY1 to ST3 but can be applied to specialty doctors by some trusts.  Many of the doctors accepting service posts are from overseas as this can be a quick way to enter the NHS system and start your career in the UK. Trust doctor posts also offer very competitive rates, so whilst you are getting to know the NHS and settling into life in the UK, you can also ensure that you are financially rewarded. Locum Doctors Locums doctors are fully qualified doctors who temporarily cover a position, often covering things like sick leave or maternity. All doctors can work as a locum aside from FY1 doctors and it can be done via an agency or NHS locum post. Overseas consultants not yet on the specialist register can apply for locum consultant positions, not substantive. Academic Doctors Academic doctors often combine clinical care with teaching and research, doing so to develop the science of medicine. They can be any grade of doctor from an FY2 to a consultant, GP or SAS doctor. Common academic job titles, in order of seniority are: Prof Professor CSL Senior Clinical Lecturer / Associate Professor CRF Clinical Research Fellow CL Clinical Lecturer  ACF Academic Clinical Fellow Pay and Conditions Circulars: Current national salary scales for all medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website.  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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor 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.               

What take-home pay can an NHS doctor in training expect from their monthly salary? Many overseas doctors ask us this question. So to help IMGs plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give clarity on how much of your salary you'll actually keep each month. It is important to note that the majority of overseas doctors will start their career in the UK in a fixed term trust doctor role (also known as a service post), before taking up a training position. These can be attractive due to the improved doctor’s salaries that can be negotiated for fixed term contracts, based on experience and demand.  The NHS doctor salary pay scales that we have included in this article can be used as a guide or starting point for negotiating your trust doctor role (or service post). Take home pay for UK doctors in training Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.  It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the average annual gross salary for each grade, i.e. you have worked additional hours under a typical working pattern where additional pay has been provided.  The figures can be higher or lower depending on any other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses. Take home pay expectations Grade Average annual gross salary* Estimated annual take-home pay** Estimated monthly take-home pay** FY1 £32,398 £26,053 £2,171 FY2 £37,303 £29,389 £2,449 ST1-2 / CT1-2 £43,923 £33,890 £2,824 ST3-5 / CT3 £55,329 £41,140 £3,428 ST6-8 £63,152 £45,678 £3,806 *before tax and pension **tax and pension deducted, tax rebates for tax-deductible expenses not included To explore the pay & salary conditions across all doctor grades in the UK take a look at our IMG Resources library. 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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on NHS Jobs, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:             

What does an NHS specialty doctor take home as their monthly salary? Overseas doctors frequently ask us what their monthly take-home pay would be when working as an NHS specialty doctor. So, to help IMGs plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use! How much will I take home? Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.  It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.  The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses.  Specialty Doctor Take-home Pay Expectations Pay threshold Annual gross salary* Estimated annual take-home pay** Estimated monthly take-home pay**  Min £52,530 £39,517 £3,293 1 £60,519 £44,150 £3,679 2 £67,465 £48,179 £4,015 3 £74,675 £52,361 £4,363 4 £80,400 £55,681 £4,640 *before tax and pension **based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions   Specialist Grade Take-home Pay Expectations Pay threshold Annual gross salary* Estimated annual take-home pay** Estimated monthly take-home pay**  Min £81,500 £57,738 £4,811 1 £89,610 £61,023 £5,085 2 £95,275 £64,309 £5,359 *before tax and pension **based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions To explore the pay & salary conditions across all doctor grades in the UK take a closer look 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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. 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:             

Interviewing over Skype is the typical method for NHS interviews for overseas doctors. Regardless of your experience, your interview is your chance to make a good impression for a potential employer. You must sell yourself and interviewing via video can make that hard. IMG Connect has arranged countless successful interviews and we'd be happy to share our experience and tips with you directly. However, here we share some tips and advice from doctors and employers: 1. Check your IT!!! One of the biggest mistakes is not checking everything works before you are due to do your interview.   “test your equipment, check your camera and microphone are working. Then be logged on about 15 minutes in advance, just as you would for any interview, early! Also, make sure your username sounds professional, mine wasn’t and I recall that this was shared with the interviewer!”  Dr Arshad SHO in General Medicine 2. Think about your backdrop You might be at home doing this interview, but you still need to look and be professional.   “Interviewees should be careful in ensuring that the background is appropriate, I remember somebody was in their kitchen and it didn’t look great! First impressions count after all” Francis, HR Manager Be sure to switch off TV’s, ask the children to play in the other room and be as quiet as they can be.  3. Remember your body language still counts.  You cannot shake someone’s hand on Skype, but you still need to be aware of how you come across. You need to be engaging and since you are not in the room with them, you need to think about how you engage with the interviewers. IMG, Dr Cardenas, said a good idea is “to give a pleasant nod of the head to acknowledge those doing the interview. And SMILE!”. He added that “candidates should still remember to use eye contact, look directly at the camera and not at themselves all the time!”.  Eye contact by Skype is just as important as in a face to face interview. 4. Dress for an interview You might be at home, but staying in your dressing gown and pyjamas won’t go down well. It is also not a good idea to dress from the waist up, as some may suggest.  HR Manager Sarah advised, “You are in an interview, so dress like it, otherwise don’t expect to be hired!” If you look professional, you will feel more confident.  5. Use a cheat-sheet Not being in the same room as the interviewers means you can take advantage of little tips to help you through the most difficult questions.  IMG, Dr Cardenas, used this to his advantage:  “During my video interview, I had a prompt sheet, behind the screen at eye level, it gave me confidence, though nothing beats full preparation. The guys at IMG Connect made sure I was fully prepared and knew my stuff!” Be careful though, for some this is distracting, and can stop you from concentrating on the question at hand or making eye-contact.  It is after all better to be prepared!  IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources In our IMG Resources library you can 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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.

IMGs will want to know what an NHS consultant salary could mean as monthly take-home pay in Scotland To help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use! How much will I take home? Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.  It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.  The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses. Take-Home Pay Expectations in Scotland Threshold Annual gross salary* Estimated annual take-home pay** Estimated monthly take-home pay** 1 £91,474 £59,724 £4,930 2 £93,406 £60,817 £5,019 3 £96,185 £62,389 £5,149 4 £98,967 £63,963 £5,278 5 £101,741 £65,176 £5,377 6 £108,345 £67,559 £5,571 7 £114,949 £69,942 £5,765 8 £121,548 £72,323 £5,959   *before tax and pension **based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions To explore the pay and salary conditions across all grades in the UK take a look at our series of blogs on career structure and pay for NHS doctors in our IMG Resources library. IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources In our IMG Resources library you can 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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on NHS Jobs, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:             

Medical Defence, via insurance or immunity, can be important for international doctors. As an overseas doctor there are many things to consider when setting up your new life in the UK, one of which is your medical defence and whether to pay for additional cover. In this article we will help explain medical defence, considering the following topics: What is medical defence and do i need it? What indemnity will my trust provide me? Types of medical defence Who can I get medical defence from? IMG Connect's advice What is medical defence and do I need it? Unfortunately, human error is unavoidable and covering yourself against any claim is vital to the continuation of your career as a UK doctor. Appropriate medical defence will provide support for clinical negligence claims made against you whilst working in the UK.  It is a GMC requirement to have adequate or appropriate insurance in place to cover the full scope of your practice in the UK.  What indemnity will my trust provide me? Your NHS Trust will provide you indemnity for the work you are assigned as part of your contract, and you are not legally obliged to take out separate indemnity. However, your NHS Trust indemnity will cover the bare minimum and any extra work you do outside of the specific list of duties in your contract is not covered.  In addition, your Trust indemnity will not cover you for complaints made against you specifically. This includes Trust disciplinary hearings, GMC hearings, criminal investigations, coroner inquests or any private work you undertake. In summary, it is strongly advisable to take out separate indemnity to cover you against all eventualities as a doctor. Types of Medical Defence: There are two types of medical defence:  Indemnity  Insurance Indemnity works on the basis that the claim is covered as long as the cover was in place at the time the incident occurred. Insurance only covers you whilst the policy is in place and/or for a defined period after – called the ‘run off’ period. With the nature of work many doctors prefer indemnity over insurance, as claims can arise years after the event. This rings particularly true in cases involving children where 10+ years can pass before a claim is made. Who can I get Medical Defence from? There are three major Medical Defence Organisations (MDOs) who provide indemnity cover, not insurance. All of them are not-for-profit organisations rather than commercial companies and these are: Medical Protection Society (MPS) Medical Defence Union (MDU) Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) The benefits of membership of the MDOs differ, it is important that you consider each one carefully before making a choice. IMG Connect's advice: Anyone you speak to will strongly advise a doctor working in the UK to take out separate indemnity insurance. This is vital to ensure you are covered at any point you actively practiced as a doctor in the UK.  For avoidance of doubt, consider the significance of the risks for not doing so. We would suggest treating your defence cover as if it were any other utility or provider, and shop around to make sure you get the most comprehensive package at the best value for money. At IMG Connect we are not legal advisors and we want to make clear that we are offering our advice based on conversations with the GMC and any doctors we have worked with. We strongly advise you to seek a professional opinion to form the basis of your decision. IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources In our IMG Resources library you can 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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. For regular news and updates, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:              

