This section of the website gives guidance on the entry criteria listed in the person specifications.
There is a separate section for each of the six main areas of the entry criteria, plus a seventh page for the remaining requirements:
Group 1 and Group 2 specialties
A key difference of which to be aware is that specialties are divided into two groups, which affects the eligibility criteria for the attainment of core capability and the amount of experience required to be able to undertake training:
- Group 1 - these programmes require the full three years training in internal medicine training (IMT) or equivalent.
- Group 2 - programmes can be entered after two years of IMT or equivalent. Many of these specialties also accept trainees from a non-physician pathway.
This section of the website will make it clear where there is a different requirement for group 1 and group 2 specialties. Aside from this, eligibility criteria are generally the same across all specialties. However, in some cases, a particular specialty may have additional or slightly different requirements.
It should be assumed that any eligibility requirement described in this section is applicable to every specialty. If a specialty has additional/different requirements this will be made clear either here or in the 'planning your application' section of the specialty's page.
Please check your eligibility status before applying
Upon submitting your application, recruiters will assess it against the essential entry criteria. If the application does not demonstrate that all criteria are met, it will be regarded as ineligible.
Before applying please check that you meet the eligibility criteria, and consider how you will demonstrate this (if necessary).
UK core trainees
Whilst candidates expecting to complete a UK core training programme, that is designated as an entry pathway for that specialty, prior to the advertised post start date (or who have completed one already) are likely to meet all eligibility criteria, we still advise you to check the information here prior to applying.
Round 2
Please note that the dates in the subsequent pages of this section of the website refer to recruitment in round 1. In the event that you are applying in round 2 without one or more of the eligibility criteria being completed, most criteria not required at time of application must be completed by the advertised post start date; the timeline for the round confirms this date. The exception to this is the MRCP(UK), details of which can be found in that section.