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Training

Training & Certification FAQs

Training and certification

How do I achieve the competencies for palliative and end of life care as a non-palliative medicine trainee?

The Palliative Medicine Specialist Advisory Committee have produced guidance on the training methods for achieving competencies in palliative and end of life care for trainees in non palliative training posts and programmes.

How do I achieve the competencies for training in adolescent and young adult health care?

The Young Adult & Adolescent Steering Group at the Royal College of Physicians London has developed guidance for JRCPTB on how the required competences and experience can be gained in young adolescent and young adult health care.  This guidance is aimed at trainees, trainers and programme directors. 

I am a Less Than Full Time Trainee, when should my PYA take place?

It should take place 12-18 months prior to your expected training completion date and your progress so far will be reviewed against your curriculum.  This period IS NOT pro rata for Less Than Full Time Trainees who will also be required to undergo their PYA 12-18 months prior to completion, regardless of the number of sessions worked per week. The PYA will then identify outstanding targets to ensure the requirements of the curriculum are met in full.

If for any reason the final CCT date is more than 24 months after PYA then you must have a second PYA and it must be in line with the current curriculum.

 

How do I apply for a transfer to another region?

The National Inter Deanery Transfer (IDT) process has been put in place to support medical trainees who have had an unforeseen and significant change in circumstances since commencement of their current training programme and need to move from one region to another.

The process is managed by the National IDT team (Health Education South London) on behalf of the Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans (COPMeD), Health Education England (HEE) and all UK regions. If you are planning to apply for an IDT process please visit the HEE website for guidance. 

 

Is there any guidance on core medical trainees acting up as a medical registrar?

We have produced guidance on acting up for Core Medical Trainees.  Schools of Medicine may choose to adapt this for use locally.

I am an overseas trained doctor aiming to work and train the UK, what is the first step?

The Royal College of Physicians London and Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh Medical Training Initiatives enable international medical graduates to undertake a two year sponsored training fellowship in the UK. 

Access for RCP London International Medical Graduate (IMG) doctors

International medical graduates (IMGs) taking part in the RCP London Medical Training Initiative are eligible to use the JRCPTB ePortfolio for up to two years. IMGs are asked to request access by contacting the RCP International office at mti@rcplondon.ac.uk.

Access for RCP Edinburgh International Medical Graduate (IMG) doctors

International Medical Graduate doctors seeking short-term training in the UK are eligible to use the ePortfolio for  up to two years. To get access to the ePortfolio you must be registered on the RCPE IMG Scheme and be approved by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh IMG team. For further information on the IMG Scheme contact Shona McGlynn or visit the RCPE website.

For permanent posts, direct applications for internal medicine training (IMT) and specialty training posts can be made through the recruitment websites, where guidance is available on demonstrating appropriate competencies and eligibility.

The General Medical Council (GMC) will make a decision on granting you a licence to practice (equivalent to entry of Foundation Year 2) to enable you to take up an appointment in the UK.  For more information on this, please visit the GMC website

 

Specialist registration/completing training

Is it possible to acquire my CCT earlier than originally planned?

We have issued guidance for Specialist Advisory Committees on the process for recommending an earlier CCT date for trainees acquiring competencies more rapidly than anticipated.  This guidance should apply to all medical specialties supervised by JRCPTB but may be subject to variation depending on subsequent GMC advice.

 

When can I apply for consultant posts?

You can be interviewed for consultant positions six months prior to your completion date. This is referenced in latest version of the Gold Guide.

I actually completed training two months ago but my entry on the specialist register states today, why is this?

This is because either:

  • Your actual scheduled date of completion of training is today

or

  • There has been a delay in your completion and the GMC have entered you on to the specialist register at the point which they finalised the recommendation

Please note; JRCPTB cannot alter this final date.

Can the completion date for my specialty be different from the completion date for GIM?

As per the Gold Guide Section 6.34, dual training completion dates must be the same. There is no provision for identifying different dates for completion of training.

