Registering as a public health specialist in the UK

In order to work as a public health consultant in the UK registration with the Specialist Register or with the UK Voluntary Register for Public Health Specialists is required.

Most individuals achieve this by completing a UK training programme resulting in the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).

On completion of training, medical doctors are recommended to the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) for inclusion on the Specialist Register, while those from other disciplines are recommended for registration with the UK Voluntary Register for Public Health Specialists.

However individuals who have completed specialist training in Europe or overseas may be eligible for entry to these registers without undergoing further training in the UK.

 

Routes to registration for overseas and EU/EEA citizens

It is a legal requirement that doctors must have their names entered on the GMC's Specialist Register before taking up substantive, honorary or fixed-term NHS consultant posts in the UK. Most doctors achieve this by completing a UK training programme resulting in the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).

However doctors who have completed specialist training overseas may be eligible for direct entry to the Specialist Register without undergoing further training in the UK.

The rules about entry to the Specialist Register are set out in the General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training & Qualifications) Order 2003.

The Order provides a number of routes to the Specialist Register for public health doctors who come into these categories:

EU/EEA citizens

If you are a citizen of a European Economic Area (EEA) state (or married to an EEA national) with a specialist medical qualification awarded outside the UK you can apply for mutual recognition of your qualification under EEA law.

You must meet all of the following criteria in order to apply to the GMC for direct (automatic) entry to the Specialist Register:

  • Be a national of an EEA member state (or married to an EEA citizen who intends to demonstrate an enforceable European Community right to live in the UK).
  • Have been awarded a recognised European specialist qualification in a speciality in which there is a Certificate of Completion of Training.

The GMC no longer require you to hold a primary medical qualification from Europe when applying for registration in this way.

Please be advised that the rules for automatic entry are complex and under some circumstances, even if you meet the preceding criteria, your qualification may not be acceptable for direct entry. Please contact the GMC directly for information on registration procedures.

 

Article 14

Under Article 14 the PMETB has a legal responsibility to approve entry to the Specialist Register for eligible specialists who can demonstrate that they have either UK or overseas specialist training and/or specialist qualifications and meet specific criteria. PMETB will also be able to take account of any specialist medical experience or knowledge wherever obtained.

The Faculty of Public Health is responsible for the initial assessment of applications and for making recommendations to the PMETB. The PMETB has the authority to confirm or reject recommendations and to notify the GMC that an assessed doctor should be entered on the Specialist Register.

The PMETB website contains the requirements for applications under Article 14 (please contact the PMETB directly for information on application processes), however the Faculty of Public Health has prepared a guidance document for those considering making an application in a specalty of public health medicine.