Salary & employee benefits are important considerations when applying for jobs in the NHS. The NHS is one of the most developed health systems in the world and doctors form an integral part of delivering high quality patient care. As such doctors are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits, some of which will not be afforded to you in other countries across the world. In this article we will discuss the NHS employee benefits, covering the following topics:  Annual leave Pay enhancements Personal development & career progression Sick leave Maternity leave Paternity leave Parental leave NHS pension NHS discounts Doctors in training Study leave Study budget Study sessions Part-time training The doctor salary package in the UK, including benefits, can as a whole, make working for the NHS an attraction for many overseas doctors. Whatever grade or specialty you join, you will become an integral part of the NHS and as such enjoy one of the most competitive packages offered by a UK employer.  Everyone who works in the NHS is guaranteed an annual salary matched to their role, and even better are afforded the opportunity to increase this year-on-year through additional responsibilities and training & development.  All staff will receive an attractive annual leave package in addition to a range of benefits.  Annual leave: You are entitled to be paid annual leave every year, the amount of annual leave you receive will increase depending on your level of service within the NHS.  You will also receive an additional 8 days of bank holidays.  The longer you work in the NHS, the more annual leave you get.  The table below summarises the current entitlement: Length of service Annual leave entitlement 0-5 years 27 days + 8 days bank holidays After 5 years 29 days + 8 days bank holidays After 10 years 33 days + 8 days bank holidays Pay enhancements:  Pay enhancements reward out of hours working, shifts, overtime and on calls. This means that you can enhance your take home pay each month.  Personal development & career progression:  Each member of staff is given an annual review focused on their own progress and development designed to support their career aspirations.  Sick leave: Sick days will not be deducted from your annual leave days. If you are unfortunate enough to get sick during annual leave, you may also be able to claim it back so you can use the annual leave another time. Maternity leave: Regardless of how long you’ve been working in the NHS, all pregnant employees are entitled to 1-year maternity leave. It is illegal for your employer to fire you during this time. Depending on how long you’ve been working in the NHS during pregnancy, you may also be entitled to maternity pay. Paternity leave: Fathers are entitled to 2 weeks paternity leave. This applies to same-sex partners as well as nominated carers for single mothers.  Shared parental leave:  The 1-year maternity leave can in some cases be shared between the parents. Parental leave:  You are also entitled to 18 weeks parental leave for each child until your child reaches 18 years of age.  Some weeks may be paid, but most of this leave is unpaid.  This is particularly useful for IMGs as it can be used for various things to ensure that your family is cared for and settled into life in the UK. For example, you can take agreed parental leave for things such as helping your child settle into school, if sick, staying with them in hospital, or just to spend more time with your children when you feel it is necessary. NHS pension:  The NHS Pension is a good scheme when compared with other private pensions available both in the UK and worldwide. In the current financial market, we have found it hard to find a better one, it is generous and an excellent package overall.  All new permanent employees are automatically enrolled in the NHS Pension scheme.  NHS discounts:  A useful range of discounts for NHS employees are available with many shops and services. Don’t forget to ask any shop, restaurant, hotel or any service whether they offer discounts to NHS employees. You will be pleasantly surprised how many do, and can save a lot of money when taking holiday breaks in the UK, or shopping trips.  Doctors in training: Doctors in training will receive the following additional benefits: Study leave: Trainees from FY2 and above will have an entitlement to receive paid study leave. For trainees this is usually 30 days per year with the majority allocated to compulsory teaching sessions provided by the training programme, and 10 days for the trainee to decide what to do with. Study budget: Trainees will have access to a small amount of money to attend courses and conferences. It usually does not cover all the expenses, but it undoubtedly helps.  Study sessions: It is important to note that this is not the same as study leave, instead trainees will have a half day or 2 half days a week for study which can be used to work on audits, presentations, publications and research. Most IMGs typically use study leave to attend courses, conferences, and study for exams. Part-time training: If you need to reduce your hours in order to balance work and other commitments like caring for children or an elderly family member, you can request to complete your training part-time. This is known as “less than full time training” or LTFT training.   The least you can work is 50%, remember this will mean you will take twice as long to complete your training.  Your annual pay with LTFT training will be considerably less than a full-time job. For IMGs it is important to note that this may have implications whilst working on a Tier 2 visa where you generally need to earn more than £30,000 per year. For the full terms and conditions of working in the NHS, please read through the employee handbook. IMG Jobs Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources In our IMG Resources library you can 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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.             