What posts are not approved for training?
  • Service posts - eg Locum Appointments for Service (LAS)
  • Clinical Fellow, Honorary or Trust posts that do not either carry GMC approval or form part of an Out of Programme Episode whilst in a numbered post - see the OOP page
What posts can count towards training?
  • All substantive numbered posts that make up a trainee's NTN.
  • Locum Appointment of Training (LAT) posts
  • Any post that carries GMC approval

Out of programme

I'm going on parental leave, what do I need to do?

Initially you will need to advise the deanery/HEE local office and JRCPTB of the date you intend to commence parental leave. On your return to clinical training you will need to fill out the completion date calculator with your date of return and if this will be on a full-time or less than full time basis and send to your deanery/HEE local office.

I would like to go OOP in my final year of training, is this possible?

Although it is possible if supported by the deanery/HEE local office, it is strongly recommended by the JRCPTB that trainees do not undertake any OOP episodes in their final year of training. In any event, a PYA must be undertaken first for each of your specialties and it is unlikely that credit towards training will be granted in full for OOP episodes in the final year of training.

It has been approved by my deanery that I can go out of programme so what do I need to do next? How long will it take to process my OOP application?

If you want time out of programme (OOP) to count towards the award of a CCT or a CESR via the Combined Programme (CESR CP), the GMC must approve the post before it starts.

It is therefore essential that your request for training credit is submitted to JRCPTB for consideration at least 8 weeks prior to the start date. All OOP applications that request training credit must have approval by the relevant JRCPTB Specialist Advisory Committee (SAC) before the GMC can approve the post. Applications for OOP training credit that are submitted to us with less than 8 weeks notice will not be considered for training credit.

The application form is available on our website. See the Out of programme page for further information.

Penultimate year assessment

What is a Penultimate Year Review?

Penultimate Year Reviews have replaced Penultimate Year Assessments for those on a 2021 or later specialty curriculum.  The Penultimate Year Review will be undertaken by one of the following:

  • Trainee's Educational Supervisor or
  • Trainee's Training Programme Director or
  • External Advisor

The Penultimate Year Review will review the trainee's specialty training undertaken to date and agree the specialty curricula requirements that remain outstanding to complete training.  The outstanding requirements will be listed in the Penultimate Year Review as Mandatory targets and documented on the trainee's eportfolio.  Recommendaed (non-mandatory) targets may also be listed.  All mandatory targets must be listed and noted as "ACHIEVED" in the ARCP outcome 6.   PYR forms are currently in development and should be available soon on eportfolio for each higher medical specialty.   In the meantime, it is recommended that ARCP Interim Review or Educational Meeting forms are used to record the PYR on eportfolio.

I am an external advisor conducting PYAs, can I claim expenses?

If you are performing the role of External Advisor and conducting penultimate year assessments (PYAs) on behalf of JRCPTB then you may submit claims for travel expenses if the host deanery is not holding ARCPs on the same day. In most circumstances, the deanery will host combined ARCPs and PYAs on the same day. In these cases, expense claims should be submitted to the host deanery.   

If you have any questions please contact the training programme support team at pya@jrcptb.org.uk.

 

I am a Less Than Full Time Trainee, when should my PYA take place?

It should take place 12-18 months prior to your expected training completion date and your progress so far will be reviewed against your curriculum.  This period IS NOT pro rata for Less Than Full Time Trainees who will also be required to undergo their PYA 12-18 months prior to completion, regardless of the number of sessions worked per week. The PYA will then identify outstanding targets to ensure the requirements of the curriculum are met in full.

If for any reason the final CCT date is more than 24 months after PYA then you must have a second PYA and it must be in line with the current curriculum.

 

What documents do I need to supply for my PYA?

To ensure you benefit the most from the PYA, you must ensure the following is completed at least four weeks before the PYA event.

  1. Set up a new folder within your personal library on the ePortfolio called '(Specialty) PYA paperwork'  
  2. Ensure that the summarry of clinical experience (SOCE) form is completed and uploaded to the above folder.
  3. Ensure that an up to date CV is uploaded to the above folder.
  4. Ensure that your ePortfolio is up to date so that the assessor has the ability to check your progress to date.
  5. The assessor will complete an electronic PYA form which is located within the 'PYA' tab on your ePortfolio. Check this tab to ensure that the relevant PYA form is available.
What is the purpose of the PYA?

