Medical staffing information hub

The first step for anyone looking to become a doctor is to obtain a medical degree (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, or MBBS).

In the UK this is most commonly done via an undergraduate medical degree course at an approved medical school. Such degrees typically take five years to complete which will include both classroom and site-based learning.

Applicants might also apply via a graduate entry route offered at some medical schools. Applicants will need to have obtained a bachelor’s degree previously and this route is typically four years.

New routes such as medical degree apprenticeships also becoming available. 

Postgraduate training is a structured training programme that can broadly be broken down into foundation and specialty training. 

All UK medical graduates must complete a foundation programme of general training in order to practice as a doctor.

Foundation training consists of two years; Foundation Year 1 (FY1) and Foundation Year 2 (FY2). 

Foundation year doctors will experience a range of specialties during this time to build on their medical degree before applying for specialty training. 

There are a wide range of options available for specialty training where a doctor will begin to specialise in a particular area of medicine or in general practice.

The exact journey will differ between specialties both in roles undertaken and length of time. GP training typically takes three years to complete while other specialty training can last between five and eight years. Training can be lengthened if a doctor works less than full time or opts to take an out of programme (OOP) placement.

Specialty training can either be run through or uncoupled.

With run through training the trainee only applies once at the beginning of the programme and is recruited for the duration of their speciality training.

Uncoupled training consists of ‘core training’ followed by competitive entry into higher specialty training. 

Upon completion of an approved training programme will be eligible for a certification of completion of training (CCT). This will allow the individual to apply for GP or consultant roles in their chosen specialty.

A postgraduate training pathway is not the only route available to become a consultant or GP. Applicants can instead apply via the portfolio pathway (formerly Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration CESR). 

Increasingly, many doctors are opting to step out of an approved training programme either temporarily or longer term. There are many reasons for doing so and ways in which it is done.

Doctors in non-training roles are highly-skilled professionals who play an important role in the provision of healthcare in the NHS.

Locally employed doctors (LEDs) are doctors employed by trusts on a local contract rather than a national one. Many doctors will undertake a LED role at some point in their career. Typically, LED roles will be shorter term (12-24 months) and will work alongside doctor in training colleagues.

LEDs may also undertake specialised tasks, such as supporting undergraduate medical education.  

SAS are a group of experienced doctors and dentists who form a significant population of the medical workforce at any organisation. SAS careers provide an alternative pathway for a medical career, allowing doctors to develop within their chosen specialty within a single organisation. 

The recruitment process for substantive and fixed-term clinicians is managed using a recruitment management platform. This enables the process to be managed online from the point of a vacancy being requested, right through to onboarding the successful candidate. 

Depending on the grade of doctor and which route they’re entering the NHS, there are key points to consider when recruiting: 

Guidance for the employment of medical and dental consultants

Salaried GP minimum employment standards

Medical Training Initiative

NHS England Workforce Training and Education (formerly Health Education England) uses a training information system (TIS) to manage and administer the recruitment of doctors and dentists in training in England. Those responsible for the recruitment of trainees will have access to TIS and it can be used in conjunction with the trust’s recruitment management platform. 

The temporary staffing team is responsible for the employment and management of agency and bank staff and will typically use a recruitment platform to monitor this. Trusts can have a master vendor contract with an agency or a preferred supplier list and some may contract an agency to manage its agency and bank workers.

The employment of agency workers is a local arrangement and NHS Employers can only advise on national contracts.