This guide covers the traditional What is your year of study?

training pathways for a range of

specialties, but there are other
options available.

Career
Click pathways can also
to view...
change year to year, so we
recommend looking at the
royal colleges, NHS Health
Careers and GMC websites
for more details.
College/
Medical
6th form FY1/FY2 Other
student
student

Find
Letout
meabout...
explore

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LTFT training
 Help me decide Things to know for medical school
Let me explore Medical school lasts between four and six years, depending on your course, or longer if you intercalate
(read more about intercalating).
Click to view...

Medical school Exams access practice questions from the BMJ OnExamination app.
1st year: At the end of your first year, exams cover physiology, Look out for discounts throughout the year.
pharmacology, anatomy, basic sciences and pathology. You can Download from iTunes
Foundation years practise questions using BMJ OnExamination, which is free for Download for Android
freshers (BMA members only).
Training options Options to consider
2nd and 3rd year: End-of-year exams include pre-clinical Intercalating: Some universities offer intercalated degrees. This
and clinical questions, which focus on the integration of basic means studying another degree subject for a year and earning
Uncoupled training sciences and clinical medicine. The style of questions includes the title iBSc (Hons). It can boost your career prospects, and may
SBA (single best answer), MCQ (multiple choice) and EMQ help with entry to academic foundation programmes and certain
Run-through training (extended matching questions). As a BMA member you can access specialty training pathways. However, there are extra costs to
practice questions from the BMJ OnExamination app. Look out for consider. Read more about student finance.
Clinical academic training discounts throughout the year.
Download from iTunes Electives: Medical electives became part of the curriculum in
Download for Android the 1970s, and for many students, are one of the highlights of
Find out about... undergraduate medical training. Electives can be undertaken in
Final year: Final year exams include clinically rich case problems, the UK but can also provide the opportunity to travel overseas,
Pay
data interpretation questions and clinical images. You will also allowing you to experience a different culture, health system and
take the SJT (situational judgement test), which is required to even medical conditions seldom seen in the UK and Europe.
LTFT training apply to the foundation programme. As a BMA member you can

Find out about training programmes

 Help me decide Foundation years
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school What is foundation training? An option to consider

Foundation training takes two years – F1 and F2.
Upon completion of F1, you can apply for full
Foundation years General Medical Council registration.
Training options Applying for foundation years
Applications for foundation training are made through a
national programme, in the autumn to start the following
Uncoupled training summer.
Run-through training Find out more about the foundation programme.
Clinical academic training To get tips on applying, click here.
Academic foundation programme: If you may want to go into
academia later in your career, you should consider an academic
post instead of the normal foundation training programme. Your
F2 placements can help you decide whether to continue – you
are not compelled to stay in academic training if it’s not for you.
There will also be opportunities later in your career to undertake
academic activities or enter formal academic training.
Foundation training includes six rotations in medical or surgical
specialties, with at least one rotation in each of obstetrics and
gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry and emergency medicine.
Most foundation schools include a rotation in general practice,
which is rapidly becoming a compulsory rotation.

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training Find out about training programmes

 Help me decide What training programme would you like to know
Let me explore more about?
Click to view...

Medical school Training options

Choosing a specialty can be daunting. Fortunately, medical
training offers flexibility – for example, you might decide to go
Foundation years into GP training but later find that you are keener on emergency
medicine. Specialties have many different entry points, ways to
Training options switch and opportunities to sub-specialise.
This tool features examples of specialties under each training
pathway, but does not list them all. We’ll add more specialties over
time (get in touch if you’d like to contribute), but for now please
visit NHS Careers and the GMC website for more information on
specialties.

Depending on your chosen specialty, you can enter: If you would like to contribute information on another specialty,
Uncoupled training (click on one to find out more...) or feel like you could add more details to a specialty listed, please
email campaigns@bma.org.uk
Run-through training uncoupled training

Clinical academic training

run-through training

Find out about...

