Advice to applicants

1. What does the law in the UK require?

It is a legal requirement that doctors must have their name entered on the General Medical Council's Specialist Register before taking up substantive, honorary or fixed-term consultant posts in the UK. However, this legal requirement does not extend to any other posts including training posts at Senior House Officer or Specialist Registrar level, locum NHS consultant posts, other career grade posts, or private practice. Legally doctors may take up these posts without being on the Specialist Register.

The Specialist Training Authority of the medical Royal Colleges (STA) is the organisation legally responsible for making decisions on applications for specialist registration from overseas qualified specialists. Initially, however, applications are assessed by the relevant medical Royal Colleges and Faculties and a recommendation is then submitted to the STA. The STA will not approve a recommendation for entry to the Specialist Register unless it is satisfied that the applicant meets minimum requirements. More information about the legislation governing specialist registration in the UK - the European Specialist Qualifications Order 1995 (ESMQO) - and the role of the STA can be found in Information Sheet 6 which is available on the STA's web-site.

2. Main pathways to the Specialist Register for overseas qualified specialists

If you hold a specialist qualification(s) awarded outside the UK, you can submit an application to the Faculty of Public Health for entry to the Specialist Register. Depending on the specialty in which the qualification(s) was awarded, you will be required to satisfy the Faculty of Public Health and the STA that your qualification(s) is either:

  1. equivalent to a UK Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) in the specialty in question - Article 9(2)(b) of the ESMQO. A CCST marks the end point of a defined UK specialist training programme. Before the STA can approve an application from an overseas qualified specialist, it must be satisfied that the applicant has been awarded a specialist qualification(s) outside the UK which demonstrates that they have received training and acquired the breadth and depth of expertise equivalent to that required for the award of a CCST in their specialty. Guidance about the overseas qualifications which can be taken into consideration are given in the Specialty specific guidance section; or
  2. where you have an overseas qualification(s) in which there is no CCST specialty, you will be required to satisfy the Faculty of Public Health and the STA that this has provided you with a level of knowledge and skill consistent with practice as an NHS consultant in the UK - Article 9(3)(a) of the ESMQO.

In certain circumstances doctors who are EEA nationals, or can demonstrate an enforceable European community right, with specialist qualifications awarded outside the UK, may have subsequent experience and knowledge in an EEA member state, or specialist registration in another EEA member state, taken into consideration as part of their assessment - Article 9(4) of the ESMQO. The Faculty of Public Health or STA will advise on this when the assessment is undertaken and will request any further evidence as necessary.

3. What should you do next?

If having read the information, so far, you think you may be eligible to apply for specialist registration as an overseas qualified specialist, you need to read carefully the Specialty specific guidance section. This provides essential information about the criteria which are taken into account when assessing an application for specialist registration. If you decide to make an application, please then read carefully the Guidance on completing the application form which details how to complete the application form and describes the further documentary evidence that must be supplied for the Faculty of Public Health to be able to undertake a full assessment of your qualification(s) and training.

4. What happens once you make an application?

Once the Faculty of Public Health has received your application form, they will first determine whether you have provided all of the information required. If you have not provided everything that is needed, the Faculty of Public Health will not be able to proceed with an assessment and may return your form. If, however, you have produced a full application, the Faculty of Public Health will assess your application and then submit a recommendation to the STA for a decision. The whole process should take about three months from receipt of a complete application to the issue of a decision letter from the STA.

5. Successful applications

If your application is successful, the STA will send you a letter to the address on your application confirming approval of your application. On the reverse of the letter will be a form for you to complete and to apply to the GMC for entry to the Specialist Register. The GMC will then write to you confirming your entry.

6. Unsuccessful applications

If your application is unsuccessful, the STA will write to you with the following information:

  1. the reasons why you have been refused entry to the Specialist Register. Details will be included in either the STA's letter or a checklist from the Faculty of Public Health enclosed with the STA's letter. You can reapply immediately or at a later stage providing further evidence of overseas qualifications and training; and
  2. details about the appeals procedure. There is a statutory right of appeal to an independent appeal panel for unsuccessful applicants. Details of the appeals procedures are set out in the STA's Information Sheet 4 and also in the Regulations Governing Appeals. These are available from the STA's website (see the Further sources of information section).

7. Separate arrangements for holders of specialist certificates awarded in other European Member States

Doctors who are nationals of an EEA Member State, or whose spouse is an EEA citizen, who hold both a recognised European primary medical qualification and a recognised European specialist qualification, may apply directly to the GMC for entry to the Specialist Register. The specialist qualification does not have to be awarded from the same country as the primary medical qualification. This arrangement allows the mutual recognition of European qualifications and the freedom of movement throughout the EEA. The GMC will only accept doctors for direct entry to the Specialist Register who meet all the three requirements described above. If you think you may be eligible under this arrangement, you should contact the GMC who will be able to advise you (see the Further sources of information section).