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General Training Information
EM Curriculum from August 2015
The GMC have approved a new curriculum for implementation in August 2015: Curriculum from August 2015. The GMC have clarified how migration of trainees to the latest curriculum is to be effected. They state that trainees in their final year of training are not usually expected to transfer and that there is some flexibility for deaneries/LETBs and Colleges in setting the CCT date and if training in the final year is extended by six months or less then they would not usually be required to transfer. All other trainees are expected to move within two years. The College has produced this guidance: Guidance on migrating to the current curriculum - July 2015
Brief Guide to entry routes to Emergency Medicine training
Applicants wishing to pursue a career in EM have a number of entry routes available dependent on previous experience and their transferable competences. A brief guide is here:
College Guide for Trainees
A College Guide for EM trainees and those who have been selected to EM training is available for download
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine sets the standards for specialist training in Emergency Medicine. The Training Standards Committee, on behalf of the College, is responsible for the supervision of training in the specialty and recommending trainees to the GMC for specialist registration at the end of their training. Advice for trainees in run-through training posts, core specialty training posts, higher specialty training posts and fixed term training posts follows. Advice for SpRs can be found on the Pre-07 SpR page of this website.
Enrolment and Registration
Trainees who have been issued with National Training Numbers (NTNs); run-through trainees and higher specialty trainees must enrol with the Training Standards Committee (TSC). Enrolment will enable the College to, in due course, confirm eligibility for the FCEM examination and make a recommendation to the GMC for inclusion on the specialist register. Enrolment is free and is a separate process from Membership and payment of the annual training administration fee.
- To start the enrolment process, trainees in substantive appointments should complete the enrolment form and return it with their CV and Form R, if available (download)
Trainees who have not been issued with a National Training Number; core trainees, those in Fixed Term Specialty Training Appointments (FTSTA) or Locum Appointment for Training (LAT) posts must register with the Training Standards Committee (TSC). As part of this process the TSC will advise on the recognition of previous training and the training required to complete the programme.
- To start the registration process trainees in substantive appointments should complete the registration form and return it with their CV and Form R, if available (download)
Trainees in FTSTA or LAT posts should complete the registration form below. This last page of this form must be completed and signed by the trainee’s postgraduate dean, Head of School, STC Chair or Training Programme Director.
• FTSTA and LAT registration form (download)
RCEM E-portfolio
The E-portfolio is available for trainees to record assessments and progress through training. It is now required by the College for all run through trainees, core trainees, higher specialty trainees and those in fixed term posts. The e-portfolio is accessible at www.nhseportfolios.org and a username and password is required for access. A password will be issued to trainees who complete the e-portfolio user details form. Trainees must resubmit the form annually so that their post and supervisor details can be updated. Trainees must be up to date with their annual training fee before their account can be updated.
Educational supervisors, who do not already have an account on the e-portfolio, should complete the e-portfolio educational supervisor’s form. If the supervisor wishes to be linked to a particular trainee’s account please let us know.
Note: We are no longer requiring the educational supervisor signature on the user details form.
Out of Programme Training and Experience
With the permission of their postgraduate deanery trainees may undertake Out of Programme Training (OOPT), Out of Programme Experience (OOPE), Out of Programme Research (OOPR) or take an Out of Programme Career Break (OOPC).
Trainees planning to go out of programme for any reason should contact the College as soon as possible in advance. This is especially important if they expect to have some or all of the time recognised toward CCT as this must be approved in advance. Only OOPTs can count toward CCT or CESR CP.
Trainees should send the College details of the post they will be undertaking and written confirmation that they have the provisional approval of their local EM School, Specialty Training Committee or LETB/deanery. One of the TSC Professional Leads will review the details received and make a recommendation as to how much, if any, of the training can be recognised toward CCT.
Any out of programme training recognised toward CCT must be prospectively approved by the GMC. The LETB/deanery will make an OOPT application to the GMC on the trainee’s behalf and will require documentation in support as well as a letter of support from the College.
More information is available here.
Level of Evidence form
For trainees who are training on the CESR-CP (Combined Programme) route who need to provide evidence of posts which haven't been prospectively approved by the GMC and which they wish to be recognized towards their training. Available here: Level of Evidence Form.