clinical academic training
Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Uncoupled training
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school There are two uncoupled training programmes: core training and Some of the specialties you can enter through these
ACCS (an alternative core training programme). programmes include:
Psychiatry
Foundation years Core training lasts two or three years, followed by another open Cardiothoracic surgery
competition for higher specialty training posts. Anaesthetics
Training options Emergency medicine
ACCS (Acute Care Common Stem) is a three-year core training Medical specialties
programme that normally follows foundation training. It is
Uncoupled training the only route if you wish to enter higher specialty training in
emergency medicine, and an alternative for entry to higher
Run-through training specialty training in general internal medicine, acute internal Go back to training options
medicine or anaesthesia.
Clinical academic training Help me choose my uncoupled training specialty
The components of training in ACCS are:
–– one year emergency medicine and general internal medicine: Take me to medical specialties
Find out about... acute (usually six months each)
–– one year anaesthesia and intensive care (minimum of three
Pay
months each)
–– one further year within your chosen parent specialty.
LTFT training
 Help me decide Are you interested in being able to
Let me explore
treat patients holistically?
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Do you like working as part of a team?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered working in psychiatry?
Let me explore
Or, have you considered general practice
Click to view... as a run-through training programe?
Medical school
Psychiatry Need to know
Foundation years –– If you like uncertainty, complex patients and teamwork,
Check out the benefits and challenges of working in both as part of the team and as a leader, this can be a very
Training options psychiatry in this video. satisfying job. Psychiatry allows you time to get to know
your patients and treat them in a holistic manner.
Working hours
Uncoupled training –– Psychiatry can allow for a reasonable work-life balance, with
more sociable working hours Monday to Friday. However,
Run-through training on-call rotas can be just as frequent as medical and surgical
rotas depending on your place of work.
Clinical academic training
Training and exams
–– Core training spans a wide range of posts, with each lasting
Find out about... six months. It takes three years (CT1-3), as long as all exams
and workplace-based assessments are passed.
Pay
–– You will need to take the Royal College of Psychiatrists
membership exams, complete your workplace-based
LTFT training assessments and achieve psychotherapy competencies to
complete core training. You can then specialise in general
psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, medical Back to first question for uncoupled training
psychotherapy, learning disability, old age psychiatry or
forensic psychiatry.
 Help me decide Have you considered working in anaesthetics?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school Anaesthetics –– T he CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) in

Check out the benefits and challenges of working in
Foundation years anaesthetics in this video.
Training options Working hours
–– Normal working hours are regular, though there are early
starts – between 7.30am and 8am – and some long and
Uncoupled training irregular night, weekend and on-call shifts. As a core trainee/
registrar you may work one weekend out of every three
Run-through training or four. As a consultant, irregular hours can be one night a
week and one weekend every five to 12 weeks. Consultants
Clinical academic training generally have the option to work less than full time.
anaesthetics is normally a seven-year programme for
trainees taking the core anaesthesia route, or eight years
for those following the ACCS route.
–– E xams include written and oral exams of basic sciences
(physics, pharmacology and physiology), and final exams
focus on clinical problems.
Need to know
–– If you’re looking for a practical job with the opportunity to
build relationships with patients and colleagues, a strong
focus on patient safety and a mix of acute and elective work,
this is a specialty to consider.

Training and exams

Find out about... –– There are two routes of entry: core anaesthetics training
or ACCS. Core anaesthetics starts after the two-year
Pay
foundation programme, lasts two years and focuses on
anaesthesia with some intensive care medicine.
LTFT training –– The ACCS route lasts three years, with two years of the
ACCS programme and one of the anaesthesia programme Back to first question for uncoupled training
at CT2 level.
 Help me decide Is working with new technology
Let me explore
important to you?
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered working in
Let me explore cardiothoracic surgery?
Click to view...

Medical school Cardiothoracic surgery (this can also be run-through training) Need to know
–– You will need to be dedicated – competition can be high
Check out the benefits and challenges of working in and according to doctors there is a limited pool of posts
Foundation years cardiothoracic surgery in this video. available. As a cardiothoracic surgeon you get to work with
new technology and be in an innovative environment.
Training options Working hours
–– Workloads can be high and days can be long, usually with two
or three nights a week on call. As well as performing surgery,
Uncoupled training cardiothoracic surgeons are involved in the treatment and
management of many different conditions within their
Run-through training specialty. This involves attendance at outpatient clinics,
multidisciplinary team meetings and ward rounds. You will
Clinical academic training generally spend two or three days in surgery.