Understanding your NHS job's salary or pay is essential for overseas doctors new to the UK. Doctors play an integral part in delivering high quality patient care in the NHS and as such, they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.  NHS pay scales can be confusing, particularly for overseas doctors. Here we hope to provide some clarity to help you understand the NHS grades and how they fit on the various NHS pay scales. In this article we will take a look at the following topics:   Typical NHS doctor’s salary in the UK FY1 & FY2 Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8) Specialty doctors Specialist Grade Consultants Where do I fit on the pay scale? Doctors in training pay scale Specialty Doctor pay scale Specialist Grade pay scale Consultant pay scale Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms and conditions Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for. Trust doctor jobs and IMGs' pay It is important to note that the majority of overseas doctors will start their career in the UK in a fixed term trust doctor role (also known as a service post), before taking up a training position. Doctors across all grades can enter a service post which means to say that they are not in training or entering specialty training.  As such, most of our adverts for fixed term or permanent posts will be service level jobs, these are usually SAS doctor, consultant, SHO or Trust doctor posts at the equivalent of FY2, ST1/2, ST3+.These can be attractive due to the improved doctor’s salaries that can be negotiated for fixed term contracts, based on experience and demand.  The salary pay scales that we have included in this article are to be used as a guide or starting point for negotiating your trust doctor role (or service post).  Typical NHS doctor’s salary in the UK FY1 & FY2 In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) your basic salary is £29,384. In year two this increases to £34,012.  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 premiums.  Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8)  If you are a doctor starting your specialist training in 2019, your basic salary starts at £40,257 and can progress to £58,398. 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 premiums.  Specialty doctors Specialty doctors currently earn from £51,000 to £80,000 basic pay.  The basic contract is for 40 hours. As a specialty doctor you can be paid for additional duties, extra hours worked, weekend work and on calls.  Specialist Grade A key element of recent SAS contract reform is the introduction of a new grade, called the Specialist grade, which will provide an opportunity for career progression for highly experienced specialty doctors. Specialist Grade doctors can earn a basic of between £81,500 to £92,500. 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.  So where do I fit on the pay scale? There are a few key points when considering where you fit on the pay scale:  Job title Experience Hours worked Trusts can be different Job title: The first thing to consider is your job title.  At the Consultant level, it is straight forward, you will be a consultant. However, at the Specialty Doctor level, you could be working as an SAS doctor, a Specialty Doctor or a Trust Grade doctor. As an ST or SHO you could also work across several levels.  Each could command a different pay scale depending on the level of work and experience required.  Take some time to check the job title that you are applying and interviewing for, and subsequently the pay scale that you can expect.  Experience within your chosen field:  Next, consider the number of years of experience you have in your specialty, this is crucial to identifying your position on the pay scale.  This is important as an NHS Trust will calculate your pay for a Specialty Doctor in Medicine by deducting two of your years of experience to compensate for the Core Training years in the UK. Please note, for some specialties this does not apply, check with an IMG Consultant for more information.  Hours you will work:  The second thing to consider is how many hours you will be working. For both Specialty Doctors and Consultants, the hours are usually established using PAs (programmed activities). Each PA is worth 4 hrs of your week, and a standard week is 40 hrs. A standard salary is based on a full working week of 10 PAs (40 hours). If you work above 10 PAs, then you will gain additional salary on top of your basic pay.  NHS trusts can be different:  The last thing to consider before we look at the pay scales, is that some NHS Trusts can interpret the pay scales and a doctor’s experience in different ways. All NHS Trusts should be following the same pay scale structures when recruiting and offering salaries to doctors, but this is not always the case!   This blog is a guideline, and if you are not sure of how to approach this discussion with an HR department, it can be very useful for an IMG Connect consultant to assist with the negotiations to ensure that your experience is always taken into account. Pay scales: Doctors in training pay scale Service level jobs are in high demand at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay. It is also important to remember that once in the UK, you will have the option to apply for training, depending on your entry level.  The below pay scale reflects the pay at each level depending on the entry points to training, which are FY1, ST1/CT1 and ST3/4.  The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Specialty Registrar (StR) (Core Training) Grade Stage of training  Grade Code  Nodal Point  Value (£)  Foundation Doctor Year 1 FY1 MF01 1 29,384 Foundation Doctor Year 2 FY2 MF01 2 34,012 Specialty Registrar (StR) (Core Training) CT1 MC51 3 40,257 CT2 MC52 40,257 CT3 MC53 4 51,017 Specialty Registrar (StR) (Core Training) ST1 / SpR1 MS01 3 40,257 ST2 / SpR2 MS02 ST3 / SpR3 MS03   4       5   51,017       58,398 ST4 / SpR4 MS04 ST5 / SpR5 MS05 ST6 / SpR6 MS06 ST7 / SpR7 MS07 ST8 / SpR8 MS08 Full details of total salaries for doctors in full-time training is available to download in the pay circular below including: banding supplements total salaries for trainees working less than 40 hours a week less than full-time trainees pay arrangements. The BMA has also produced pay tables which estimate pay for full-time doctors in training, based on your own working patterns, which you can find here. Specialty Doctor pay scale:  Service level specialty doctor jobs are in high demand in England at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.  It is important to note that your pay will reflect your experience within your chosen field.  The pay code on the left-hand side of the table below correlates to the number of years’ experience that you qualify for in your chosen specialty, and the number of years that the HR department are going to attribute to you.  Remember to discount any years that you have worked in an internship. And if you are working in a medicine specialty, deduct any core training years.  In the first threshold, for every year of experience you gain, this entitles you to a pay rise. In the second threshold, you will receive an increase every two years, and in the third, every three years.  The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Pay Scale Code Years' Experience Basic Salary (£) Period before eligibility for next pay point MC75-01 0 52,530 3 years MC75-02 1 52,530 2 years MC75-03 2 52,530 1 year MC75-04 3 60,519 2 years MC75-05 4 60,519 1 year MC75-06 5 60,519 1 year MC75-07 6 67,465 3 years MC75-08 7 67,465 2 years MC75-09 8 67,465 1 year Threshold MC75-10 9 74,675 3 years MC75-11 10 74,675 2 years MC75-12 11 74,675 1 year MC75-13 12 82,400 5 years MC75-14 13 82,400 4 years MC75-15 14 82,400 3 years MC75-16 15 82,400 2 years MC75-17 16 82,400 1 year MC75-18 17 82,400 - Specialist Grade:  The introduction of a new Specialist grade will provide an opportunity for progression for highly experienced specialty doctors. The introduction of the role will help to recruit, motivate and retain senior doctors and contribute to SAS grades being a positive and fulfilling career choice. The new pay structure will enable SAS doctors to access the top of the pay scale more quickly than the current system, increasing the career average earnings. Pay Scale Code Years' Experience Basic Salary (£) Period before eligibility for next pay point MC70–01 0 83,945 3 years MC70-02 1 83,945 2 years MC70-03 2 83,945 1 year MC70-04 3 89,610 3 years MC70-05 MC70-06 4 5 89,610 89,610 2 years 1 year MC70-07 6 95,275 - Consultant pay scale:  Service level consultant doctor jobs are in high demand in England at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.  At the consultant grade, HR departments will look at your years of experience within your specialty, as a consultant.  On the table below, you can see that all you need to do is count up the total number of complete years of experience (12 months each) as a consultant, and then count down the rows to establish your salary position.  Like the above, the salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  Remember, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Years completed as a consultant: Threshold Years complete as a consultant Basic Salary (£) Period of eligibility for next threshold Pay scale code 1 0 93,666 1 year YC72 Point 00 2 1 96,599 1 year YC72 Point 01 3 2 99,532 1 year YC72 Point 02 4 3 102,465 1 year YC72 Point 03 5 4 105,390 5 years YC72 Point 04   5 105,390 4 years YC72 Point 05   6 105,390 3 years YC72 Point 06   7 105,390 2 years YC72 Point 07   8 105,390 1 year YC72 Point 08 6 9 112,356 5 years YC72 Point 09   10 112,356 4 years YC72 Point 10   11 112,356 3 years YC72 Point 11   12 112,356 2 years YC72 Point 12   13 112,356 1 year YC72 Point 13 7 14 119,323 5 years YC72 Point 14   15 119,323 4 years YC72 Point 15   16 119,323 3 years YC72 Point 16   17 119,323 2 years YC72 Point 17   18 119,323 1 year YC72 Point 18 8 19 126,281 - YC72 Point 19 Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms & conditions Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website.  You may be eligible for additional pay on top of your basic salary if you work above the standard 10 PAs, work on call & weekends, or take on extra responsibilities. All doctors are eligible for NHS pensions and benefits.  Sources https://www.nhsemployers.org/system/files/2023-02/Pay%20and%20Conditions%20Circular%20%28MD%29%202-2023.pdf  Getting started  NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.  Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.  For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.                

As an overseas doctor, how do you find NHS job opportunities in Respiratory Medicine? Finding the right job opportunity in the NHS can sometimes be time-consuming and confusing for IMGs. Working with IMG Connect will give you easy access to vacancies for consultants and middle grades positions across the UK. The IMG Connect job search is a dedicated online recruitment service for overseas doctors looking to secure a job in the NHS. View out latest doctor jobs in the NHS, here.  Save time and get expert advice based on your preferences  Performing a job search online can take up a lot of your time, so at IMG Connect we are here to do the time-consuming work for you. Upon registering, you will have a dedicated consultant whose role is to find jobs that match your skills, and apply for NHS jobs on your behalf.  CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE LATEST RESPIRATORY MEDICINE JOBS BY EMAIL Register & Create a profile – it takes 30 seconds It really is that easy, so why not take advantage of our resources, time and energy to find you the right job in the NHS suited to your preferences. By providing us with some key details we can quickly assess which jobs are best suited to your preferences, and even email you job alerts for new exciting roles which we think will interest you! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR DETAILS & PREFERENCES We understand you, and our clients When looking for a Respiratory Medicine job in the NHS, it can be hard to try to find out key information before applying, such as: What specialty specific training there will be?  Am I likely to get a training post after taking this role? Can the trust support CESR applicants and is their CESR programme established enough for my needs?  What career progression is available for me with the Respiratory Medicine Specialty?  What is the job plan and how much time will I spend on the ward?  What is it like to work and live there?  What salary will I get paid, and can I get extra pay for additional shifts?  It can be tricky to get all the answers you want before applying online, so we spend our time getting to know both our clients and you, finding out as much key information as possible to help you to make the right decisions. Including details on the Respiratory Medicine department, hospital & trust, as well as an overview of what it is like to live in the area, including housing and the cost of living, as well as access to schools for your children, childcare and finding work for spouses.  Making an impact We will also provide you with top tips on CV writing, job applications and interviews, ensuring that your application and interview makes the most impact with our NHS clients.  Making it personal  Once registered, you can quickly search and apply for NHS jobs using our job search, and take advantage of many useful articles written to support you through your journey to the UK. In addition, when you sign up to 'job alerts' we will automatically email you each time a relevant Respiratory Medicine vacancy comes available that you may be interested in. Once logged in, you can also save job details and make applications.  By registering with IMG Connect, you will: Have a dedicated consultant who understands your preferences and will do the time-consuming job searches and applications for you. Find your ideal NHS position among thousands of unadvertised vacancies - from consultant to registrar, or specialty doctor to SHO.  Be the first to hear about new vacancies – registering with IMG Connect means that your CV will gain priority with our NHS clients, and will professionally represented by international recruitment experts. To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps: Register with IMG Connect Fill in the 'Personal details' section. Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant  Sign up to receive 'job alerts’  Search our live Respiratory Medicine jobs Searching for Respiratory Medicine jobs in the NHS could not be easier If you want to find out more about the many different Respiratory Medicine roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas Respiratory Medicine into consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS roles, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, royal college qualifications and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you! IMG Jobs  Search and find live respiratory medicine 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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss specialist medicine job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. 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 overseas radiologist, how do you find NHS job opportunities in Radiology? Vacancies for radiologists practicing outside the UK can be found in a variety of ways. Some radiologists find it challenging to find the right job, that fits their training and relocation preferences whilst they will also find it hard to know about the local area. Working with IMG Connect will give you easy access to vacancies for consultants, junior and senior middle grades whilst always offering clear training opportunities, CESR pathways and balanced job plans. IMG Connect Job Search Page The IMG Connect job search is a dedicated online recruitment service for overseas doctors looking to secure a job in the NHS. View out latest NHS jobs radiology here.  Save time and get expert advice based on your preferences  Performing a job search online can take up a lot of your time, so at IMG Connect we are here to do the time-consuming work for you. Upon registering, you will have a dedicated consultant whose role is to find jobs that match your skills, and apply for NHS jobs on your behalf.  You can receive jobs updates by E-mail to view new posts to suit your job search every day. Create a profile – it takes 30 seconds It really is that easy, so why not take advantage of our resources, time and energy to find you the right job in the NHS suited to your preferences. By providing us with some key details we can quickly assess which jobs are best suited to your preferences, and even email you job alerts for new exciting roles which we think will interest you! We understand you, and our clients When looking for a radiology job in the NHS, it can be hard to try to find out key information before applying, such as: What specialty specific training there will be?  Am I likely to get a training post after taking this role? Can the trust support CESR applicants and is their CESR programme established enough for my needs?  What career progression is available for me within the radiology specialty?  What is the job plan and how much time will I spend on the ward?  What is it like to work and live there?  What salary will I get paid, and can I get extra pay for additional shifts?  It can be tricky to get all the answers you want before applying online, so we spend our time getting to know both our clients and you, finding out as much key information as possible to help you to make the right decisions. Including details on the radiology department, hospital & trust, as well as an overview of what it is like to live in the area, including housing and the cost of living, as well as access to schools for your children, childcare and finding work for spouses.  Making an impact We will also provide you with top tips on CV writing, job applications and interviews, ensuring that your application and interview makes the most impact with our NHS clients.  Making it personal  Once registered, you can quickly search and apply for NHS jobs using our job search, and take advantage of many useful articles written to support you through your journey to the UK. In addition, when you sign up to 'job alerts' we will automatically email you each time a relevant  Radiology   vacancy comes available that you may be interested in. Once logged in, you can also save job details and make applications.  By registering with IMG Connect, you will: Have a dedicated consultant who understands your preferences and will do the time-consuming job searches and applications for you. Find your ideal NHS position among thousands of unadvertised vacancies - from consultant to registrar, or specialty doctor to SHO.  Be the first to hear about new vacancies – registering with IMG Connect means that your CV will gain priority with our NHS clients, and will professionally represented by international recruitment experts. To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps: Register with IMG Connect Fill in the 'Personal details' section. Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant  Sign up to receive 'job alerts’  Search our live radiology jobs Searching for radiology jobs in the NHS could not be easier If you want to find out more about the many different radiology roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas radiologists into consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS roles, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, royal college qualifications and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you! IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS radiology jobs in the UK IMG Resources In our IMG Resources library you can 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 Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss radiology opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.

