Training posts
All posts undertaken for training credit, whether at SHO or SpR/SpT level, must have both educational approval from the Faculty of Public Health and approval by the relevant Postgraduate Dean. All posts which are accredited for training must be advertised openly in the British Medical Journal. In addition, public health trainers in most regions regularly hold Open Days for those wanting to know more. For information, contact one of the regional Training Programme Directors.
Each trainee who is appointed to an approved post on a substantive basis is issued a unique, individual training number, known as an NTN, by the postgraduate dean. There are variations on this number for trainees in particular categories, e.g. those on Visitors visa will receive a VTN, those in FTTAs a FTN, and those on research programmes a RTN.
FTTAs are not undertaken for formal UK training credit and thus need not be advertised. However, they are a part of the training programme (and the applicant's visa may depend upon this fact) and as such must be approved by Faculty Visitors when they are offered in a deanery.
Posts outside the UK (Overseas Secondments) are approved on a one-off basis by the Faculty Education Office (the Director of Training) if they are for more than 6 months of training credit. Experience of 6 months or less is approved by the Faculty Adviser.