Dermatology is one of the most varied of the physician specialities allowing options for seeing all age groups of patients with inflammatory, inherited, environmental, occupational or malignant skin disorders. At present skin disease is one of commonest reasons for patients to consult a doctor and given the current observed increases in skin cancer and inflammatory conditions like eczema there is no doubt that dermatology will expand in the future. There will be an ongoing need to have secondary care based dermatology clinics and services nationally though in some parts of the UK a component of out patient work may be carried out in other settings e.g. community hospitals. Specialist dermatology involves predominantly out patient work for diagnosis, investigation and treatment supported by appropriately staffed in patient facilities for severe inflammatory disorders.
Within the hospital setting dermatologists are often consulted about patients under the care of other specialists and indeed not infrequently jointly manage patients e.g. those with connective tissue disorders. Due to a high volume of skin cancer work there are close liaisons with plastic, ENT and maxillo facial surgery colleagues and also with clinical and medical oncology.
Dermatology is a career option worth considering in terms of sheer variety of case mix from milder to severe, life limiting inflammatory disorders in all age's groups from "cradle to grave". There are options , through sub specialty training, to have a more surgically oriented post , one involved with investigation and treatment of allergic disorders, paediatrics based jobs or one involving phototherapy/photobiology Specialist dermatology training allows exposure to all these potential subspecialties in addition to dermatopathology, infectious conditions and the use of lasers.
There are also ample opportunities to become involved in research and to participate in national and local clinical / research meetings. Generic training in teaching, research, management and presentational skills are part of the training program.
Trainees entering the dermatology programme will do so from Core Medical Training. The rising use of systemic treatments for inflammatory conditions means that a sound knowledge of general medicine will remain a pre requisite for future dermatologists.
For those in training, competency based assessments exist in the form of miniCEX, DOPs and MSF.
Competence Based Curricula and Assessment - StRs (for trainees who commenced training from 1 August 2007 to present)
There are two versions of curricula for this training period:
StRs who commenced training between 1st August 2007 and 3rd August 2010 will follow the 2007 version of their specialty curriculum and the 2007 Generic curriculum. Please see the 2007 Curriculum section of this webpage.
StRs who commenced training from 4th August 2010 onwards will use the 2010 version of their specialty curriculum. There is no need to follow the previously known ‘Generic curriculum' as this has now been embedded into the specialty curriculum. Please see the 2010 Curriculum section of this webpage.
The Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) is pleased to announce the 2010 Dermatology curriculum which has been reviewed and rewritten to:
- meet the GMC's 6 new standards as detailed in their Standards for Curricula and Assessment systems
- keep up to date with medical advances and changes in the service and training
- incorporate the framework documents produced by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) detailing Common, Medical Leadership and Health Inequality competencies
- include 5 new assessment methods (Acute Care Assessment Tool, Case based Discussion, Patient Survey, Teaching Observation and Audit Assessment).
This new curriculum has improved content, design and usability compared to its predecessors, and reflects a great deal of hard work and time expended by specialty curriculum groups. This curriculum will become the training manual for all trainees entering ST3 from 4th August 2010.
For further information on the 2010 curriculum it is recommended that you read the Quick Start Curriculum Guide.
If you have any queries or problems regarding the 2010 curriculum please email ptb@jrcptb.org.uk.
Core Training Programmes
Entry into Dermatology training is possible following successful completion of both a foundation programme and a core training programme.
There are 3 core training programmes for Dermatology:
Assessment
The following methods are used as part of the integrated assessment system:
The assessment blueprint, which is embedded in the clinical syllabus, shows the possible methods that can be used to assess each of the competencies in the curriculum. Trainees and trainers should refer to the blueprint for guidance on the appropriate assessment methods for each aspect of the curriculum, and so plan the training programme according to the criteria set by the ARCP Decision Aid. It is not expected that all competencies will be assessed by all methods, rather that there will be a sampling of competencies within a variety of settings, both within formal and workplace-based assessment, from which overall competence acquisition has to be determined.
The diagram below describes the training pathway:
Please view the 2010 curriculum for Dermatology for full details on the training routes and selection criteria.
Entry into Dermatology training is possible following successful completion of both a Foundation programme and a core training programme.
Please view the 2007 curriculum for Dermatology for full details on the training routes and selection criteria.
Assessment
The assessment blueprints show the possible methods that can be used to assess each of the competencies in the curriculum. Trainees and trainers should refer to the blueprints for guidance on the appropriate assessment methods for each aspect of the curriculum, and so plan the training programme according to the criteria set by the ARCP/RITA Decision Aid. It is not expected that all competencies will be assessed by all methods, rather that there will be a sampling of competencies within a variety of settings, both within formal and workplace-based assessment, from which overall competence acquisition has to be determined.
Further information on the various methods of assessment can be viewed in the Assessment section of this website.
The diagram below describes the training pathways in general terms.
Competence Based Curricula - SpR (for trainees who commenced training between 1 Jan 2003 and 31 July 2007)
The JCHMT introduced revised curricula for all the medical specialties together with a generic curriculum that applied to all trainees back in 2003. These are competence-based and set out the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be acquired by trainees before they may be awarded a CCT.
Curricula - SpR (for trainees who commenced training before 1 Jan 2003)
The curricula for trainees enrolling pre 01/01/03 are no longer available on the website but can be obtained by request to ptb@jrcptb.org.uk