NHS jobs for Gastroenterology Medicine doctors from outside the UK can be found in a variety of ways, which for some doctors can sometimes be time-consuming and confusing. Working with IMG Connect will give you easy access to vacancies for consultants, clinical fellows, registrars, specialty doctors, trust doctors, as well as LAS posts. The IMG Connect job search is a dedicated online recruitment service for overseas doctors looking to secure a job in the NHS. View our latest Doctor Jobs in the NHS, here.  Save time and get expert advice based on your preferences  Performing a job search online can take up a lot of your time, so at IMG Connect we are here to do the time-consuming work for you. Upon registering, you will have a dedicated consultant whose role is to find jobs that match your skills, and apply for NHS jobs on your behalf.  You can receive jobs updates by E-mail to view new posts to suit your job search every day. Create a profile – it takes 30 seconds It really is that easy, so why not take advantage of our resources, time and energy to find you the right job in the NHS suited to your preferences. By providing us with some key details we can quickly assess which jobs are best suited to your preferences, and even email you job alerts for new exciting roles which we think will interest you! We understand you, and our clients When looking for a Gastroenterology Medicine job in the NHS, it can be hard to try to find out key information before applying, such as: What specialty specific training there will be?  Am I likely to get a training post after taking this role? Can the trust support CESR applicants and is their CESR programme established enough for my needs?  What career progression is available for me with the Gastroenterology Medicine Specialty?  What is the job plan and how much time will I spend on the ward?  What is it like to work and live there?  What salary will I get paid, and can I get extra pay for additional shifts?  It can be tricky to get all the answers you want before applying online, so we spend our time getting to know both our clients and you, finding out as much key information as possible to help you to make the right decisions. Including details on the Gastroenterology Medicine department, hospital & trust, as well as an overview of what it is like to live in the area, including housing and the cost of living, as well as access to schools for your children, childcare and finding work for spouses.  Making an impact We will also provide you with top tips on CV writing, job applications and interviews, ensuring that your application and interview makes the most impact with our NHS clients.  Making it personal  Once registered, you can quickly search and apply for NHS jobs using our job search, and take advantage of many useful articles written to support you through your journey to the UK. In addition, when you sign up to 'job alerts' we will automatically email you each time a relevant Gastroenterology Medicine vacancy comes available that you may be interested in. Once logged in, you can also save job details and make applications.  By registering with IMG Connect, you will: Have a dedicated consultant who understands your preferences and will do the time-consuming job searches and applications for you. Find your ideal NHS position among thousands of unadvertised vacancies - from consultant to registrar, or specialty doctor to SHO.  Be the first to hear about new vacancies – registering with IMG Connect means that your CV will gain priority with our NHS clients, and will be professionally represented by international recruitment experts. To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps: Register with IMG Connect Fill in the 'Personal details' section. Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant  Sign up to receive 'job alerts’  Search our live Gastroenterology Medicine jobs Searching for Gastroenterology Medicine jobs in the NHS could not be easier If you want to find out more about the many Gastroenterology roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas Gastroenterology Medicine into consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS roles, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, royal college qualifications and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you!

Hospitals across the UK are offering specialty doctor job plans with opportunity for CESR programmed support, giving doctors the chance to quickly work towards specialist registration.  For experienced IMGs this is a new and quick route to your first Consultant post. By taking up a service level job as a Specialty Doctor with CESR support as part of the job plan many IMGs are securing a great start to their future career in the NHS that is suited to their senior level experience.  If you are an overseas doctor looking for a Specialty Doctor job with the chance to work towards your Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR), speak to the IMG Connect team to discuss if this is a suitable route for you. We have opportunities across the UK for doctors to take advantage of the CESR programme. You can also send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk or register here. It takes 30 seconds to register!  By taking such posts in NHS trusts and hospitals you can join diverse, dynamic and inspiring groups of specialty doctors and acting Consultants all on the way to achieving their CESR as part of a tailored programme. In offering such job opportunities, hospitals will provide a supportive environment with protected time to fulfill all the requirements of the CESR application, gaining career-enhancing experiences as you do. Acting up, dedicated peer groups, coaching & mentoring, scheduled learning and study time are some of the benefits that you could receive.  In such roles you will typically receive hands on support from consultant colleague and exposure to a wide range of experience to specifically aid competency achievement for your CESR application.  In some specialty doctor jobs with CESR programme you will rotate through various departments, dependent on your required experience. Some hospitals will also provide the following as part of the CESR programme:   Supported Professional Activity (SPAs) sessions per week  Tailored experience to your CESR portfolio Regular clinical supervision  A CESR mentor  Involvement in academic programme and medical student teaching  Support in gaining research competencies  SAS Tutor support CESR / SAS support forums and meetings IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK with CESR 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) and chat with an IMG consultant to discuss the CESR job vacancies in the NHS and start your journey towards specialist registration and your first consultant post in the NHS.  To receive the latest news and updates, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

