Certification Types

There are three types of certificates in the UK issued by the General Medical Council (GMC):

  1. The Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)
  2. The Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration via the Combined Programme (CESR (CP))
  3. The Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR)

There is one type of certificate in the Republic of Ireland issued by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland:

  1. The Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Surgical Training (CSCST)

If you are a UK trainee, you will be issued a National Training Number (NTN) by your Local Education and Training Board (LETB) or Deanery and this will indicate the certification route you have been placed on.

Your certification route is not confirmed until the SAC has ratified your appointment during the enrolment process.

You are on the CCT route if:

You are a UK trainee who achieved the required competences considered towards your appointment to a NTN programme in GMC approved training posts.

Approved posts are ones which have been prospectively approved for training by the General Medical Council (GMC). Training undertaken in the EEA/Switzerland can be approved if you provide evidence that the posts were approved by the statutory authority in the country in which you undertook your training.

Your NTN will end in a ‘C’ if you are expected to be on the CCT route.

You are on the CESR (CP) route if:

You are a UK trainee who achieved some or all of the required competences considered towards your appointment to a NTN programme in non-approved posts.

This only applies to trainees who enter a training programme above ST1.

Your NTN will end in an ‘L’ if you are expected to be on the CESR (CP) route.

If you are on the CESR (CP) route and enter training at a higher level than is usual for your specialty, you will need to submit the following to the SAC for consideration.

  • TPD confirmation of support and the level they consider you should have started NTN training at
  • An up-to-date CV (all posts listed mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy) - uploaded onto ISCP
  • A fully up-to-date ISCP website portfolio
  • All additional information you have (for example logbooks and assessments) regarding all your posts uploaded onto your ISCP portfolio
  • A list of all posts that should be considered towards NTN higher surgical training - to be confirmed by your Deanery/LETB

You cannot be enrolled without the documentation above.

Please note that your training level at enrolment on to the CESR (CP) route should be ratified at your first ARCP in the training programme.

GMC guidance on CESR (CP) can be found here.

You are on the CESR route if:

You are applying to be added to the GMC's Specialist Register, have not followed a traditional training programme, but are seeking to demonstrate that you have gained the same level of skills and knowledge as a trainee on the CCT or CESR (CP) training route.

You will need to apply directly to the GMC for a CESR. For more information please go here.

You are on the CSCST route if:

You are undertaking your higher surgical training in the Republic of Ireland. More information for Irish trainees.