Less Than Full Time (LTFT) Training
Guidance to help trainees and trainers understand the application process and practical implications of less than full time training is available here.
Applying for CCT or CESR CP
Before a trainee can become a Consultant in a substantive position they must make an application for specialist registration. The Training Administrators at the College will write to all trainees who are within four months of completion of training, who have passed the FCEM exam, sending:
- Guidance as to what documentation is required by the College;
- A CCT application form;
We will also advise the GMC Certification Department of the names of all trainees expected to finish their training and they will contact trainees directly with advice as to how make an online application to them.
Trainees must be signed off by the LETB/deanery with a final ARCP as well as making an application to both the College and the GMC.
Once all required documentation is received by the College we check that trainees have completed the minimum required years of recognised training, that all parts of the programme and all required exams have been completed and that we have satisfactory ARCPs for each year of training. One of the College professional leads approves the application on behalf of the Training Standards Committee.
Once approved a recommendation is made to the GMC. The GMC will link the College’s recommendation with the online application from the trainee. In most cases the applicant is then admitted to the specialist register but the GMC does occasionally ask for our training file for the purposes of quality assurance.
Frequently asked questions - download
Annual Training Administration Fee
Please take note: UK trainees in EM Core and Higher Training posts must have paid their training administration fee in order to be eligible to sit the MCEM and FCEM examinations.
As from 8 November 2013 there will no longer be a surcharge for credit card payments.
All trainees must pay an annual training fee for the administration of their training and access to the e-portfolio. Those who pay subscriptions for one of the categories of College membership, or those applying for membership pay a reduced fee. The fee can be paid by cheque made out to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and is payable in August, at the beginning of each training year. All trainees must pay the fee including those in fixed term posts. LTFT trainees pay the same fee as full time trainees but will pay no more than six fees. Trainees out of programme or on maternity leave may be exempt - please see the guidance here: Training Fee exemption guidance
- Training year August 2008 - July 2009 - annual training fee £160 or £80 for Members/Associate Members/Fellows
- Training year August 2009 - July 2010 - annual training fee £160 or £80 for Members/Associate Members/Fellows
- Training year August 2010 - July 2011 - annual training fee £180 or £90 for Members/Associate Members/Fellows
- Training year August 2011 - July 2012 - annual training fee £180 or £90 for Members/Associate Members/Fellows
- Training year August 2012 - July 2013 - annual training fee £300 or £90 for Members/Associate Members/Fellows
- Training year August 2013 - July 2014 - annual training fee £300 or £90 for Members/Associate Members/Fellows
- Training year August 2014 - July 2015 - annual training fee £300 or £90 for Members/Associate Members/Fellows
- Training year August 2015 - July 2016 - annual training fee £300 or £90 for Members/Associate Members/Fellows
Return payment form – (download)
Training fee and Membership statement – (download)
Categories of membership open to trainees
The Training Standards Committee recommends that trainees become members of the College as this conveys additional advantages. For example members may access other College resources such as e-learning material, College mailings and pay reduced fees for conferences.
Becoming a member of the College is different to enrolling or registering with the Training Standards Committee. The following categories of membership are available to trainees:
Associate membership
Associate membership is available for trainees in years ST1-3 or CT1-3 who have not passed MCEM and for trainees in FTSTA appointments and LAT appointments at any year of training, unless they have been successful in MCEM.
Membership by election
Membership by election is available for trainees in ST4 and above who have not passed MCEM.
Membership by examination
Membership by examination is available for trainees at any level who have passed the full membership examination.
How to apply for membership
Membership application documentation is available in the Membership section of this website. You should complete and return the appropriate forms, direct debit mandate and equal opportunities form. If you have passed the MCEM examination you will be contacted directly about your membership and need not complete a form.