As an international histopathologist, getting your CV right is crucial to securing a great role in the UK.  For any doctor, regardless of your specialty, qualifications, or previous experience, your CV is the first chance you get to make a good impression to a potential NHS employer. Here we take a look at the NHS CV format for pathologists that are new to the NHS, and are trying to secure their first opportunity in the UK. We will cover the following topics:  Keeping your CV up to date Structure and content A Histopathology CV template Responding to the job description Style and format Keeping your Histopathology CV up to date First things first, remember your CV is the story of your career, so you should regularly update and review your CV, allowing yourself the best opportunity of securing an interview. Have your most recent experience at the top, and descending in chronological order. Structure and content of your Histopathology CV CVs come in all shapes and sizes, and there is no agreed approach to how long they should be. However, we are finding that there is a trend towards shorter, more concise versions. So long as they are well structured, then the length doesn’t really matter. Being concise doesn’t mean that you can’t include everything you need, just present it in a more succinct way and remember that quality is better than quantity. Our advice is to keep your CV to around two - four pages of A4, though the British Medical Journal advise anything up to eight pages is ok.   Remember, your CV is generally the first point of contact you will have with a Histopathology Service Director or Consultant, so the structure of your CV should establish a favourable image of your professionalism and approach to your work in the histopathology. It is important to consider structuring your CV for GMC registration, not only does this mean that you don’t need to create several CV’s, but also means that you will be working to a recognised structure.  If you would like a GMC template for a CV just mention this to our team at info@imgconnect.co.uk or book your CV building call with Marcus Anderson, Histopathology Specialist, via this Calendly Link. A Histopathology CV template The GMC recommend the following template for a medical doctor CV:  Section Detail Personal details Your name on your CV must match your name on your proof of identity Registrations Give your GMC reference number (if applicable) AND any details of any Medical Councils or Regulatory Body you are registered with. Even if your registrations have expired, or not currently active, it is good to include them! Memberships List your memberships of professional bodies. This will show the consultants or directors reviewing your CV that your are active in the pathology network, and any affiliations with the UK's Royal College of Pathologists, American Board of Anatomical Pathology etc etc will be relevant.  Qualifications List all the qualifications including your Primary Medical Degree and ANY Anatomical Pathology qualifications from your home country are a great indication of your training and development in pathology. Whilst FRCPath is the golden qualification for any histopathologists looking to work in the UK, your MD, DNB, Board Certification, PgDiplomas in Pathology are all valued and make up the pathologist you are.  Make sure to include any english language qualifications too, including IELTS, OET, PLAB if you have taken them before. Employment history / work history – posts held Start with the with the most recent position at the top (chronological order). Please show:  post title (give the title you were employed under) dates you worked in the post, from and to, in the format DD/MM/YYYY if the post is part-time, what percentage of whole time equivalent institution name and location the name of your supervisor (especially required for training posts) number of pathologists and support staff in your team give a brief job description of your duties, including level of supervision. Be concise. Include all relevant details.  Your IMG Connect recruitment specialist can run through all of this information over a Histopathology CV Building Call. This process can take about 30 mins and will be led by Marcus Anderson our histopathology specialist.  Book your CV building call with Marcus Anderson, Histopathology Specialist, via this Calendly Link.  Reporting Duties This is the most important of details when representing your CV in the UK. What cases do you report? How many do you sign out per year? Giving your future employer an indication of the workload you get through in your current role is a great way to promote yourself and catch the eye of Clinical Directors and Lead Consultants in Histopathology.  Your IMG Connect recruitment specialist can run through all of this information over a Histopathology CV Building Call. This process can take about 30 mins and will be led by Marcus Anderson our histopathology specialist.  Book your CV building call with Marcus Anderson, Histopathology Specialist, via this Calendly Link.  Employment history – gaps in employment Start with the most recent gaps in employment and work backwards. List any gaps that span over 28 days and include a brief explanation. Awards List any awards you have received. Research experience Give a brief explanation of any research you have undertaken, or have participated in. This shows your development and interest in your specialty.  Publications List your publications. This shows great insight and a developed mind in Pathology. Presentations Give details of any presentations you have given. You may find it helpful to divide them up into international, national, regional and departmental to show their importance. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) List your CPD activity in the last five years. Conferences attended Give details of any conferences you have attended. You may find it helpful to divide them up into international, national, regional and departmental to show their importance. Any Royal College of Pathology events will be particularly useful to evidence.  Courses attended Give details of any courses you have attended. You may find it helpful to divide them up into international, national, regional and departmental to show their importance. Governance & Audit List and give a brief description of your audit activities, if you have some experience in this. If you are unsure how your overseas experience ties into this, then don't worry so much. Feel free to discuss this with our histopathology specialist during a CV Building call with Marcus Anderson - Histopathology Specialist.  Book your CV building call with Marcus Anderson, Histopathology Specialist, via this Calendly Link.  Teaching and training experience List and give a brief description of your teaching and training activities. Management experience  List and give a brief description of your management activities. Any extra professional activities  List any relevant extra activities. Style and format Keeping your CV professional, clear, concise and well-structured is essential for securing you an interview. We recommend using the following simple steps to help: use a consistent professional font (i.e. 12-point Arial, Calibri or Times) use bullet points use professional short and simple sentences, be concise use active wording when referring to skills, and focus on positive aspects (i.e. gained, confident, responsible for…) subdivide experience  avoid personal statements, & don’t exaggerate… just present facts be consistent with organisation and appearance under all categories of your CV do not repeat present chronologically number each page show your surname and initials at the top of each page get your CV proofread by an IMG Consultant Check out more helpful articles on CV writing and securing the right job in the NHS in our resource library.  IMG Histopathology Jobs  Have a look through our live histopathology vacancies here. We are currently working with 80 trusts to recruit histopathologists, and with not all vacancies being posted live on our website at all times - the best thing to do is to reach out to our histopathology specialist, Marcus, here. We'd also like to invite you to join the IMG Histopathologists online community - as well as support on Royal College exams, our Facebook group of international pathologists and dedicated pathology recruiters offers guidance on other aspects of working in the UK, including finding NHS posts and CESR.  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:             

Your NHS interview is your chance to make a good impression to a potential employer, sell yourself and secure your dream job in the NHS. Here we take a look at how to prepare for your NHS Skype interview.  We can’t stress enough how important preparation is to making sure that you have a successful interview. So, we have collected the best tips from our community of IMGs to help you to stand out during your interview and ensure that you always get your point across. In this article we cover the following topics:  Interview preparation  Setting up on the day  During the Skype interview Interview preparation tips:  1. Know who will be interviewing you.  As an overseas doctor it is of course tricky to visit the hospital before interview, so getting to know your interview panel prior to interview is important and will make you stand out - try connecting on LinkedIn or look at their profile. Panels will be made up of a range of senior staff, some will have developed their career within their specialisms, take a look at the Trust website to gather more information. 2. Be up to date.  Keep up to date with the Trust’s vision and strategy, try to convey how you will fit in with this – consider how you can contribute to help them achieve their vision. For example, if you know they are developing a new department you can talk about your interest in this area and what you could offer. 3. Reflect on the hospital values.  Your interview should demonstrate that your personal values and behaviours align with the NHS values. In a nutshell these are your motivation and commitment to the NHS and the role, your ability to work in multi-professional teams, the central importance of the patient's experience. 4. Be reflective.  Responses to questions can show that you have reflected on your experience, that you have learned from them, and that you have gained expertise you can bring to the role, benefiting the service and wider Trust.   5. Prepare concise answers.  When preparing answers for an interview, break these down into key points. It is important that your answers have an impact, so deliver them in 3 or 4 clear sentences. Remember, the interview panel are looking for you to be a clear communicator for the benefit of future patients and colleagues. 6. Practice your answers, but don’t sound robotic.  We suggest that you rehearse your interview with a colleague, who can ask you follow-up questions.  This is a valuable way to gain feedback and to find out how you perform under pressure. 7. Prepare for direct questions.  Whilst most questions will be broad, be prepared for direct questions, such as “what specifically qualifies you for this position?” or “why do you want this job?”. Take a second to compose your answer and avoid a jumbled response.  8. Be structured.  Make your point, provide evidence and explain.  Have a strong structure to your answers, such as the above. Make 2 or 3 key points at most and give personal or clinical examples, with explanations.  9. Prepare for behavioural skills questions.  Be prepared for behavioural skills questions, such as “describe a situation where you disagreed with a colleague and how you reacted?” or “describe a difficult problem you have faced at work, how did you contribute to the solution?”. In your answers, set the context, describe what was required, what you actually did, and how well the situation played out. 10. Use active wording.  When referring to skills, action words are specific, clarify your contributions, and bring a confident tone to your answers (i.e. championed, supervised, expanded, increased, improved, collaborated, gained, achieved, confident, responsible for…) When you speak with the active voice, it adds impact. You can even combine your selection of action verbs with quantifiable results. This shows both what you did and the impact it had. For example, “Expanded use of patient feedback, resulting in 20% increase in patient satisfaction.” 11. Prepare to respond to all aspects of your CV. Remember, an interview will not be solely based on clinical experience. Panel members will be interested in different parts of your CV, such as your management experience, working with others, leadership or ability to improve the quality of services.  12. Prepare questions to ask the panel.  You can treat the interview like a conversation. Prepare detailed questions to ask at the end of your interview, you will always be given this chance. Don’t be afraid to ask questions throughout the whole interview, it can have a positive impact!  Tips for setting up your Skype interview on the day:  Now that you have prepared your questions well in advance, don’t let all of your preparation go out of the window by rushing on the day. If you are flustered, you won’t be composed. We strongly advise making sure that you are set up and ready in advance, consider carefully the following tips to make a success out of your Skype interview:  1. Add the hospital Skype ID 24 hrs prior to your interview. Your IMG Consultant will provide you with this in advance. 2. Send a message to the hospital Skype ID, stating your name and the post you are interviewing for.  This helps check that the ID is correct and is active for the start of your interview.  3. Run a test call with an IMG Connect consultant. Just to be sure everything is working; we will run a dummy call with you well in advance of your interview. If there are any issues, we can address them together.  4. Be ready 30 mins prior to the call.  It is best to be prepared, with your CV, notes and a glass of water at the ready.  Don’t forget to relax.  During the Skype interview: First impressions are important when wanting to create a lasting good impression. Apply these tips right from the beginning of the interview to make sure you potraying yourself in the manner you want to, from start to finish. 1. Be on time. Despite the fact that your interview will be held over Skype, it is vital that you set up in plenty time and allow time for things to go wrong. If you do get delayed, make sure you notify your IMG Consultant and the contact within the organisation as soon as possible. 2. Dress appropriately.  You may be on screen, but that includes trousers too! Dress as you would for any interview, it will also help you to feel confident.  3. Don’t forget to smile!  When you answer the call, don’t forget to smile. Greet the panel as you would for any interview (minus the shaking of hands of course). From start to finish, relax, be yourself and smile. The panel want to know that you cope under pressure, and can be a good member of their team, ultimately improving patient care. Your personality is key to this success!  4. Make eye contact and engage with all members of the interview panel. Just like an ordinary interview, try to engage with all members of the panel. You will know in advance who they are, so greet them and address them directly throughout your interview. Oh, and don’t forget to use address the panel using their correct titles!  5. Sell yourself.  Give real examples of 'how' you have achieved positive outcomes, specify what these were and the benefits. Be clear about what your personal contribution was. So, don’t be too modest - it can be hard at times, but you are there to highlight your attributes and achievements.  6. Remember to use 'I' rather than 'we'. This adds impact to your achievements, and lets the panel know the contributions YOU have made in your career as a doctor so far. 7. Be aware of your body language. You want to convey that you're enthusiastic, positive and energetic, yet focused… don’t fidget!  8. Be positive at all times. It can be hard, especially when you have faced some challenging questions, but keep calm, stay positive and remember to relax!  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 doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. Follow us on social media for news and updates on GMC registration, the Royal College and NHS through the links below:             