Training and exams

Find out about... –– Core training in surgery starts after the two-year foundation
programme. You will then take the entrance exam for
Pay
membership of the Royal College of Surgeons, and if
successful, apply for specialty training (ST3). After six years Back to first question for uncoupled training
LTFT training in higher specialty training, you must complete the surgical
colleges’ fellowship exam to be eligible for consultant practice.
 Help me decide Have you considered working in
Let me explore emergency medicince?
Click to view...

Medical school Emergency medicine Need to know

–– If you like variety in the patients you see, the conditions
Check out the benefits and challenges of working in you treat and the knowledge and skills you use, and high-
Foundation years emergency medicine in this video. pressure environments with a lot of responsibility, this
might be the right specialty for you. Consider whether
Training options Working hours you’re happy to work unsociable hours, though this does
–– Emergency doctors generally work on a shift rota pattern, as allow for flexibility. 
opposed to regular working hours, plus on-calls. This means
Uncoupled training a slightly more flexible schedule, but you are expected to
work between eight and 12 hours, sometimes more, at any
Run-through training time of the day or night. Most shifts include busy times such
as evenings and weekends.
Clinical academic training
Training and exams
–– There are two options for training: the ACCS at CT1, which
Find out about... takes three years before you apply for competitive entry Back to first question for uncoupled training
into ST4, or a pilot run-through training programme that
Pay
takes place from ST1 to ST6.

LTFT training
 Help me decide Uncoupled training
Let me explore
Medical specialties
Click to view...

Medical school Medical specialties Predominantly ward-based specialties

There are at least 27 specialties under the physician umbrella –
everything from dermatology to gastroenterology. There are two Predominantly clinic-based specialties
Foundation years possible core training pathways – CMT (core medical training),
a two-year programme covering general and acute internal
Training options medicine, or the three-year ACCS programme. Depending on the
specialty, higher specialty training will usually take a further four
to six years.
Uncoupled training
At the end of CT1 you’ll take the MRCP (Membership of the
Run-through training Royal Colleges of Physicians) part 1 exam, and the full MRCP
Diploma before applying for ST3, then the Specialty Certificate
Clinical academic training Examinations between ST5 and ST6.

The medical specialties fall roughly into two groups: ward-based

Find out about... and clinic-based. As examples, four specialties are detailed below
– geriatric medicine, infectious diseases, gastroenterology and
Pay
dermatology – but we recommend visiting the Royal College of
Physicians website for more information.
LTFT training
 Help me decide Uncoupled training
Let me explore
Medical specialties
Click to view...

Medical school Predominantly ward-based specialties include: Help me choose my medical

–– Acute internal medicine
specialty...
Foundation years –– Cardiology
–– Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Training options –– Endocrinology and diabetes mellitus (both ward- and clinic-based)
–– Gastroenterology
–– General internal medicine
Uncoupled training –– Geriatric medicine
–– Haematology
Run-through training –– Infectious diseases
–– Medical oncology
Clinical academic training –– Nuclear medicine
–– Paediatric cardiology (both ward- and clinic-based)
–– Palliative medicine
Find out about... –– Rehabilitation medicine
–– Renal medicine
Pay
–– Respiratory medicine
–– Tropical medicine
LTFT training
Return to medical specialties
 Help me decide Uncoupled training
Let me explore
Medical specialties
Click to view...

Medical school Predominantly clinic-based specialties include: Help me choose my medical

–– Allergy
specialty...
Foundation years –– Audiovestibular medicine
–– Aviation and space medicine
Training options –– Clinical genetics
–– Clinical neurophysiology
–– Dermatology
Uncoupled training –– Genitourinary medicine
–– Immunology
Run-through training –– Medical ophthalmology
–– Rheumatology
Clinical academic training –– Sport and exercise medicine

Return to medical specialties

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Are you interested in being able to
Let me explore
treat patients holistically?
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Would you like part of the job to be
Let me explore
focused on research?
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Would you prefer to do less clinical
Let me explore
emergencies/on-call work?
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered dermatology?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school Dermatology Need to know