The PYA exists to ensure that trainees are meeting the standards set by the curriculum  through a meeting between the trainee and those responsible for writing the curriculum. It allows trainees to review their own progress with a representative of their specialty who is external from the local deanery and discuss their development against the entirety of the curriculum. It is also an opportunity to discuss future opportunities both for remaining training periods and with a view on post-training work.

What is the difference between my PYA and my ARCP?

The differences are subtle but significant:

ARCPPYA
Reviews trainee progress against that yearReviews trainee progress within whole programme
Compares regional/ home trainees data per yearCompares national information across regions and years
Can be done without the trainee presentCannot be done without the trainee present
Cannot review its own programme within the GMC requirements for quality assurance of trainingCan provide enough data to review programmes in line with GMC quality assurance requirements
Reviews trainee competencyReviews trainee confidence - provides trainee an opportunity to seek non-deanery opinion

 

LAT/LTFT

I am a Less Than Full Time Trainee, when should my PYA take place?

It should take place 12-18 months prior to your expected training completion date and your progress so far will be reviewed against your curriculum.  This period IS NOT pro rata for Less Than Full Time Trainees who will also be required to undergo their PYA 12-18 months prior to completion, regardless of the number of sessions worked per week. The PYA will then identify outstanding targets to ensure the requirements of the curriculum are met in full.

If for any reason the final CCT date is more than 24 months after PYA then you must have a second PYA and it must be in line with the current curriculum.

 

I would like to count my LAT towards training, how do I do this?

On appointment to a specialty post with a national training number you must inform your Educational Supervisor that you wish to seek credit for a LAT.  Your application will be reviewed by your Training Programme Director and Educational Supervisor in accordance with the JRCPTB LAT policy.

Other training issues

Do I have to transfer to the new curriculum?

Please see our transition guidance page for information and the rough guide for the relevant specialty. 

Where can I find information about the new curricula?

All the new curricula are available on their respective specialty webpages here. Meanwhile, FAQs specific to Internal Medicine acan be found here

How do I achieve the competencies for training in adolescent and young adult health care?

The Young Adult & Adolescent Steering Group at the Royal College of Physicians London has developed guidance for JRCPTB on how the required competences and experience can be gained in young adolescent and young adult health care.  This guidance is aimed at trainees, trainers and programme directors. 

How do I achieve the competencies for palliative and end of life care as a non-palliative medicine trainee?

The Palliative Medicine Specialist Advisory Committee have produced guidance on the training methods for achieving competencies in palliative and end of life care for trainees in non palliative training posts and programmes.

Can I get my training or certification verified?

For verification of your training, please contact the GMC directly or visit their website here.

I am a trainee and would like to count my previous experience/ training, how do I do this?

As identified in the Certification section, this will depend on your current situation.

  1. If you have an NTN with a C suffix, you are deemed to be training towards a CCT and all training will have been in UK approved posts. If you wish to count previous experience that is not from UK approved posts towards your training, you will no longer be eligible for a CCT and must train towards a CESR CP. This must be arranged in consultation with your Training Programme Director and you will need to have your NTN amended to reflect that you are now training as a CESR(CP).  Any previous experience or credit must be granted before your first ARCP.
  2. If you have an NTN with an L suffix, you are deemed to be training towards a Combined Programme CESR (CESR(CP)). Any previous experience or training not already considered for counting towards the CESR CP must be submitted to your deanery, at the earliest opportunity  and noted at the first specialty training ARCP (ie ST3 ARCP). From this point, the deanery may make a recommendation for additional competencies against your curriculum to be considered by the JRCPTB. This should be done through your Training Programme Director in the first instance.

 

About JRCPTB

How can I claim mileage expenses?

The Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians will pay car mileage at a rate of 45p per mile. However, where a car is used for convenience on long journeys instead of public transport, we will pay only the cost of public transport for the same journey. You can claim this online here under 'Federation General Expense'. Full guidance can be found here. Please note, this is an an interim arrangement while a new policy is being developed and agreed.