NHS Interviews over online video recording platforms, such as Skype, are becoming commonplace nowadays, particularly for overseas doctors seeking a job in the UK.  Skype interviews have fast become the norm amongst senior staff in the NHS, with most NHS Trusts now familiar with the format. Successful IMGs have also told us that they felt comfortable during the interview, helping them to secure their NHS job.  Getting invited to an interview means you’ve passed the first hurdle – your application must have made a good impression.  IMG Connect will support the NHS Trust in organising your skype interview, and we will email you interview invites and help you set up your computer on the day. Once your CV has been selected for interview, if you are based outside of the UK, then it is highly probable that the Trust will seek to interview you using Skype.  If you haven’t already done so, setting up a Skype account is easy:  Download Skype to your computer.  Set up a free account  Log in to your account  You are ready to go!  On the day To help you on the day of your interview we have included the follow steps to set up:  Tips for setting up on the day:  1. Add the hospital Skype ID 24 hrs prior to your interview. Your IMG Consultant will provide you with this in advance. 2. Send a message to the hospital Skype ID, stating your name and the post you are interviewing for.  This helps check that the ID is correct and is active for the start of your interview.  3. Run a test call with an IMG Connect consultant. Just to be sure everything is working; we will run a dummy call with you well in advance of your interview. If there are any issues, we can address them together.  4. Be ready 30 mins prior to the call.  It is best to be prepared, with your CV, notes and a glass of water at the ready.  Don’t forget to relax.  To help you make a good impression we have included the following tips:  Tips to make a good impression: first impressions to create a good impression 1. Be on time. Despite the fact that your interview will be held over Skype, it is vital that you set up in plenty time and allow time for things to go wrong. If you do get delayed, make sure you notify your IMG Consultant and the contact within the organisation as soon as possible. 2. Dress appropriately.  You may be on screen, but that includes trousers too! Dress as you would for any interview, it will also help you to feel confident.  3. Don’t forget to smile!  When you answer the call, don’t forget to smile. Greet the panel as you would for any interview (minus the shaking of hands of course). From start to finish, relax, be yourself and smile. The panel want to know that you cope under pressure, and can be a good member of their team, ultimately improving patient care. Your personality is key to this success!  4. Make eye contact and engage with all members of the interview panel. Just like an ordinary interview, try to engage with all members of the panel. You will know in advance who they are, so greet them and address them directly throughout your interview. Oh, and don’t forget to use address the panel using their correct titles!  5. Be aware of your body language. You want to convey that you're enthusiastic, positive and energetic, yet focused… don’t fidget!  6. Be positive at all times. It can be hard, especially when you have faced some challenging questions, but keep calm, stay positive and remember to relax!  In summary: Regardless of how confident or anxious you are feeling about interviews, talking things through with a trusted partner can help alleviate any concerns or make you consider a couple of areas you've not given much thought. At IMG Connect we work with IMG’s and healthcare professionals from all over the world and our team of dedicated consultants can help you with any questions you may have in order to prepare for your interview. We will do everything we can to help you succeed so get in touch! 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 doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. For regular news and updates, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:              

Regardless of where you are in your medical career, your CV is the first chance you get to make a good impression to a potential NHS employer.  So, it is vital that your CV is professional, clear and concise, so that it tells the story of your medical career. Crucial to this is the style and format, so we have put together the best tips for nailing this element of your medical CV. The decision maker reviewing your CV will likely only have a few minutes to review your CV in the first instance, so it is an important to get it right!  1. Keep all information concise, using professional, short and simple sentences You can have all you career information on your CV, but if your prospective employers can’t see the relevant information clearly then your CV will prove ineffective at securing you an interview. 2. Be consistent with organisation and appearance Under all categories of your CV and subdivided experience, keep a consistent, organised structure and appearance, this will ensure information is easily found and makes an impression.   3. Use clear headings As above, your information needs to be easily locatable. Use the headings provided in our CV guide for overseas doctors.  4. Use a consistent professional font One small decision, such as choosing the wrong font, could make the difference. The font has to be easy on the eyes and professional i.e. 12-point Arial, Calibri or Times 5. Use bullet points These should mainly be used when presenting lists, achievements, duties & responsibilities and qualifications. Using bullet points makes scanning through your CV effortless, so include them throughout to improve the structure and format of your CV.  6. Use active wording when referring to skills, and focus on positive aspects When you write with an active voice, it adds impact e.g. gained, confident, responsible for... 7. Use action words Faulty word choices can undermine the strength of your CV, so make a point of choosing powerful action verbs. Action words are specific, clarify your contributions, and bring a confident tone to your CV and list of accomplishments. Try achieved, championed, supervised, expanded, increased, improved, collaborated… 8. Combine your selection of action verbs with quantifiable results This shows both what you did and the impact it had, for example, “Expanded use of patient feedback, resulting in 20% increase in patient satisfaction.” 9. Avoid personal opinions and don’t exaggerate… just present facts Your CV should be accurate in content; you will have plenty time to provide details on each accomplishment and skill during your interview, so keep it to the point.  10. Do not repeat Your CV should be informative but concise.  11. Present details chronologically A good CV will be logically ordered and easy to read from start to finish, so keep your writing clear and logically ordered. Getting started For more information on what to include in your CV, take a look at our article on CV writing for overseas doctors.  To get you started, request a CV template for UK applications. 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 doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. For regular news and updates, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:              