–– Dermatology offers opportunities to improve procedural
Check out the benefits and challenges of working in skills through minor surgery, a good work-life balance,
Foundation years dermatology in this video. scope for private practice and a strong emphasis on
teaching and research.
Training options Working hours
–– Hospital-based – predominantly an outpatient specialty, Back to predominantly clinic-based specialties
with a few dermatology wards. Days can be long, but you’ll
Uncoupled training often be able to leave on time and have a reasonably quiet Back to medical specialties
on-call schedule. You might work as medical registrar for
Run-through training the hospital in some areas. Dermatological emergencies are
rare, so you’ll primarily be looking after chronic conditions.
Clinical academic training
Training and exams
–– You will usually have completed core medical training and
Find out about... PACES (Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills).
You will need to pass PACES to apply for entry to ST3.
Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Would you like to treat patients with
Let me explore
non-invasive surgical procedures?
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered gastroenterology?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school Gastroenterology Training and exams

Check out the benefits and challenges of working in
Foundation years gastroenterology in this video.
Training options Working hours
–– In a typical working week, a gastroenterology registrar
would attend morning ward rounds at least four times, two
Uncoupled training led by a consultant and two led by the registrar. They would
attend at least two clinics and be timetabled for one session
Run-through training of endoscopy training. The rest of the time, registrars are on
the ward reviewing sick patients, seeing referrals from other
Clinical academic training wards and handling admin.
Trainees are expected to be part of the on-call rota – this
Find out about... varies at hospitals, but you can expect to work one in
four weekends, and at least one set of nights per three
Pay
months. There is a huge amount of variety – no two days
are the same! Non-surgical procedures are common in
LTFT training gastroenterology, and can have a huge impact on the life of
a patient, which can be a very satisfying part of the job.
–– Gastroenterology trainees need to dual train – as well as
completing the curriculum in gastroenterology, you’ll
complete the general medicine curriculum. You will take the
gastroenterology SCE (Specialty Certificate Exam), usually
by ST6 level.
Need to know
–– The hospitals you train in can vary in geographical location
and services offered. For example, a small DGH (district
general hospital) may not have an acute bleed rota. It can
be difficult to get the number of endoscopies required to
complete your training. Medical on-calls can be difficult to fit
around training, as they may conflict with endoscopy training
lists and clinics, although you can sometimes arrange swaps.
There can be a high level of competition for posts.
Back to predominantly clinic-based specialties
Back to medical specialties
 Help me decide Have you considered neurology?
Let me explore

Or, if you’re open to other training

Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years pathways, have you considered

Training options
surgical specialties?
Uncoupled training

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about... Back to first question for uncoupled training

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered geriatrics?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school Geriatric medicine Need to know

–– You can develop an area of interest, such as strokes,
Check out the benefits and challenges of working in geriatric movement disorders, dementia or delirium. You can
Foundation years medicine in this video. develop great communication skills through managing
complex social situations. It is a holistic specialty, meaning
Training options Working hours you’ll consider the patient’s overall well-being in your
–– You will work predominantly on geriatric wards as well as assessment and management. There is little opportunity
running geriatric clinics, such as falls clinics. You may also to develop procedural skills. Geriatric trainees and
Uncoupled training give liaison input to local community hospitals, and your consultants often describe it as a less fast-paced specialty
department may offer an early intervention/outreach than others.
Run-through training service for at-risk geriatric patients in the community. As
part of your training, there are likely to be times when you Back to predominantly clinic-based specialties
Clinical academic training are medical registrar for the hospital.
Back to medical specialties
Training and exams
Find out about... –– You will usually have completed CMT and PACES (Practical
Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills, the second part
Pay
of the MRCP exam).

LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered infectious diseases?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school Infectious diseases Need to know

–– This can be a varied, busy job. Most doctors also contribute
Check out the benefits and challenges of working in to the general/acute medical rota. It is a competitive
Foundation years infectious diseases in this video. specialty, with less opportunity to perform procedures
compared to some others. There is also an extremely varied
Training options Working hours in-patient cohort, and the opportunity to cure a lot of
–– Your work in infectious diseases will be predominantly infections can be very satisfying. You can develop working
ward-based, with some outpatient clinics. relationships with patients with chronic infections, such as
Uncoupled training HIV and TB, have opportunities to work abroad in different
Training and exams locations, and excellent opportunities for research and
Run-through training –– You will need to complete CMT or ACCS and the MRCP teaching.
exams, after which training usually takes five years.
Clinical academic training You may also want to do a Diploma of Tropical Medicine. Back to predominantly clinic-based specialties
Training in infectious diseases is usually coupled with
training in general medicine or microbiology. It can be Back to medical specialties
Find out about... extended by completing a PhD.
Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Run-through training
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school In run-through training programmes, progression to each level Help me choose my run-through
is automatic as long as you satisfy all required competencies.
Programmes last around three years for general practice, and
training specialty...
Foundation years five to seven years in other specialties. They start with a broad
overview of the specialty, and become more specialised over
Training options time.

