01/10/07 - Important change in regulations regarding recognition of Basic Specialist Training for Limited Registration with the GMC:
As of Friday 19th of October 2007, the GMC will abolish Limited Registration and will replace it with a system of full or provisional registration.
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) applying for either full or provisional registration must satisfy the GMC that:
- They hold an acceptable primary medical qualification
- They have the requisite knowledge and skills for registration
- Their fitness to practise is not impaired
- They have the necessary knowledge of English
Doctors may demonstrate their medical knowledge and skills in one of the following ways:
- A pass in the PLAB test
- Sponsorship by a medical Royal College or other sponsoring body for further postgraduate training
- An acceptable postgraduate qualification
- Eligibility for entry in the Specialist or GP Register
The requirement of ‘an acceptable postgraduate qualification’ will replace the system of BST recognition provided by the College and will come under the remit of the GMC. Therefore as of the 1st October 2007, the JRCPTB will no longer accept applications for BST recognition.
Further information on the new registration system can be found on the GMC’s website:
http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/new_framework/index.asp
http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/new_framework/faqs.asp
Important information for doctors with overseas training who wish to undertake further training in the UK
As you may be aware, there have been important changes to medical training in the UK from the start of 2007. This guidance note is aimed at those doctors who wish to know whether their overseas training and qualifications are equivalent to the MRCP and UK training for the purposes of acquiring:
- GMC Limited Registration
or:
- Further specialty training in the UK
MMC will affect these two aims in different ways and it is therefore very important that you read the following information carefully.
GMC Limited Registration
The GMC have confirmed that they will honour decisions that have been made by the JRCPTB. This means that if this office confirms that your overseas training and qualifications are equivalent to the MRCP and UK training, the GMC will continue to accept your letter of confirmation into 2007.
Further specialty training in the UK
From 1 January 2007 NO OVERSEAS TRAINING CAN BE COUNTED TOWARDS THE AWARD OF A CCT whether or not such training has been confirmed as equivalent to UK training prior to this date. This does not effect SpRs who have already commenced their training.
As of November 2006, the PMETB stated that if a trainee has completed any part of their 2 years postgraduate training in General Internal Medicine outside the European Economic Area and has an overseas qualification they could slot into UK run-through training at Specialist Training Year 3 (assuming a successful appointment following an application in open competition) but at the end of their training they WILL NOT be awarded a CCT. In order to gain an entry on the UK Specialist Register they will need to apply to the PMETB via Article 14 of the General and Specialist Medical Practice [Education, Training and Qualifications] Order 2003. For further information on Article 14 please visit the PMETB website at www.pmetb.org.uk This does not effect existing SpRs who have had overseas General Professional Training approved and who are enrolled with the JRCPTB.
From 2007 the only overseas training that can be accepted, towards a CCT, must be undertaken as part of run through training and which has been prospectively approved by the Deanery and JRCPTB.
Please note that neither the JRCPTB nor the Royal Colleges of Physicians are at liberty to vary these conditions.
Applications Forms & Guidance
At JRCPTB we get many requests to review training and qualifications and this section aims to give guidance on how to apply for recognition of training. Please see relevant heading below.
Entry Requirements for Higher Medical Training (HMT) in the UK
To apply for HMT in the UK you must have the MRCP(UK) or its equivalent and a minimum of two years General Professional Training (GPT).
Recognition of Postgraduate Qualifications as Equivalent to the MRCP(UK) and General Professional Training (GPT)
JRCPTB considers the following qualifications in Medicine as having the equivalent content to the MRCP(UK):
FCPS Pakistan (Medicine)
FRACP Part 1
MHKCP
MD Colombo (Medicine)
FCP South Africa
M.Med Singapore
M.Med Malaysia
FRCP Canada
US Boards of Internal Medicine
If you hold one of these qualifications and have done all or part of your GPT abroad, please download a 
HMT Eligibility Application Pack (Word document, 72.5 K)
If you do not hold one of the above qualifications, you can apply to have the qualification recognised by JRCPTB . To do this please download an Alternate Qualification Application Pack (Word document, 85K)
If you hold the MRCP(UK), but have done all or part of your GPT abroad, you must apply for recognition of your GPT. To do so please download a GPT Application Pack (Word document, 68.5K)