Person specification and entry criteria for Emergency Medicine ST3 DRE-EM and ACCS route for 2025 recruitment.

Applies to: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Important: Accuracy

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this page. The information presented is accurate at the time of publication.

Essential entry criteria

Qualifications

All applicants must have:

  • MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

Applicants who are on, or have completed, an approved UK core surgical training programme or equivalent must have:

  • successfully completed MRCS by the offer datei

When is this evaluated?ii

  • Application form

 

The 'offer date’ refers to the 'initial offers released' date set in each recruitment round; Recruitment Timelines.

ii  ‘When is this evaluated’ is indicative but may be carried out at any time throughout the selection process.

Eligibility

All applicants must:

  • be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current license to practiseiii from, the GMC at the advertised post start date for the vacancyiv 
  • be eligible to work in the UK
  • current certification in ALS or equivalent or supporting evidence as work-based assessment, simulation and faculty statement (must have all 3 types) at time of application

(Further information can be found under Eligibility Continued)

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form

 

iii The GMC introduced the licence to practise in 2009. Any doctor wishing to practise in the UK after this date must be both registered with and hold a licence to practise from the GMC at time of appointment. 

iv ‘Intended start date’ refers to the date at which the post commences, not (necessarily) the time an offer is accepted. 

Fitness to practise

Applicant is up to date and fit to practise safely and is aware of own training needs.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • References
Language skills

Applicants must have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues, as assessed by the General Medical Councilv.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre

 

v  Applicants are advised to visit the GMC website which gives details of evidence accepted for registration.

Health

Applicants must meet professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice).

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Pre-employment health screening
Career progression

Applicants must:

  • be able to provide complete details of their employment history
  • have evidence that their career progression is consistent with their personal circumstances
  • have evidence that their present level of achievement and performance is commensurate with the totality of their period of training
  • have notified the Training Programme Director of the specialty training programme they are currently training in if applying to continue training in the same specialty in another regionvi 
  • If you have previously resigned, or been removed from, a training programme in any specialty, you must obtain a Support for Reapplication to Specialty Training form signed by the Training Programme Director/Head of School and Postgraduate Dean from the region you previously undertook training in. This must be submitted with your applicationvii 
  • not already hold, nor be eligible to hold, a CCT/CESR in the specialty they are applying for and/or must not currently be eligible for the specialist register for the specialty to which they are applying

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form

 

vi  The Support for Application to another region form, signed by the Training Programme Director of their current specialty training programme confirming satisfactory progress must be submitted to the recruitment office at time of application.

vii  Exceptional circumstances may be defined as a demonstrated change in circumstances, which can be shown on the ability to train at that time and may include severe personal illness or family caring responsibility incompatible with continuing to train. Applicants will only be considered if they provide a ‘support for reapplication to a specialty training programme’ form signed by both the Training Programme Director or Head of School and the Postgraduate Dean in the local office or Deanery that the training took place. No other evidence will be accepted.

Application completion

All sections of application form completed fully according to written guidelines.

When is this evaluted?

  • Application form
Eligibility continued

For appointment to ST3 Emergency Medicine posts

  • Applicants who are on, or have completed, an approved UK ACCS Training programme must have:
    • successfully completed 2 years of ACCS training within an approved UK training programme by the time of appointmentviii, and
    • not already completed, or be in the process of completing, CT/ST3 Emergency Medicine within an approved UK Training programme at the time of application, and
    • evidence of achievement of CT/ST1 competences in ACCS specialties at time of application and CT/ST2 competences in ACCS specialties by time of appointmentviii. Acceptable evidence includes satisfactory ARCP outcome

For appointment to Defined Route of Entry – Emergency Medicine (DRE-EM) posts

  • Applicants who are on, or have completed, an approved UK core surgical training programme must have:
    • successfully completed MRCS by offer date, and
    • successfully completed core surgical training or the first 2 years of run through training in a surgical specialty, within an approved UK training programme by the time of appointmentviii, and
    • completed at least six months (not including foundation modules) of experience in Emergency Medicine at the time of application evidenced by achievement of ACCS CT/ST1 competences by the time of application supported by evidence from workplace-based assessments of clinical performance (DOPs, Mini-CEX, CBD, ACAT) and Multi Source Feedback. 
    • evidence of achievement of CT/ST1 competences in surgery at time of application and CT/ST2 competences in surgery by time of appointmentviii. Acceptable evidence includes satisfactory ARCP outcome of completion of Core Surgical Training programme
  • Applicants who are on, or have completed, the equivalent of a core surgical training programme must have:
    • successfully completed MRCS by offer date, and
    • successfully completed the equivalent of core surgical training by the time of appointmentviii, and
    • completed at least six months of experience (not including foundation modules) in Emergency Medicine at the time of application evidenced by achievement of ACCS CT/ST1 competences by the time of application supported by evidence from workplace-based assessments of clinical performance (DOPs, Mini-CEX, CBD, ACAT) and Multi Source Feedback. 
    • evidence of achievement of CT/ST1 competences in surgery at time of application and CT/ST2 competences in surgery by time of application. Acceptable evidence is a completed Certificate of Readiness to Enter Higher Surgical Training at time of application.
  • All other applicants must have:
    • evidence of a minimum of 24 months’ experienceix (not including foundation modules) at core trainee levelx in ACCS specialtiesxi by time of appointmentviii of which at least 12 months must be in emergency medicine, and
    • evidencexii of achievement of ACCS CT/ST1 competences at time of application.  For Posts not GMC approved for EM or ACCS training the alternative certificate of readiness to enter ST3 DRE-EM specialist training should be completed and signed by an appropriate supervisor, by the time of application