Some of these specialties include:

Uncoupled training Obstetrics and gynaecology
Ophthalmology
Run-through training General practice
Paediatrics
Clinical academic training Neurosurgery

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Are regular hours of the upmost
Let me explore
importance to you?
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Are you interested in maintaining an
Let me explore
interest in medicine and surgery?
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Are you interested in maintaining an
Let me explore
interest in medicine and surgery?
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Are you interested in treating eyes
Let me explore
and the visual system?
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered opthalmology?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school Ophthalmology Need to know

–– Ophthalmology is an ideal combination of medicine
Check out the benefits and challenges of working in and surgery in a technical environment, which is always
Foundation years ophthalmology in this video. evolving. You will constantly be learning new skills and
gaining knowledge to bring about effective treatments,
Training options Working hours and there are good career prospects.
–– There is a good work-life balance in ophthalmology – night
work is unusual and out-of-hours work is not too hectic.
Uncoupled training
Training and exams
Run-through training –– Training lasts seven years, from ST1-7. Trainees must
pass three exams to progress through training, including
Clinical academic training Part 1 FRCOphth (fellowship of the Royal College of
Ophthalmologists) before entering the third year of
specialist training. You must pass the Refraction Certificate
Find out about... exam by the end of the third year, and Part 2 FRCOphth
by the end of the seventh. You can only apply to ST1 if
Pay
you have not had more than 18 months’ experience in Back to first question for run-through training
ophthalmology, otherwise you must join ST3 with other
LTFT training core competencies signed off and the Part 1 exam passed.
 Help me decide Have you considered the uncoupled
Let me explore
training pathway in psychiatry?
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options
Back to first question for run-through training
Uncoupled training

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered uncoupled training,
Let me explore
and specialties like otorhinolaryngology
(ear, nose and throat surgery, ENT) or
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years urology?

Training options

Uncoupled training

Run-through training

Clinical academic training Back to first question for run-through training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered obstetrics and gynaecology?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school Obstetrics and gynaecology Need to know

Check out the benefits and challenges of working in
Foundation years obstetrics and gynaecology in this video.
Training options Working hours
–– As a junior doctor you will work days, nights and weekends.
A typical rota pattern includes one weekend in every three
Uncoupled training or four. As a consultant you’ll work normal hours, weekends
and either resident or non-resident on-call nights. Obstetric
Run-through training nights tend to have a heavy workload, compared to other
specialties.
Clinical academic training
Training and exams
–– This is a seven-year run-through programme, from ST1
Find out about... to ST7. You need to pass the MRCOG (membership of the
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) Part 1
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exam by the end of ST2, then Part 3 by the end of ST5. After
Back to first question for run-through training
receiving your CCT, it’s a competitive application process for
LTFT training consultant posts, as this is a strongly consultant-led field.
–– This is a good option if you want to maintain an interest
in both medicine and surgery. Gynaecology cases can
include everything from paediatric to elderly diseases, and
obstetrics includes antenatal, labour ward and postnatal.
This makes it a varied job, with an ever-changing weekly
schedule – you won’t get bored!
–– If you like working with a variety of patients and their
families, and in a multidisciplinary team, this is an
interesting specialty to consider. However, it’s a 24/7
lifestyle and can be hard to juggle. You’ll work across many
different locations, from the antenatal or gynaecology
outpatient clinic to the operating theatre list to a scanning
or specialist clinic.
 Help me decide Are you interested in surgery?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered neurosurgery?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school Neurosurgery Need to know

