Out of Programme Research (OOPR)

The GMC has stated that only specialties which include research in their curriculum can count periods of research towards training.

The table below lists the research allowance for your specialty:

*If the trainee is on track to achieve all other clinical competencies

If your specialty is one that does not count research towards training, you will just need to send a fully completed and signed OOP Request Form to the JCST so that we can extend your training by the amount of time you will be out of programme.

If your specialty does count OOPR towards training, but you do not wish to count this or you have already exceeded your OOPR allowance, you will need to send a fully completed and signed OOP Request Form to the JCST.

If you cannot or do not wish to count your OOPR towards training but you are undertaking over fifty percent clinical work during your OOPR, you could make an OOPT application to count the clinical time towards training.

The research that academic trainees undertake as part of their regular rotation is automatically considered to count towards training. If you embark upon a period that is solely research or over fifty percent research, however, this will be considered to be time spent out of programme. If the time is considered to be OOP, you will need to check whether your specialty counts OOPR towards training. If it does not count OOPR, this period cannot count towards your training and you will need to send a fully completed OOP Request Form to the JCST so that your certification date can be extended. If your specialty does count OOPR, you will need to apply to your SAC to have the time counted.

Once SAC support has been granted your certification date will be re-calculated at the point of application to factor in any research time which is being counted towards training. When the period of OOPR has been completed the ARCP panel will look at the evidence submitted and determine whether the research has met training standards. If it is decided that your research time should be discounted towards training, you will need to contact your deanery and JCST so that your certification date can be adjusted. 

To go on OOPR you will need to:

• Discuss your intentions with your Training Programme Director (TPD) and gain their support
• Contact your Deanery and ask what applications you need to make to them to gain their support
• If the time is not going to count towards training, you just need to send the JCST a fully completed and signed OOP Request Form
• If the time is to be counted towards training, once you have the support of your TPD you will need to make an initial application to your SAC for provisional support
• Once you have TPD, Deanery and SAC support, but before you start your OOPR, your Deanery will need to apply on your behalf to the GMC to seek their approval for your research.
• When you have completed your period of OOPR, at your next ARCP, the panel will look at the evidence submitted and determine whether the research has met training standards.

Please note that the GMC will not approve posts retrospectively - full guidance here.

Applying for SAC provisional support

Before you start you will need to forward the following to the JCST:

• A fully completed and signed copy of your Deanery OOP Request Form or confirmation in writing from your TPD supporting the OOPR. These will need to show:

1. The exact dates of your research time
2. Whether the time is counting towards training
3. That your Deanery is aware of the time out of programme

• A signed offer letter
• Details of your research
• Name and contact details of your OOPR supervisor
• Up to date CV

In addition to the above:

Neurosurgery trainees will need to submit:

• Their current logbook listed by SAC Indicative Operation Groups

Please note that the JCST office and the SACs can take up to six weeks to process and issue SAC provisional support.

Applying for SAC support for an OOPR extension

If your OOPR is extended beyond the original dates you will need to forward to the JCST:

• A fully completed and signed copy of your Deanery OOP Request/Extension Form or confirmation in writing from your TPD supporting the OOPR
• A signed offer letter for the extension period
• Up to date CV
• An update report from your supervisor

Please note that the GMC must approve extensions of OOPR - full guidance here.

Once you finish your OOPR, your ARCP panel should look at the evidence submitted and decide then what proportion, if any, of the OOPR can count towards your training. Your certification date will be recalculated should the panel decide that the period of research should not count towards training time.