1. Applications for Specialist registration
Ellen Cox
Head of Specialist Applications
15 September 2017

2. What the Specialist Apps Team do
Deal with all applications for entry onto the Specialist Register or GP
Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)
Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR)
Certificate of Eligibility for General Practice Registration (CEGPR)
Verifications and duplicates of certificates for GMC and previous bodies responsible for Specialist training / registration
Coordinate GMC’s response to appeals against SR / GPR
Applications for Out of Programme (OOP) approval
Explain drs need SR to work as substantive consultant in non-FT NHS hospitals and GPR to work as GPs in any capacity (can’t otherwise work)
Quick overview of team structure – 12 advisers, 2 assistants etc. 2

3. Numbers of CCT applications received

4. What is a CESR?
Entry onto the Specialist Register with a Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR)
It is a route for doctors who have not followed a full UK training programme
If an applicant does not already hold full registration, they must apply for this at the same time
Set out CCT route and also CESR 4

5. Numbers of CESR / CEGPR applications received

6. Applications by specialties

7. An overview of the CESR process
Fee is currently £1,600
Assigned to an adviser immediately throughout working hours, or first thing the next working day.
The adviser will do an initial eligibility check (explain) based on the information given in the application and will request the structured reports for the nominated referees.
We will expect to receive the initial evidence bundle within 14 days of the application being submitted. The adviser will work through the bundle, which will contain about 1000 pages of documentary evidence, and create a checklist which will help identify any gaps in the evidence.
The checklist is sent to the applicant who then has a maximum of 60 days to gather any further evidence.
Once the 60 days are up, or the applicant requests to, the application is deemed closed and will be sent to the Royal College for evaluation. This is the delegates. GMC are administrators, but JCST have expertise and are able to assess whether the evidence meets the required standards.
At this point we are subject to a 3 month legal deadline to issue a decision to the applicant.
The RC will source two independent evaluators and have 7 weeks to return a completed evaluation.
In-house QA of the evaluation. We check that the it has been assessed against the correct standards, check that all evidence has been considered. We will revert back to JCST with any queries.
GMC issues a decision. Appeal is against the GMC, not the JCST. 7

8. Compliance with three month deadline - annual

9. Preparing for submission
Documentary evidence based on GMC’s Good Medical Practice Guide:
Domain 1: Knowledge, skills and performance
Domain 2: Safety and quality
Domain 3: Communication, partnership and teamwork
Domain 4: Maintaining trust
Your documentary evidence will be based on the GMC’s Good Medical Practice guide:
Domain 1 is Knowledge, skills and performance - typically around 75% of your evidence bundle
Domain 2 is Safety and quality - typically around 20% of your evidence bundle.
Domains 3 and 4 are Communication, partnership and teamwork AND Maintaining trust –typically around5% combined 9

10. Structured Reports You will be asked to provide six referees
Used to triangulate primary evidence
Choose people who can comment on your recent competence
Verify work, training and experience
Details on your personal attributes, skills and competencies
First referee should be current medical / clinical director
We recommend you provide the names and details of six referees, who we will contact to obtain structured reports from. In our experience, applications where we do not receive structured reports from at least five referees in the same specialty are extremely unlikely to be successful.
It is good practice to speak with your referees to obtain their permission before nominating them. Let them know how much work is involved in filling the reports out – we have sample forms with us today so you can see what they look like.
The Royal College will use the structured reports to triangulate evidence from your application to verify work, training and experience you have undertaken.
The reports will also provide detail on your personal attributes, skills and competencies. Your first referee should be your current medical or clinical director or head of your department.
We ask your referees to complete and return these reports to us within 21 days. We will actively chase them for a further 21 days. If at this point they have not been received your adviser will ask you to make contact with your referee or suggest you nominate someone else. 10

11. Success Rates Success depends on: Your past experience and training
The evidence you provide
Your willingness to engage
Your referees’ comments
The following statistics are not an indication of your likelihood of success
Success depends on your previous experience, the level and availability of the evidence you are able to provide, your willingness to engage with the process and whether your referees are able to provide the necessary information.
We have produced statistics on successful and unsuccessful CESR and CEGPR applications as we understand that these applications can be a daunting prospect and you will look to get as much information as possible before committing to what is often a time consuming and complex process.
However, if you are seeking to determine the likelihood of success for a particular application, you should interpret these numbers with caution. 11

12. Success rates
Point out that this varies by specialty and isn’t an indication of the likelihood of success – that depends on review of guidance / willingness to engage with process etc 12

13. Success rates – common specialties
Note this includes reviews too - so e.g. although there were 59 T&O decisions, only 51 doctors applied. All T&O reviews were succesful. 13

14. Why are applications unsuccessful?
Applicants often use logbooks as evidence of what they’ve done, but don’t adequately demonstrate how they have performed to meet the curriculum requirements.
Insufficient evidence of audits that have been undertaken, particularly on closing the audit loop.
Failure to demonstrate the required level of involvement in research
Focusing on one area of the curriculum rather than the breadth 14

15. ü * ( For more help from the Specialist Applications team Website * (
Phone
 6602
Also refer to the annual report – online and will take hard copies 15