Recognised Specialist Qualification (RSQ) and Portfolio Pathways process

GPs that have obtained their qualifications within a non-European Economic Area (non-EEA) country must first obtain recognition from the General Medical Council (GMC) before they can undertake the International Induction Programme (IIP).

This is done by completing either the Recognised Specialist Qualification (RSQ) Pathway or Portfolio Pathway.

Once an application for either of these pathways has been submitted to the GMC, you may then apply to join the IIP.

Once the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) confirms to NHS England that your application for either of these pathways has been approved, NHS England will contact you to invite you to attend a Learning Needs Assessment interview with an education lead for the area in which you intend to practise.

This will then usually be followed by a fully funded IIP placement within a GP practice of at least three months where you will be supported by an educational or clinical supervisor.

There is not usually a requirement for GPs that have completed the GMC’s RSQ or Portfolio Pathways to undertake any assessments to join the IIP.

On completion of the placement, your educational or clinical supervisor will complete a Workplace Based Assessment (WPBA) report that will submitted to NHS England.

If during the placement there is documented evidence that the induction process can be signed off earlier than 3 months, a recommendation can be submitted to the NHS England regional educational team seeking the option to shorten based on the workplace-based report.

Where it is identified that a longer induction period may be required, this can be requested by submission of an interim WPBA report to the regional NHS England team.