Working hours
Foundation years
Training options
Uncoupled training Training and exams
Run-through training
Clinical academic training
Find out about...
Pay
LTFT training
–– You need to be flexible with good stamina – you may have
several long, complex procedures taking place that are then
–– Surgery is your primary role, followed by outpatient clinics, stopped for an emergency case – high manual dexterity,
emergency departments and attending ward rounds, so good hand-eye co-ordination and the ability to embrace
hours can be long. There is a high level of on-call work in the constantly developing technologies. Neurosurgery can be
evenings and weekends. a fascinating specialty, with our understanding of the brain
and the central nervous system improving all the time.
–– Training takes eight years (ST1-8), but this can vary
according to individual circumstances, and at what
stage you enter the pathway. ST1 includes a six-month
attachment in neurosurgery and another in acute
neurology. ST2-3 includes one or more placements in
complementary surgical disciplines to develop surgical
skills and knowledge. You must pass the MRCS (membership
of the Royal College of Surgeons) exams before progressing
to ST3. ST4-5 comprises full-time training in general
neurosurgery followed by advanced neurosurgical training
at ST6-7 and special interest training in a neurosurgical
Back to first question for run-through training
sub-specialty at ST8.
 Help me decide Do you like working with children?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options

Uncoupled training Yes No

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered uncoupled training
Let me explore
and medical specialties like acute internal
medicine?
Click to view...

Medical school

Foundation years

Training options
Back to first question for run-through training
Uncoupled training

Run-through training

Clinical academic training

Find out about...

Pay

LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered paediatrics?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school Paediatrics Need to know

–– Working with children and building relationships with
Check out the benefits and challenges of working in paediatrics them and their parents is an acquired skill and one you
Foundation years in this video. would need to nurture. If you can combine this skill with
a team-working mentality, this can be a highly rewarding
Training options Working hours specialty.
–– There are frequent on-call hours associated with
paediatrics, which can be challenging. Although this adds
Uncoupled training complexity to LTFT (less than full-time) training, many
paediatric trainees still do so successfully.
Run-through training
Training and exams
Clinical academic training –– Training takes at least eight years, from ST1 to ST8. During
ST1-3, trainees need to pass all parts of the MRCPCH
(membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child
Find out about... Health) exam before proceeding to ST4. ST4-5 includes at
least six months in general paediatrics, neonatology and
Pay Back to first question for run-through training
community paediatrics. At ST6-8, you can either continue in
general paediatrics or apply for one of 17 sub-specialties.
LTFT training
 Help me decide Have you considered general practice?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school General practice will then spend 18 months as a specialty registrar in general
practice. The MRCGP (membership of the Royal College of
Check out the benefits and challenges of working in general General Practitioners) exams include an applied knowledge
Foundation years practice in this video. written test and a clinical assessment test (a bit like clinical
finals in medical school).
Training options Working hours
–– While in a GP practice, a GP trainee’s working week includes Need to know
seven clinical sessions, such as booked and emergency –– If you like taking a generalist perspective, including acute,
Uncoupled training surgeries, house visits and phone consultations; two continuing and end-of-life care alongside preventative
structured educational sessions; and one independent medicine, this is a specialty to consider. You would be
Run-through training educational session. GP trainees work a 40-hour week while looking after and communicating with your patients on a
on placement. longer-term basis, building therapeutic relationships. There
Clinical academic training are many options after qualifying as a GP, including having a
Training and exams specialist interest, working in outpatients’ specialty clinics,
–– GP training lasts at least three years. It includes 18 months A&E, out of hours or travelling – some regions offer an
Find out about... as a specialty registrar in a range of jobs in hospital; opportunity to go abroad for a year while on training.
specialties can vary between deaneries and some have
Pay
four- or six-month placements. They can include oncology,
palliative care, general medical jobs (cardiology, respiratory,
LTFT training gastroenterology), ENT, dermatology, paediatrics, accident
Back to first question for run-through training
and emergency, geriatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology. You
 Clinical academic training
Help me decide Clinical academic training schemes allow you to continue training
in a broad range of clinical specialties while learning to carry
Let me explore out research. Trainees have a protected proportion of time to
focus on research or educational projects, developing research
methodologies and other academic skills. Most aim to complete a
Click to view... PhD during a full-time period of research, and progress as a senior
clinician continuing research.
Medical school
Eligibility and entry points
Foundation years ACFs (academic clinical fellowships) are aimed at individuals with a
commitment to academic medicine and outstanding potential for
Training options success in the field. They are open to all applicants who meet the
requirements for entry into specialty training, as well as existing
specialty trainees.
Uncoupled training
The level of clinical experience required for individual ACFs is
Run-through training determined by the dean, and entry can be up to four levels of
training (ST1-4) for psychiatry and paediatrics. If successful,
trainees are awarded an NTN (A) (academic National Training
Clinical academic training Number). Entry points for other specialties depend on whether
they have a core training period.
Find out about...
For ACFs that specify a specialty with a core training period,
Pay trainees enter a core academic programme – even if appointed
at ST1 or ST2 – then progress on to the specialty in question,
LTFT training provided they achieve the core competencies. For specialties
without a core training period, trainees enter the specialty
programme directly.
Trainees on ACFs that are not specialty specific, such as ‘medicine’
or ‘medical education’, enter an academic core training period
for two or three years, during which you’ll decide on a clinical and
academic specialisation. Medical education ACFs can be based on
specialties either with or without a core training period.
At the end of the ACF period, you might obtain a research training
fellowship or a place on an educational programme that leads
to a higher degree. With the agreement of their postgraduate
dean, trainees may take time out of their clinical programme
to complete the MD, PhD or equivalent higher degree, before
returning to their clinical programme – applying competitively
for clinical lectureships at ST4 or ST5, provided they meet
eligibility criteria.
Trainees who hold a PhD or equivalent higher degree are
eligible to apply for ACF posts, but are expected to further their
postdoctoral research experience.
These include MB PhD graduates; graduates with an intercalated
PhD gained during an undergraduate medical degree; doctors
who have undertaken an MD or PhD and have a commitment to
academic medicine; and medical graduates who have obtained
a PhD prior to medical undergraduate training.
Based in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales?
Find out about the differences in training.
Find out more about becoming a clinical academic.
Need further advice?
Visit the following websites for further career advice on being a
medical academic:
Academy of Medical Sciences
Wellcome Trust 
Medical Research Council
NHS Medical Careers
Choose another training option
 Help me decide Pay
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school This information is for England only. For Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, find out about pay here.