As an overseas doctor, preparing for any English Language Test, whether you have chosen IELTS or OET, requires learning a huge amount. IMGs have told us that one of the most effective ways to improve their general level of English, and help them on their journey to improving their test scores, is to study at home. So, we have put together a handy list of IMG tips for studying for the English Language Tests at home, enjoy!  1. Start devouring podcasts If you don’t already listen to podcasts, you should! They are great! You can access these at home, or on your commute to work. On your laptop, or even better, on your phone. If you have an apple, simply open the podcast app already installed.  If you have Android, then try Stitcher, RadioPublic, Podbean or Pocket Casts.  Here are a few of the IMG Connect Team favourites: There is no such thing as fish In our time, science The Infinite Monkey Cage Today in Focus Happy Place Woman’s Hour Ted Talks Health Dan Snow’s History Hit  Thinking Allowed BBC Inside Science The Guardian’s Science Hour Ted Talks Science and Medicine  Discovery 2. Speak to native English speakers There really can be no substitute for regularly speaking to native English speakers. In most cities across the world there will be a community of English speakers, seek them out online or go say hello!  The IMG team are always happy to have a chat with you, so if you can’t find anyone, then give us a ring!  3. Speak to everyone! We know that sometimes in this modern world, people would rather turn to their computers, but to learn English is to share English! Whether a colleague at work, a fellow student, a friend or family member, speaking English about a range of topics, medical and general, will help you to practice what you learn. Be sure to apply your recent learning of vocabulary and grammar. It is widely known that students who speak and listen to people every day, learn quicker.  4. Get down with the kids… and watch YouTube!  There are millions of videos on YouTube, with thousands of great channels and shows to subscribe to. And of course, they are mostly all free! But don’t get stuck watching cute cats and dogs, stick to the task at hand – learning English!   IELTS and OET have their own official channels, full of useful resources.  Instead of randomly watching topics, think about your exams and search YouTube for suitable resources.  At IMG Connect we have found a few great suggestions to search for:  OET Medical lectures Nobel Lectures  Oxford University lectures – medical  Cambridge University medical lectures  IELTS Parliamentary debates, UK BBC, Sky, Channel four News  National geographic Ted Talks But don’t take our word for it, search for your own topics of interest.  5. Binge on your favourite movies (in English) What could be better than sitting back after a day at work and watching a movie? Well, watching a movie and learning English at the same time! The rule here is to not just sit back and relax, you have to do some work too, put the subtitles on, and follow the dialogue. If you don’t understand, then pause, rewind and watch again.  Try to choose the right type of films, with lots of dialogue, so apologies to all those blockbuster fans, you may have to watch something else. Documentaries are excellent, with topics for everyone!  Listen to the way that words are said, how the actors or narrators stress the sounds. And copy it! Even better, take a note of all new vocabulary, and when the film is finished, find out what they mean.  6. An article a day gets the doctor to the UK! This doesn’t have to be test related, you can choose something that you really are interested in. It can’t all be boring!  Blogs, news outlets, organisations – you choose.  Reading an article a day, short or long, can dramatically improve your confidence.  7. Tweet, tweet, twooo!  Twitter isn’t just about a tweet, but there are plenty fantastic articles and up-to-date topics that are shared daily.  Find someone you are interested in and follow their articles.  Many news groups share excellent articles daily.  But remember don’t just read the headline!  8. Write as much as you can, to anyone you can. Practicing writing English in different contexts will help you to cement your learning and get you into the habit of writing to a high level of structure and grammar.  You could write a blog online for your colleagues, this is free on WordPress. It is your blog, so you choose the topic!  Of course, you should practice writing the essays for the tests, but if you know anyone that reads English why not also write to them…in English of course! 9. Consider working with an accredited tutor As an International Brand dedicated to helping international doctors to register with the GMC and find work in the NHS - we have lots of partnerships in place with trusted companies in many areas. One of these key areas is English Language Testing and IMG Connect works closely with a company called Specialist Language Courses. You can take a look at their website here. Specialist Language courses work very professionally and are the UK's leading provider of online courses and tutoring. They are also one of the few accredited providers of OET and have provided consultation and guidance to the GMC on English language testing.  Success rates are 70% + for those who sign for their tutoring and you can receive a discount if introduced by IMG Connect. Register with IMG Connect to request your discount on English Language Courses or get in touch with one of our IMG Consultants to discuss. 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 doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. For regular news and updates, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:              

Regardless of what stage you are at in your medical career, a doctor's CV is the first opportunity you have to make the first impression you want to an NHS employer and secure your preferred job in the NHS.  When you consider that the average CV gets 10-15 seconds of attention it is clear how important it is to get your CV right and make it stand out. Follow our Top 14 Tips and be sure to give yourself the best opportunity of landing the interviews you want to. Your CV tells the story of you and your career and at a glance and it should be clear why you are the best person for the role you are applying for. Request our helpful CV template for GMC applications here.  14 general tips for writing a doctor CV:  1. Review and update.  By taking the time to regularly review and update your CV, it allows you to create a standard format that you can adapt for each position that you apply for, giving you the best chance at landing the interview you really want. 2. Keep up to date.  Modern medical CVs are reflective of the changing face of the profession. Keep up to date.  3. Keep it traditional.  If it works, don’t fix it. Using our template, follow the GMC guidelines on the layout and content of your CV.  If you are applying for a training programme, check the GMC requirements for example, applications for Specialist registration require a particular format. 4. Don’t write war and peace.  There is no prescribed length of a medical CV, but if you follow standard layouts, order by relevance and write succinctly, a standard CV could be between 2 – 8 pages long. Remember though, it can be as long as it needs to be!  5. Presentation is vital. Use a clear font and size (we recommend 12-point Arial, Calibri or Times), a clear layout, avoid large chunks of text and use bullet points.  6. Keep it concise.  Adopt a style of writing that is professional, using short and simple sentences - use active words when referring to skills and focus on positive aspects. 7. Match to the job description.  Prioritise the section of your CV that matches the job at the top, so it's seen first.  Reprioritise the least relevant content to appear further down each section.  Highlight elements that match the specific job description and person specification. 8. Do not exaggerate.  There is no need to exaggerate any information on your CV. And remember you don’t need to include everything you have done in your career, if it is not relevant to the application, consider if you need to include it at all. There will be plenty of opportunity at interviews to get this information across. 9. Align with the trust or hospital values.  Your CV and interview should demonstrate that your personal values and behaviours align with the NHS values outlined in the NHS Constitution. In a nutshell these are your motivation and commitment to the NHS and the role, your ability to work in multi-professional teams, the central importance of the patient's experience. 10. No need to waste paper. Don’t include a cover sheet or index. You want the reader to see the main page straight away, which shows who you are, what qualifications you have and that you are suitable for the vacancy. 11. Use a spell checker!  To ensure no spelling mistakes, use a spell checker. One of the main reasons a CV will be rejected is incorrect spelling.  12. Proofread.  Competition means that you need to prepare an error free CV. Proofreading is crucial, and spelling checks on your computer will not suffice. Take time to conduct a thorough examination looking for possible errors or flaws in format, sentence structure, content or layout.  13. Get someone else to proofread.  Ask a peer or senior colleague to proofread and get their feedback. Don’t forget to act upon their feedback and make any necessary changes, before asking them to check again, just in case.  14. Get us to proofread!  CLICK HERE & SEND YOUR CV TO US FOR A FREE AND QUICK CV REVIEW 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 doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. Follow us on social media for news and updates on GMC registration, the Royal College and NHS through the links below:             

As an overseas doctor, preparing for your royal college or PLAB exams can be a daunting prospect and requires a huge amount of learning. IMGs have told us that the top tips below helped them improve their scores on their journey to exam success. 1. Find a study group or partner For a lot of people, studying with others is both motivational and more sustainable.  Whether to share exam tips, test each other or just be there for a bit of emotional support – the benefits are endless. Oh, and it’s free! 2. Join an online community By joining online communities of doctors in similar positions, you will surround yourself with people in the same position, revising the same topics and preparing for the same exams. Just like having a study group or partner, this can offer you a huge support network and won’t cost you a penny! 3. Use the internet to its full potential There are lots of very useful content, for all exams, available online & free of charge. Whether you’re taking an English Language test or a postgraduate exam, someone will have created an online resource for you. From podcasts and YouTube videos, to reading materials, curriculums & study guides - make sure you are using the internet to its full potential! Ask your study groups, partner or online community which resources have worked well for them. 4. Use the GMC and your Royal College to their full potential Similarly, the GMC or your Royal College will usually have lots of useful links and documents to help you prepare. Have a look online and use all of them where you can, we have tried to highlight them throughout our blogs to help you make a start. 5. Courses & Study Books Whilst you don’t necessarily have to pay for courses and books to aid your studies – most IMGs have found substantial benefits in using them. Do your research and ask those around you what has worked well for them. 6. Don’t burn out Avoid leaving everything to the last minute and make sure you stay healthy and sleep properly during your preparations. Whilst these exams are of course very important, don’t burn yourself out at the cost of good rest. You might consider yourself a night owl but your productivity will plummet without a good night’s sleep.  7. Plan your studies & staying ahead Take the time to get to know your syllabus as early as possible and use it as a road map for your study plan.  Once you have your plan, stay on top it and try and get ahead – you don’t want to be cramming revision in at the last minute at the cost of your day-to-day life. Join our IMG Community, if you haven’t already done so The IMG Community is an open group that provides an informed & regulated platform for any doctor to ask questions and share their experiences. The focus of our business is to help doctors find work and relocate to the UK, and IMG Connect proves to be an effective way of managing this process for you. From answering any questions on your: exams registrations  qualifications To providing planning & support with:  relocation integration with your local community schooling  ongoing career support Remember, both our platform and our service are free of charge from start to finish.  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 doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. For regular news and updates, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:              

