Certification dates from June 2016 onwards

Below is a description of the JCST’s certification process for trainees with certification dates on or after 1 June 2016. We hope it will help you when your certification date approaches.

The new process has the support of both the Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans (COPMeD) and the Confederation of Postgraduate Schools of Surgery (CoPSS) - you can find the background paper here.

Trainees with certification dates before June 2016 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. Inform the GMC that trainee is due to finish training.
  3. Advise trainee, Training Programme Director (TPD) and SAC Liaison Member (LM) 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 – see Gold Guide
  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 GMC's certification process. Any questions should be directed to the GMC

Further information for each specialty can be found below:

Instigator is: Training Programme Director (TPD) and LETB/Deanery

  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. LETB/Deanery to sign off online ARCP 6

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 CCT or CESR (CP)
  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 in recommending you to the GMC for the award of a CCT or a CESR (CP) is a major part of this process. 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 GMC for the award of the CCT or the CESR (CP) (as appropriate). 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 LETB/deanery administrator.

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

Please be aware that if you apply for your certificate more than six months after your certification date, the GMC may ask you to supply extra evidence of your professional activities since your completion date before awarding you your certificate.

The GMC has stipulated that all applications for certification must be made within 12 months of expected certification dates. If you do not submit your application for your CCT or CESR (CP) via GMC Online within this timeframe, you may need to apply via the full Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) route - please note that full CESR applications are assessed against the most up-to-date version of your specialty's curriculum.

You must be on the GMC’s Specialist Register before you can take up a substantive UK consultant appointment. You may however be interviewed for consultant posts before you are on the Specialist Register, provided the date of the interview is no more than six months prior to your expected certification date.