Specialty and specialist doctors (SAS)

Specialty and specialist (SAS) doctors and dentists are a group of experienced doctors and dentists who can form a significant proportion of the medical workforce in any organisation. The specialist doctor grade was created in 2021, giving SAS doctors the opportunity of career progression. This web section provides employers with useful resources and contract information.

SAS Week 2025

Head to the SAS Week web page to access all the comms resources you'll need to run your local campaign. This will be the main page for all activity for #SASWeek25 so make sure to book mark the page and keep checking back.

Download the resources

SAS and consultant role comparison

News and highlights

Article

Medical and dental pay structure

Details on how medical and dental pay is agreed, annual pay awards over the last ten years and the recently negotiated pay deals.

8 April 2025

Article

SAS Week 2025

Access our comms pack of resources that you can use to support your local activities and find out what's happening during #SASWeek25.

8 April 2025

Article

Medical and dental staff groups

Information about the different medical and dental staff groups.

7 April 2025

Find more sas resources

The new specialist grade hub

To make finding what you need easier for the specialist grade, use our new hub of resources and information.

Access the specialist hub

Contract documents and FAQs

Guidance

Terms and conditions of service for specialty doctors (England) 2021

This document sets out version 2 (June 2022) of the full terms and conditions of service (TCS) for specialty doctors in the 2021 contract.

9 June 2022

Guidance

Terms and conditions of service for specialist grade (England) 2021

This document sets out version 2 (June 2022) of the full terms and conditions of service (TCS) for doctors in the specialist grade 2021 contract.

9 June 2022

Article

Terms and conditions and resources for the SAS contract 2021

Guidance and resources for employers to use to help with implementation of the 2021 specialty doctor and specialist grade contracts.

18 March 2021

Article

SAS contract 2021 FAQs

These FAQs have been developed to help employers with questions around the implementation of the specialty doctor and specialist grade contracts.

21 January 2025

Old terms and conditions for SAS doctors

Details of the old terms and conditions for SAS doctors 2008 and other closed grades.

SAS specialist grade resources

Access a range of guidance and resources to support the recruitment and development of specialist grade doctors. Including the grades role and responsibilities, how to introduce the grade into your workforce and many good practice examples.

Find more resources

Information from the Royal Colleges

Please find below useful links to web pages from the various Royal Colleges.
Royal College of Anaesthetists
- SAS hub
Royal College of Emergency Medicine
Emergency medicine specialty and specialist doctors (EMSAS)
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- SAS and LED doctors web page
Royal College of Physicians
- Supporting SAS doctors to fulfil their potential
Royal College of Psychiatrists
- SAS hub
Royal College of Surgeons
- SAS surgeon information

Guidance and resources

A nurse and doctor consulting a patient.

Guidance

SAS doctor development guidance

Download this guidance to support the development of specialty and specialist (SAS) doctors in the NHS in England.

18 September 2020

Article

SAS charter

Resources to help employers and SAS doctors develop an action plan to support the implementation and embedding of the SAS charter.

4 February 2021

Article

Exception reporting reform FAQs

Answers to the commonly asked questions about changes to exception reporting arrangements from 12 September 2025. These changes apply to England only.

31 March 2025