Specialty and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors are employed in the NHS in a non-training post. An SAS doctor will have at least four years of postgraduate training, at least two of which will be in a relevant specialty.  SAS doctor jobs in the UK are paid well and the number of posts available in the UK have risen steadily over the past decade. They are an attractive way for both the NHS and IMGs to ensure doctors are secured into posts quickly.  In this article we will consider the following topics:  What is a SAS doctor? Could I take a training post instead?   What are the benefits to a SAS role? How do I secure a SAS doctor job in the NHS?  What is a SAS doctor?  Specialty and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors fill NHS service roles which sit outside of Specialty Training pathways. These roles are non-training ‘service’ roles where the doctor has at least four years of postgraduate training, at least two of those being in a relevant specialty. A variety of terms can be applied to SAS doctors, including specialty doctor, associate specialist and staff grade.  It is worth noting however that not all non-training medical roles (service posts) are SAS doctors. Service roles are available across all grades and can be commonly referred to as Trust doctors.  Could I take a training post instead?   Yes of course. Training posts in the NHS are very attractive however competition for places on these posts is highly competitive.  As such for IMGs interested in securing a place on a training post in the NHS, we advise that they should obtain a trust doctor or SAS doctor post, depending on experience, for 1 – 2 years. Following which you will be able to apply for a training post, for which you will be given priority.  Not only will this approach give you the best chance of securing excellent training and career progression opportunities in the NHS, it will also give you the chance to settle in to the UK, get to know your trust better, and help you understand the training post that will suit you the most.  SAS doctor jobs also offer very competitive rates, so whilst you are getting to know the NHS and settling into life in the UK, you can also ensure that you are financially rewarded. What are the benefits to a SAS role? Less competition and a route to Specialty Training The majority of IMGs are keen to enter the specialty training pathway at some point, but competition for these positions is very high. Places are offered to UK based applicants first, then EEA applicants, finally followed by Non-EEA applicants. As such, it can be difficult to get a training post when applying for your first NHS role.  However, competition for service roles is not nearly so competitive and following completion of one year as a Specialty doctor you can enter into the first group of applicants for specialty training. Allowing you time to settle into the UK and NHS Taking a service role can be a great way to allow yourself time to bed into NHS and UK culture in the first months following your move. By taking on a new culture, employer and healthcare system all at once, you may feel more comfortable taking on a SAS post, avoiding all the extra commitment and learning associated with a training role. Quicker route to securing your first post For overseas doctors applying for SAS posts, the process can be quicker. Less competition and a high demand for doctors will ensure that IMG Connect can secure you interviews quickly.  Financial reward SAS posts typically offer competitive salaries, with some harder to fill locations able to offer additional incentives. Speak with your IMG Consultant for more information.  More patient focused roles and less responsibility SAS roles are usually more focused on meeting NHS service requirements compared to trainee roles. Many doctors simply prefer a role where they can spend more time with patients and doing the job they love, without the pressured commitment to training, admin and competition that a training role brings. Balance between work and personal life When taking a SAS post, additional working hours and on call commitments can be optional.  You will also be given the option to increase your overall hours through weekend and shift work, which will increase your overall take home pay.  In most circumstances it is up to you how you want to approach balancing a life at home with work commitments & financial rewards.  Freedom to consider all parts of the UK Entering a training post is not only a commitment to the programme over a number of years, but also the geographical location that the deanery covers. By taking a service role instead, you could complete a one-two year contract, but realise the area is not for you. At this point you could take a new contract and not have to worry about giving up your hard-earned place on the training programme.  Remember, it is vital that all contracts are honoured and not only will breaking contract have a negative impact on your CV but may also damage your chances of securing your next post.  Specialist Registration is still possible Specialist registration is still possible via the CESR route as some hospitals or Trusts will offer SAS doctors the support required with their CESR applications. However, it is likely to be a much longer process when not taking the training pathway. In summary: There are many reasons why a SAS post can be a great option for experienced IMGs when considering their first job in the UK, and it is clear that trust doctors are vital to the day to day running of the NHS. Regardless of the route you wish to take, IMG Connect will support any doctor pursing either path and can offer guidance and advice throughout either process. So how do I secure a SAS doctor job in the NHS?  You can apply for SAS doctor roles online via the NHS Jobs websites for England & Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. However, working with IMG Connect can offer more jobs than are available online with the added benefit of an IMG Consultant speaking directly with services on your behalf to expedite the process and negotiate the best doctor salary for you. For the most comprehensive selection of roles and fastest routes to the UK for Trust Doctors, register an interest or apply for trust doctor roles via our Job Search page on our website. 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 doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.

The NHS offers extensive training schemes and career development for all of its doctors, and such programmes are recognised as a gold standard across the medical world.  Training in the NHS is always in keeping with advances in medical sciences and the progressive landscape of the medical profession, including the more complex ailments of a growing and ageing population. The NHS frequently updates and develops its training programmes, making them attractive to UK graduates and doctors, as well as overseas doctors seeking the very best training.  In this article we will cover the following topics:  The NHS Training Pathway Graduation to Foundation Training Specialty Training Programmes Different types of Specialty Training programmes Completion of Specialty Training Programme Should I apply for a training or service post? As an IMG, can I get onto the specialist register? How do I secure a service post? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for. The NHS Training Pathway Many IMGs looking to move to the UK (particularly more junior doctors) will be keen to enter into UK Specialty Training at some point, and as such it is important to understand the UK training pathway from start to finish in order to map your NHS career effectively. Furthermore, greater understanding of the NHS structure and training offered to doctors in the UK will help an IMG to understand at what grade they can likely enter the system and the salary most appropriate for them.  The NHS Training Pathway describes the journey from medical school to completion of specialist training and is the path most commonly followed by UK trainees. Graduation to Foundation Training After graduating from a medical school, doctors gain provisional registration with the GMC allowing them to enter the Foundation Programme - a two-year work-based training programme. Upon completion of the first year (FY1 or F1) doctors will gain full registration with the GMC and can apply for further study and training in a specialised area – known as Core or Specialty Training, depending on the specialty. Specialty Training Programmes Completion of the Foundation Programme allows doctors to apply for Specialty Training in an area of medicine or general practice. There are 60 different specialties to choose from.  A doctor entering year one of Specialty Training is known as an ST1 or CT1 doctor. Specialty Training programmes can take between three and eight years depending on the specialism chosen. Doctors can pass through the training quicker depending on how fast they achieve their competencies.  Sometimes doctors do not complete the training pathways in the indicated time for a variety of reasons and it can take between 1 - 4 years longer than indicated in the curricula.  Types of Specialty Training Programmes There are two different structures for Specialty Training programmes, and these vary between specialties. Run-through Training Programmes For these training programmes, you only have to apply once at the beginning of the programme. This is because you are recruited for the full duration of Specialty Training. These training programme can last from approximately three years for general practice, to five or seven for other specialties such as histopathology. Uncoupled Specialty Training Programmes These programmes are split into Core Training and Higher Specialty Training. Core Training lasts for either two or three years and once complete, allows you to apply for Higher Specialty Training, which can take from three to five years.  Overall, Specialty Training programmes can take anywhere from 5 – 8 years in their entirety, depending on your medical specialty, for example 6 years for psychiatry. Doctors are known as ST1-3 or CT1-3 during their Core Training and ST4+ level during Higher Specialty Training programmes. Higher Specialty Training programmes are very competitive, and completion of a UK Core Training programme does not guarantee a Higher Specialty Training post.   Completion of Specialty Training Programme Upon successful completion of either a run-through or coupled training programme, doctors are awarded a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). At this point doctors are able to make an application for Specialist Registration (or GP Registration) and are able to take up permanent consultant posts. Training Positions vs Service Posts As above, competition for places on training programmes within the NHS is very high. As such, we advise that IMGs who are interested in entering core or specialty training in the NHS first obtain a service post for 1 – 2 years. Following this contract, you can apply for a training post, for which you will be given priority. Not only will this approach give you the best chance of securing excellent training and career progression opportunities in the NHS, it will also give you the chance to settle in to the UK and the NHS system, and help you understand the training post that will suit you the most.  Service posts also offer very competitive rates, so whilst you are getting to know the NHS and settling into life in the UK, you can also ensure that you are financially rewarded.  Specialist Registration for IMGs IMGs that enter the UK training programmes later on and have not completed the full programme can still get on the specialist register via the CESR-CP route (Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration via a Combined Programme) Check to see if you're eligible for CESR-CP via the GMC website or read through our detailed blog through our IMG Resources library. Secure a Trust Doctor Post (with the view to securing a training post at a later date) You can apply for Trust Doctor or Service Role online via the NHS Jobs website.  However, working with IMG Connect can offer more jobs than are available online with the added benefit of an IMG Consultant speaking directly with services on your behalf to expedite the process and negotiate the best doctor salary for you. Getting started Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, training pathways, doctor salaries in the UK, relocation and much more!   Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team to learn more about the opportunities available to you once as an IMG new to the UK. For the latest news and updates, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation:             

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 doctors 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 your 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 £29,384.  In year two this increases to £34,012.  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 £40,257 and can progress to £58,398. 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 doctors Specialty doctors currently earn from £50,373 to £78,759 basic pay.  The basic contract is for 40 hours. Consultants Consultants currently earn from £84,559 to £114,003 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 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 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.