FROM A-LEVELS OR AN OVERSEAS DEGREE TO PRACTISING IN THE UKSearch the guide
← The full pathway
STAGE 5 · EVERYONE

Specialty training and Royal College exams

From core or run-through training to the exams and reviews that lead to a CCT. Typical time: 3–8+ years.

STEP 1 OF 9

How specialty training works

Core, run-through, higher training, ARCP and CCT.

8 min read →
STEP 2 OF 9

Applying through Oriel: timelines, scoring and offers

How national recruitment rounds work and what to prepare.

8 min read →
STEP 3 OF 9

Building your portfolio and preparing for selection

What to collect, and how to practise for the assessments.

6 min read →
STEP 4 OF 9

The Royal College exams at a glance

The major postgraduate exams, by specialty.

8 min read →
STEP 5 OF 9

General Practice training

The most common destination: three years, the MRCGP and the GP register.

6 min read →
STEP 6 OF 9

Surgical training

Core Surgical Training, MRCS, ST3 competition and FRCS.

6 min read →
STEP 7 OF 9

Medical (physician) training

Internal Medicine Training, MRCP(UK) and entry to a medical specialty.

6 min read →
STEP 8 OF 9

Locally employed doctors, SAS doctors and non-training careers

A legitimate, flexible career path outside national training.

6 min read →
STEP 9 OF 9

Flexibility: part-time training, time out and parental leave

Less than full-time training, OOPE/OOPR/OOPT, and returning from a break.

5 min read →