Certification of readiness to enter ST3 Diagnostic Neuropathology Training

Find out more about Diagnostic Neuropathology ST3 training.

You are required to complete this certificate with your ST3 application.

Instructions for completing the CREST form

When completing this form, please note:

• Unless you have exceptional circumstances, for example, you are a refugee, you will be required to submit the fully completed certificate with your Diagnostic Neuropathology or Paediatric and Perinatal Pathology application, so it is advised that you prepare your documents in advance
• This certificate can only be signed by an assessor who is a consultant in Histopathology (or equivalent for example Cellular Pathology, Anatomic Pathology etc.)
• Consultants acting as certifying assessors are only eligible to sign these certificates if they have worked with you for a minimum continuous period of three months since 1 January of the year three years prior to the advertised post start date (1 January 2021 for the 2024 recruitment rounds); certificates must have been signed subsequent to this date
• The three months should be wholly within the time limit, whole-time equivalent and could be spread out over a period much longer than this; for example, if you are doing research but have been undertaking Histopathology training during this time to maintain your clinical skills, the three months may be spread over the three-year period
• The assessor must have worked within the NHS in the last five years and have an accurate knowledge of the current Histopathology curriculum. If your assessor is currently registered with any medical regulatory authority other than the GMC, then you should also make sure they submit current evidence of their registration with that authority. A certified translation should be included if this is not in English. Historic registration with the GMC will not be accepted
• You should not use an assessor with whom you have a close personal relationship
• During the ICPT (2.5 years) component of the training, all UK-based trainees are expected to undertake training in the basic knowledge and skills of cellular pathology. This includes surgical pathology, autopsy, cytopathology and molecular pathology
• This form is divided into sections. Section A and part of section E should be completed by the applicant. Sections B, C, D and part of section E should be completed by the assessor following review of the applicant’s career portfolio including previous posts held, experience of cases (using the syllabus which accompanies the 2021 Histopathology Curriculum as a guide) and a discussion and review of the applicant’s appraisals and professional feedback
• To be eligible, you must have all capabilities and competences listed on this certificate signed off, either personally witnessed or as part of your career portfolio, by time of application. If you cannot demonstrate every professional capability, you will not be eligible for entry to specialty training in Diagnostic Neuropathology or Paediatric Pathology
• You do not need to have demonstrated all capabilities or competences within the time period in which you have worked with the signatory, but whoever is signing the form needs to be satisfied that there is no reason why these are in doubt and that they believe you are sufficiently able to enter Diagnostic Neuropathology or Paediatric Pathology training
• The certificate MUST be complete in every detail, including details about the person completing it for you. Incomplete certificates may lead to your application being deemed ineligible for that recruitment round. It is strongly recommended that you check the form after your assessor has completed it
• You must then scan, upload and attach it (as one single document) to your application form before submission
• The certificate is valid for up to 12 months from the date of review of certification

Please note that making any false declaration in this form will result in any offer of a training post being withdrawn and consideration being given to you being referred to the GMC.