Certification for NTN start dates after 07/2015 and all T&O, Paediatrics, Neurosurgery or Cardiothoracic trainees

Below is a description of the JCST’s certification process for trainees with NTN start date was on or after 1 July 2015 or all Trauma & Orthopaedic, Paediatric Surgery, Neurosurgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery trainees. We hope it will help you when your certification date approaches.


Trainees with NTN start dates before July 2015 who are not Trauma & Orthopaedic, Paediatric Surgery, Neurosurgery or Cardiothoracic,  trainees will follow the previous JCST certification process as described here.

Instigator is: JCST Office

  1. Check trainee’s training details and ISCP account six months before certification date.
  2. Advise trainee, Training Programme Director (TPD), SAC Liaison Member (LM) and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) that they need to prepare for the final ARCP meeting.

Instigator is: Trainee

  1. Ensure that your training details are up-to-date
  2. Ensure ISCP portfolio is up-to-date in advance of ARCP meeting (please remember that it is essential that assessors have enough time to assess all your evidence ahead of the panel meeting; failure to provide this evidence in a timely manner could lead to an incomplete ARCP outcome
  3. Ensure requirements of specialty’s Curriculum and Certification Guidelines have been met and are demonstrated on ISCP
  4. Ensure any information/documents requested by the JCST have been sent to the JCST office
  5. Ensure completion of the Medical Council of Ireland's certification process. Any questions should be directed to the RCSI or Medical Council

Further information for each specialty can be found below:

Instigator is: Training Programme Director (TPD) and RCSI 

  1. Prepare for final ARCP meeting
  2. Ensure those who need to attend, specifically the SAC LM, have been given enough notice to be able to attend meeting (at least eight weeks)
  3. TPD to discuss trainee with SAC LM and agree final decision i.e. the award or otherwise of an ARCP outcome 6
  4. TPD to sign off online ARCP 6 - ideally the form should not be signed more than four months before trainees' expected certification dates
  5. RCSI to sign off online ARCP 6
  6. RCSI to await recommendation from the JCST before recommending the trainee to the Medical Council of Ireland

Instigator is: SAC Liaison Member (LM)

  1. Review trainee’s ISCP portfolio using specialty’s Curriculum requirements, Certification Guidelines, and Certification Checklist (if relevant)
  2. Discuss and advise TPD on trainee’s eligibility for the award of an ARCP 6 and consequent recommendation for the award of a CCST
  3. Attend final ARCP meeting (if this is not possible then liaise with the JCST office)
  4. Once signed off by TPD, record comments on relevant ARCP form in ISCP - even if comments do not support award of ARCP 6. To do this please log in to your ISCP account, go to "My Trainees > ARCP Management", select the relevant trainee and go to the bottom of the page to "Sign Offs" to add your comment

The new certification process will rely on data and evidence recorded entirely in ISCP. The role of the SAC is a major part in the process of recommending you to the RCSI, who will then recommend you to the Medical Council for the award of a CCST. This will however only be possible if SAC LMs are able to assess your competences as evidenced by the data you have recorded in ISCP in advance of your final ARCP meeting.

Subject to a number of final checks, once the ARCP 6 is signed off by all relevant parties, including the SAC LM, we will recommend you to the RCSI. We aim to complete this process within six weeks of receiving confirmation that the ARCP 6 has been signed by the TPD, the trainee and RCSI administrator.

Please note that the sign-off on an ARCP 6 does not automatically lead to a recommendation to the RCSI. The JCST office will ensure that all items mentioned above have been addressed before proceeding with the recommendation.