News

From 30th November 2023, new legislation is being introduced by the UK government which will give more flexibility to accept a broader range of evidence from doctors applying for specialist or GP registration via the CESR or CEGPR pathways.

We’ve summarised what this change will mean for those doctors applying for specialist or GP registration via CESR or CEGPR, both currently and in the future.

What’s changing?

Currently, the GMC must be satisfied that an applicant’s ‘specialist training is, or those qualifications are, or both when taken together, are equivalent to a Certificate of completion of training (CCT)’ in the relevant specialty or general practice.

This current legislation is deemed to make applications overly bureaucratic, complex to navigate and burdensome to satisfy.

As a result, from 30th November 2023, the new legislation will require applicants to demonstrate they have the ‘knowledge, skills and experience required for practising as an eligible specialist or GP in the UK’.

While the change does not represent a different, or lower expectation of applicants, it is designed to ensure consistency across all pathways to specialist and GP registration, now and in the future.

All applicants will have to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and experience align to the h high-level learning outcomes of the GMC-approved UK curriculum in the relevant specialty or in general practice and will no longer have to map their evidence to the full detail of the relevant CCT curriculum.

The name CESR and CEGPR pathways is also changing and will be renamed the ‘Portfolio Pathway’ when the changes come into effect on 30th November 2023.

What evidence will I need to provide to apply going forward?

The GMC are continuing to publish updated specialty specific guidance for a number of specialisms. These can be found on their website here.

What if I’ve already started or submitted my application?

If you’ve already started or submitted an application for specialist or GP registration, here’s an outline of your available options:

I’ve started an application on GMC Online but not yet submitted it

If you’re in a position to apply, you’ll need to decide whether you want to do this before of after 30th November 2023.

Any applications submitted before this date will still be assessed using the current requirements and speciality guidance.

Applications submitted on or after 00:00 (GMT) on 29th November 2023 will be assessed using the new requirements and updated and revised specialty guidance.

In the case of a small number of specialties, if you plan to submit your application on or after 00:00 (GMT) on 29th November 2023, you will be required to close it and resubmit it. You will be contacted if this applies to you once the GMC publishes the relevant updated speciality specific guidance.

I’ve already submitted my application

If this is the case for you, your application will be assessed against the current requirements and specialty guidance. You do not need to do anything further.

If your application hasn’t yet been submitted to your royal college or faculty for evaluation, you do have the option of it being assessed against the new requirements and specialty guidance.

You will need to contact equivalence@gmc-uk.org and ask for your current application to be closed before starting a new one and submitting it after 30th November 2023. You will receive a full refund.

What are my options if my recent application was unsuccessful?

You may be eligible to apply for a review of the GMC’s decision. Any review of an unsuccessful application submitted before 30th November 2023 will be reviewed against the requirements and specialty guidance in place at the time of your application.

Please read the GMC’s review guide for more information on what to do in this situation.

If you would like further information about the changes to CESR and CEGPR pathways and how they may affect you, please do get in touch with the Kaizen Recruitment UK team and we’ll be happy to help.