How is pay calculated?

Foundation years You are paid a basic rate depending on your grade, with additional pay for extra hours worked and enhanced rates for unsocial hours,
including a weekend allowance for those who work more than six weekends per year, on-call availability allowance and pay for hours
Training options worked while on call.

What will my basic rate be?

Uncoupled training Your basic salary is linked to your grade or level of responsibility, rather than time served.

Run-through training Foundation Doctors

Clinical academic training Scale Foundation doctor year 1 Foundation doctor year 2
Min 22, 862 28, 357
1 24, 289 30, 211
Find out about... 2 25, 716 32, 066
Pay
Specialty registrars

LTFT training Scale Specialty registrar (Core training) Specialty registrar (Fixed Term) Specialty registrar (full)
Min 30, 302 30, 302 30, 302
1 32, 156 32, 156 32, 156
2 34, 746 34, 746 34, 746
3 36, 312 36, 312 36, 312
4 38, 200 38, 200 38, 200
5 40, 090 40, 090 40, 090
6 41, 979
7 43, 868
8 45, 757
9 47, 647

Got further questions? Find out more here.

 Help me decide What is less than full-time training?
Let me explore

Click to view...

Medical school LTFT (less than full-time training) covers any arrangement of
reduced working hours with your employer. All doctors in training
are able to apply.
Foundation years
There are many reasons for it, such as domestic commitments,
Training options disability or ill health, or undertaking an activity outside
medicine. Your training programme and some elements of your
employment contract will be determined based on your individual
Uncoupled training circumstances and should reflect the guidelines detailed here.
Run-through training Access to LTFT training will depend on your circumstances and
the availability of LTFT places in your training location.
Clinical academic training
In prioritising applicants, deaneries or LETBs (local education
and training boards) are advised to review applications based
Find out about... on ‘well-founded individual reasons’, which are divided into two
categories.
Pay
LTFT training
Category 1
–– Disability or ill health (this may include IVF programmes)
–– Responsibility for caring for children
–– Responsibility for caring for an ill or disabled partner, relative or
dependant.
Category 2
–– Unique opportunities for professional development (eg
training for national or international sporting events), or short-
term extraordinary responsibility (eg a national committee)
–– Religious commitment (eg training for a religious role that
requires a time commitment)
–– Non-medical professional development such as management
courses, law courses, fine arts courses or a diploma in
complementary therapies.
The categories are not exhaustive and applications may be
considered for other reasons, but this will depend on the
particular situation and the need of the specialty in which you’re
training or applying to train.

Find out whether you qualify for LTFT.