How to Apply to a Training Post

RCP/21/12/2012

RCP insight
How to apply for a training post
Core and ST3 level
By Dr Liz Berkin, Deputy Medical Director JRCPTB and clinical lead for specialty recruitment

Introduction
This is general guidance designed to be applicable to a range of recruitment processes. For more specific information, we recommend reading the guidance which is supplied by the relevant recruitment process. Recruitment is organised at a national level by a number of different bodies (deaneries, colleges) in a number of different ways. Please check in advance to see who is managing the specialties you are interested in. Each specialty may have slight differences in requirements, so it is worth checking websites and guidelines in advance to make sure that you have a clear understanding of what will be happening and when. Each recruitment ‘window’ is roughly the same, but the exact dates on which applications open and close, as well as when the interviews take place, will vary.

Are you eligible?
Person specifications
When applying to a training post, you must meet certain stringent criteria to be eligible for a post. These are laid out as the essential requirements in the person specifications, which can be viewed on the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC)

http://www.mmc.nhs.uk/specialty_training_2012/specialty_training_2013.aspx
The person specification for each participating specialty will be unique to that specialty, but there are also a number of essential requirements which are common across the person specifications for all specialties.

Eligibility to work in the UK
Before an applicant can take up a post, they will need to demonstrate that they are eligible to take up employment within the UK. In accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, some candidates may be considered before others on the basis of their immigration status. You will need to demonstrate that you are eligible for employment in the UK. How you do this will differ...