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form

 

viii Time of appointment refers to the date at which the post commences.

ix Any time periods specified in this person specification refer to full time employment

x Non-training posts will be recognised, where evidence is available of competences achieved equivalent to training posts.

xi ACCS CT1 and CT2 specialties are Emergency Medicine, Acute Internal Medicine, Anaesthetics & Intensive Care Medicine

xii Evidence must include all of the following:

  1. Letter on hospital headed paper confirming dates, grade and specialty.
  2. Appraisal documentation.
  3. Workplace based assessment confirming achievement of ST1 Emergency Medicine that the applicant wishes to be taken into consideration.
  4. Evidence of an education programme.
  5. 360 degree feedback from a range of colleagues/multisource feedback.

Selection criteria

Qualifications

Essential

All applicants must have:

  • MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

Applicants who are on, or have completed, an approved UK core surgical training programme (CCT Route) or equivalent (CESR CP Route) must have:

  • successfully completed MRCS by the offer date (FRCS/MFAEM will be CESR CP route)

Desirable

  • MRCEM primary, MRCEM SBA
  • FRCEM Primary or Intermediate, or
  • Full MRCEM. 
  • Any additional postgraduate examinations.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
Career progression

Essential

Applicants must:

  • be able to provide complete details of their employment history
  • have evidence that their career progression is consistent with their personal circumstances
  • have evidence that their present level of achievement and performance is commensurate with the totality of their period of training
  • have notified the Training Programme Director of the specialty training programme they are currently training in if applying to continue training in the same specialty in another region
  • not have previously relinquished or been released or removed from a specialty training programme, except if they have received an ARCP outcome 1 (outcome 6 for associated core training) or under exceptional circumstances 
  • not already hold, nor be eligible to hold, a CCT/CESR in the specialty they are applying for and/or must not currently be eligible for the specialist register for the specialty to which they are applying

Desirable

  • Evidence of experience in specialties of acute care common stem training, other than Emergency Medicine (such as Anaesthesia, Intensive Care Medicine and/or Internal Medicine)

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
Courses

Essential

  • Up-to-date and demonstrable advanced life support skills (current certification in advanced life support or equivalent or supporting evidence as work-based assessment, simulation and faculty statement (must have all 3 types) at time of application.

Desirable

  • Any short training course related to emergency medicine, for example, airway course, ultrasound course.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
Clinical governance

Essential

  • Is able to demonstrate an understanding of CG and risk management.
  • Evidence of personal work in a completed audit or quality improvement project (QIP).

Desirable

  • Evidence of CG activity such as presentation at CG meeting, involvement with incident reporting, dealing with complaints.
  • Evidence of change introduced as an outcome of audit.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
Clinical skills

Essential

Clinical knowledge and expertise
  • Capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement.
  • Able to prioritise clinical need.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
  • References
Academic skills

Essential

Teaching
  • Evidence of interest in, and experience of, teaching.

Desirable

Research skills
  • Evidence of degrees (not including intercalated BSc or ‘Honorary’ MA), prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, posters, contribution to e-learning modules.
  • Evidence of contribution to departmental guidelines.
  • Evidence of active participation in research.
  • Publications in peer review journals, presentations at academic meetings or poster presentations.
Teaching
  • Membership of faculty for a local, regional or national training event or course.
  • Evidence of structured feedback for teaching.
  • Evidence of completion of a teaching course.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
Personal skills

Essential

Communication skills
  • Demonstrates clarity in written and spoken communication, and capacity to adapt language to the situation, as appropriate.
Problem solving and decision making
  • Capacity to use logical and lateral thinking to solve problems and make decisions.
Empathy and sensitivity
  • Capacity to take in others’ perspectives;  see patients as people.
Managing others and team involvement
  • Capacity to work cooperatively with others and demonstrate leadership when appropriate.
  • Capacity to work effectively in multi-professional teams.
Organisation and planning
  • Capacity to organise oneself and prioritise own work.
  • Demonstrates punctuality, preparation and self-discipline.
  • Understands importance of information technology.
Vigilance and situational awareness
  • Capacity to be alert to dangers or problems, particularly in relation to clinical governance.
  • Demonstrates awareness of developing situations.
Coping with pressure and managing uncertainty
  • Capacity to function under pressure.
  • Demonstrates initiative, flexibility and resilience to cope with setbacks and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.
  • Awareness of own limitations and when to ask for help.
Values
  • Understands, respects and demonstrates the values of the NHS (such as everyone counts; improving lives; commitment to quality of care; respect and dignity; working together for patients; compassion).

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
  • References
Probity – professional integrity

Essential

  • Demonstrates probity (as outlined by the GMC).

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
  • References
Commitment to specialty – learning and personal development

Essential

  • Demonstrates interest and realistic insight into emergency medicine.
  • Demonstrates self-awareness and ability to accept feedback.
  • Evidence of achievements relevant to emergency medicine within and outside of medicine.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
  • References