Revalidation for trainees
Doctors in training need to revalidate in a similar way to other licensed doctors. The standards expected for trainees in Emergency Medicine are defined in the curriculum. Your ‘Responsible Officer’ will make a recommendation to the GMC that you are up to date, fit to practise and should be revalidated. The Responsible Officer for those in training will be in the appropriate designated body which for England is the LETB/deanery; for Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland; for Wales, the Wales Deanery; and for Northern Ireland, NIMDTA . Further information is on the GMC’s website: http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/revalidation/12383.asp
College Tutor Job Description
The College Tutor role is new to Emergency Medicine. It is now expected that all sites training specialty trainees in Emergency Medicine will appoint a Head of Specialty Training (College Tutor). This appointment will oversee the training of junior doctors in Emergency Medicine (both at Core Training and Higher Specialty Training level) on behalf of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM ). The aim of the document downloadable here is to help clarify the appointments process, role and responsibilities of the RCEM College Tutor.
College tutor job description (download)
Emergency Medicine Curriculum
The curriculum applicable to specialty training in Emergency Medicine and sub-specialty training in Paediatric Emergency Medicine can be found in the Curriculum section of the website.
Paediatric Emergency Medicine
Paediatric Emergency Medicine is a recognised sub-specialty of Emergency Medicine. Successful completion of a sub-specialty training programme can be recorded with your main specialty on the GMC specialist register. The training consists of six months in a Paediatric Emergency Medicine department approved for sub-specialty training and six months of ward-based paediatrics, three months of which should be in the care of unconscious and critically ill children, such as in a Paediatric ICU. Competences of the programme can be found in the Curriculum section of this website. Not all programmes will be able to offer, or trainees able to pursue, sub-specialty training and appointment will be on a competitive basis. Trainees must hold a training number before they can be appointed to a sub-specialty training post.
More information about PEM training can be found at Paediatric Emergency Medicine
Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine
Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine is a recognised sub-specialty of Emergency Medicine. Successful completion of a sub-specialty training programme can be recorded with your main specialty on the GMC specialist register.
Information about Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine training can be found at http://www.ibtphem.org.uk
Dual accreditation with Intensive Care Medicine
Intermediate and Advanced level accreditation in Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) is currently available for EM trainees as regulated by the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM). This training is available on a competitive basis and leads to dual CCTs in ICM and EM but only when both training programmes have been completed. Not all programmes will be able to offer, or trainees able to pursue, dual accreditation. Training time is extended as guided by the FICM.
Once appointed to an ICM CCT post for the purposes of Dual accreditation trainees must ensure that they are registered with the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine. Any queries should be directed to ficm@rcoa.ac.uk Trainees should also inform the College so that CCT/CESR-CP date can be reviewed.
Important note. The Intensive Care Medicine curriculum is currently undergoing a revision and approval process with the GMC. Trainees planning to dual accredit with ICM who have not yet had their training requirements specified by the FICM should note that it is possible that the current situation whereby an EM trainee will typically require 18 months Anaesthetics/ICM training in order to dually accredit may well change. It is possible that the extra training requirements could be of the order of several years.
Further information can be found on the FICM website www.ficm.ac.uk
RCEM Acting-up requirements
RCEM has produced a document outlining requirements for trainees who wish to 'Act-up' as consultants during the latter part of their training: CEM Acting Up requirements
Inter-deanery transfer (IDT)
The National Inter Deanery Transfer(IDT) process has been put in place to support medical trainees who have had an unforeseen and significant change in circumstances since commencement of their current training programme. The process is managed by the National IDT team (Health Education South London) on behalf of the Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans (COPMeD), Health Education England (HEE) and all UK regions. Trainees who are planning to apply for an IDT process should visit the following website for guidance - please click here.
In order to progress trainees must receive a satisfactory outcome at annual review (ARCP). A list of outcomes is available here: ARCP outcomes.
Changes to Approved Practice Settings (APS) from April 2014.The GMC has announced changes to APS that will take effect from 30 April 2014. Please click for more info: Changes to APS April 2014.
Contacts
Contact details of LETB/deaneries can be found here.
Contacts for training enquiries at the Royal College of Emergency Medicine are:
David Greening (Training Manager) – david.greening@rcem.ac.uk
Oonah Newbury (Surnames A to L) – oonah.newbury@rcem.ac.uk
Tulsi Patel (Surnames M to Z) - tulsi.patel@rcem.ac.uk
Useful websites
Modernising Medical Careers – www.mmc.nhs.uk
The General Medical Council – www.gmc-uk.org
Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans in the UK - www.copmed.org.uk
Acute Care Common Stem – www.accsuk.org.uk