Planning your post foundation training 

Currently post-foundation training is something of a ‘mixed-economy’. What this means is that some specialties (eg General Practice; Paediatrics and Child Health; Obstetrics and Gynaecology) are offering ‘run-through’ training programmes that you can enter on completion of your foundation training, and exit when you have finished your specialist (or vocational) training.

Assuming that you make satisfactory progress each year, on acceptance into a ‘run-through’ training programme you will be provided with appropriate training placements until you complete your specialist training and are eligible for the award of a CCT. (Certificate of Completion of Training).

In contrast other specialties (eg surgery) have ‘un-coupled’. This means that after foundation you apply for the first stages of basic specialty training. Following completion of basic specialty training there is then competitive entry for higher specialist training at a subsequent point in the training pathway.

A further factor to consider is whether recruitment to the specialty is through a national recruitment process (eg General Practice) or whether recruitment is deanery led.

Detailed information about each specialty is now available on the Medical Careers website.

For information on the application process, including person specifications and time-tables for recruitment, see the MMC website.

Specialty training in London

For specific information on training in London see our Specialty Schools pages.