Hi, I am Himani, an NHS doctor and IMG from India. In today's blog, I would like to share with you important information about how to apply for training in the UK.
How and Why
Before we dive into the 'How to' of it, let’s take a moment to reflect.
Whether you are an IMG who has been in a non-training job for a while or an IMG who has just obtained their GMC registration, you are sure to have your heart set on getting a training number or rather should.
“Why?” you ask. Well, training has its perks. It’s the same difference between being homeschooled (non-trainee) and going to school (trainee). Getting into training opens up new avenues to help you make professional and personal progress on your journey to being a Consultant in a timely manner and in a well-supported environment.
Essential Requirements
To be considered on par with UK graduates & to be eligible to apply, an IMG needs to obtain a license to practise in the UK alongside either of two options:
1. FPCC (rewarded on completing the foundation programme run by UKFPO or by entering the FY2 Standalone programme)
OR
2. CREST ( Certificate for Readiness to enter Specialty training) - wherein your consultant signs you off for having demonstrated F2 competencies over anywhere from 3 months to 1 year. Every Consultant has a different approach to this and may or may not be happy to sign the CREST for you when you wish. You stand a better chance of getting the CREST if you collect evidence and maintain a portfolio along the way and have the backing of your registrars under whose direct supervision you will be working most of the time. Make sure that this is the most up-to-date version of CREST. Please read more about getting your CREST form signed: guidance and tips.
Where should you begin?
Before you start with your application, it is useful to familiarise yourself with the system you are applying to. Questions you might want to ask yourself and explore answers to:
the training pathways for different specialities, which can be found at TrewLink.com,
awareness of the training level you are applying at i.e. Core training – CT1 or Specialty training – ST3 +,
whether the speciality is a run through one (ST1-8 with a single point of entry) or an uncoupled pathway (with entry at CT1/ST3 levels),
timelines for applications - most are announced,
guidances for each speciality,
familiarise yourself with the portal used for submitting applications – the Oriel & HEE - Health Education England portals are your best friends
'Oriel is the UK wide portal for recruitment to postgraduate medical, dental, public health, healthcare science and pre-registration pharmacy training. Applicants will use Oriel for all stages of the recruitment process.' - www.oriel.nhs.uk
How should you plan your year around training applications?
Start by printing off the latest guidance of the self-assessment scoring criteria for your speciality.
Now you know the boxes that you are meant to tick by the time you apply and you can get to work by booking the necessary courses, attending conferences, delivering poster/oral presentations, closing audit loops etc. While you are doing all this hard work do not forget to collect evidence for each of these things on documents with the Trust or the organisations’ letterhead, validated by a consultant (sign, seal, date). Maintain an electronic portfolio in the form of multiple PDFS and folders on your computer and a paper portfolio arranged in a systematic manner as per the guidance.
Also, be cognizant of any HEE stipulated entry criteria such as spending more than 18 months in Surgery (excluding foundation modules) is grounds for being considered overqualified for Core training applications. Ensure you have moved to a different role well within time, to avoid this.
Sign up for question banks, use the Oxford handbook for Foundation programme, Oxford SJT book, GMC guidance on Good Medical Practice, refer to the free SJT samples on the UKFPO site if you are applying for any of the specialities (listed below) that use the MSRA -Multi-speciality recruitment assessment for shortlisting candidates:
General Practice
Core Psychiatry Training
Clinical Radiology
Ophthalmology
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Community Sexual and Reproductive Health
Neurosurgery
Nuclear Medicine
ACCS Emergency Medicine
Anaesthetics
Much of your career progression will depend on your portfolio. The portfolio will be used to evaluate you when applying for jobs, in career progression, and in annual appraisals. Knowing what goes into your portfolio will help you start to develop it from an early stage, and help maximize your professional successes.
What should you expect when you begin applying?
Fill the different sections of the form accurately and honestly:
Part 1
Personal information, contact details. Declare your right to live in the UK, provide details of your immigration status.
Equality & diversity information - contains demographics.
Employment history - detail all previous work experience in last 3 years, each post held needs to be mentioned separately with job descriptors in accordance with UK training terms.
For example, if you were working as a house officer after internship in your home country- mention the post as an FY2 equivalent/SHO post. If you have less than 3 years of employment history, Oriel lets you mention what you were doing prior to your first job, e.g. undergraduate studies.
Any clinical gaps will be automatically generated and need to be explained. The applicant will not be discriminated against over the reason cited for the clinical gap. You may state travelling and are well within your right to take a career gap to do so, you are after all a human!
Part 2
Training history – Some Yes/No Questions on whether you have held a training number previously, language skills, professional registration details.
References – provide details of 3 referees who will be contacted after you have been offered a post to corroborate the facts you have stated on the application.
Fitness to Practice – Yes/No Question on previous criminal proceedings and convictions you might have faced and explanation for them.
Competencies/ Eligibility – Yes/No Questions on demonstrating your foundation competencies, upload CREST here, details of Primary Medical Qualification.
Confirmation & Declarations page AKA my favourite section since you just tick the boxes and proceed.
Part 3
The most important part of your application - Supporting information.
If you are applying to CST (Core Surgical training) / IMT (Internal Medicine Training), Radiology etc this is your opportunity to self assess and see how many points you can claim against the evidence you have collected so far. Some fields may ask you to describe in up to 500 words why you are applying / what research / QIP work you have done to demonstrate your interest in the said speciality, try to get a senior trainee or someone who has just gotten into training to proofread these for you so that you can come up with a succinct answer to each of these.
My TOP TIPS (thank me later)
If you are applying for multiple specialities - fill out one of the forms and save it. Following applications are created based on this partially filled template and you won’t have to keep detailing all of your previous work experience on every new application. I learnt this the hard way.
Upload evidence in the correct format mentioned (pdf, docx etc). Plan ahead, knowledge of the timeline helps prevent last-minute scramble for evidence.
Be aware of and submit before the deadline to avoid last-minute anxiety induced by the site crashing nearer to the application deadline.
Get a successful trainee’s perspective on how to self-score accurately, how to answer questions asked on the application.
After applying – Check Oriel for any updates, additional requirements. Check your spam folder/junk mail (that is where all of my Oriel correspondence went for some reason). Keep your eyes peeled for the announcement of the portfolio score, and if unsatisfied, appeal in time, this can mean the difference between getting an interview opportunity and waiting a whole year for it.
Do not stress out if you get a message asking to resubmit your CREST as it was inaccurate/illegible. Keep calm and resubmit it ensuring you have made the changes requested and uploaded within the window offered.
If sitting the MSRA, book your exam when prompted, log in as soon as possible to get the desired exam centre and date. The MSRA is a computer-based examination that assesses candidates under 2 domains- their clinical knowledge and their ability to resolve Professional dilemmas.
Do not hesitate to apply for training posts irrespective of how your portfolio looks, if nothing the experience will help you familiarize yourself with the application process and minimize the anxiety next time around.
After the application submission
Start your interview preparation well in time. Be prepared to face questions on:
your motivation to take up this particular speciality,
your awareness of the competencies you are expected to demonstrate in the first year of core training.
an ethical scenario,
one or more clinical scenarios.
Take the necessary subscriptions you need to be best prepared - online Q bank, interview preparation bank, refer to Interview books.
Be aware of the preferencing window and lock your preferences within the stipulated time.
Useful sites
If you have any questions feel free to ask on the TrewLink website, we are happy to help.
If you found our blog articles helpful, please share them with your IMG friends & colleagues who may also benefit from reading our blog.
Good luck,
Himani
Written by Himani
Edited by Julia