Eligibility

There are strict rules about eligibility to apply for Specialty Training in 2012. You will need to ensure that you meet all of the eligibility criteria by the application closing date or date of appointment to post where stated. These requirements are clearly indicated on national person specifications.

GMC Registration

You will need to hold full General Medical Council (GMC) registration status and a current licence to practice (General Dental Council (GDC) registration is also required for OMFS) by the time of appointment to the post (this does not apply to Public Health applicants from a background other than medicine). You will need to confirm this when applying. For further information see www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/before_you_apply/registration_factsheet.asp

Right to Work in the UK

Some applicants may be considered before others on the basis of immigration status, in accordance with guidance from the UK Border Agency.

UK and EEA nationals and doctors whose immigration entitles them to work as a doctor in training in the UK are eligible to apply for specialty training. Evidence of immigration status would be a date stamped passport and/or identity card, together with an accompyanying letter from the Home Office detailing which type of visa has been granted. Both of these documents need to be dated as at or prior to the application closing date.

Other non-UK or non-EEA nationals with limited leave to remain in the UK, whose employment will require a Tier 2 visa, are subject to the resident labour market test. This would include, for example, doctors on student visas or Tier 1 Points Based System who are restricted from taking employment as a doctor in training. The labour market test means that applicants would only be considered if there were no suitable UK or EEA national (settled status) candidate for the post.

If shortlisted you will be required to produce your original documents (passports, page with the stamp and letter from the Home Office) on the day of their interview. Both of these documents would need to be dated as at prior to the application closing date.

You should refer to the UK Border Agency website for up to date information regarding the right to work in the UK

Evidence of achievement of Foundation or equivalent competences

One of the essential criteria to be considered for appointment to a specialty training post is evidence of achievement of Foundation or equivalent competences by the end of July 2012. If you are (or have been) a UK Foundation trainee, you should be able to provide a Certificate of Completion of Foundation training (FACD 5.2) by August 2012. You will be expected to provide a copy of this for your employer when you take up your post.

If your training was with a different programme, you will need to submit an Alternative Certificate showing all competences achieved in a post of at least three months duration since August 2009.

Please note:

• Evidence of higher professional exams in other disciplines is not accepted as evidence of Foundation competency.
• Evidence in a non-standard format is not accepted
• If, because of your refugee status, you are unable to provided standardised evidence of having achieved Foundtion competence, you should contact your first choice deanery for advice.

English Language Skills

If your undergraduate training was not in English, you will need to provide evidence of English language skills. For example a valid International English Language Testing system (IELTS 7.0) certificate, confirmation your undergraduate training was in English or other written evidence verified by an appoporiate employer or supervisor. You will be asked to bring this with you to any interviews or assessment centres yo attend.

The required IELTS score for 2012 is 7 in all domains (speaking, listening, reading and writing) to be achieved in a single sitting and within 24 month of the time of application.

College Exams

If college exams are a requirement for entry a the level to which you are applying, you must have received notification of having sat and passed the exam by the closing date of your application. If college exams are a requirement or exit, you will need to have passed by the time of your appointment.

Career Progression

All previous experience in the particular specialty/specialty group must be declared. This includes experience outside the UK and all experience in the UK, whether within educationally approved posts or not.

Person Specifications

Each specialty (and the level at which you woul be entering training) has a nationally agreed person specification that details the required competences required for that specialty. You will be required to provide evidence to prove that you have achieved the competences specified.