Pharmaceutical Medicine ST3
Person specification and entry criteria for Pharmaceutical Medicine ST3 2025 recruitment
Applies to: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
On this page
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
Applicants must have:
- MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
When is this evaluated?i
- Application form
- Interview/selection centreii
- Pre-employment check
i ‘When is this evaluated’ is indicative but may be carried out at any time throughout the selection process.
ii ‘Selection centre’ refers to a process, not a place. It involves a number of selection activities which may be delivered as part of the assessment process.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- have full registration and hold a current licence to practiseiii from the GMC at the advertised post start date for the vacancyiv
- be employed in a UK-based position in pharmaceutical medicine in a UK organisation approved for PMST
- hold associate membership of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine
- be eligible to work in the UK
When is this evaluated?
- Application form
- Interview/selection centre
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 ‘The advertised post start date’ refers to the first date from which posts recruited in a round can commence. This will be specified clearly within the published advertisement for that recruitment round.
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
- Pre-employment health screening
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
- has achieved clinical and professional competences in managing patients, which may include clinical trial participants, over a period of 4 years
- have the support of the Postgraduate Dean and submit a ‘support for reapplication to a specialty training programme’ form if they wish to reapply to the specialty after having their NTN in the specialty withdrawn or relinquished voluntarily
- not already hold, nor be eligible to hold, a CCT/CESR in the specialty; and must not currently be eligible for the specialist register for the specialty to which they are applyingvi
- 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
When is this evaluated?
- Application form
- Interview/selection centre
vi Some programmes in ST3 medical specialties are dual accredited with general internal medicine (GIM). Applicants who hold a CCT in general internal medicine are eligible to apply but should note that they will be expected to fulfil the GIM service requirements of any post they are offered and will be unable to reduce the length of the programme.
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 evaluated?
- Application form
Selection criteria
Qualifications
Essential
Applicants must have:
- MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
Desirable
- Specialty exam relating to training path (for example, MRCP (UK), MRCGP or equivalent) at the time of application.
- Higher degrees including MSc, PhD or MD (not including intercalated BSc or ‘Honorary’ MA).
When is this evaluated?
- Application form
- Interview/selection centre
- References
Career progression
Essential
- Evidence that present achievement and performance is commensurate with totality of training.
When is this evaluated?
- Interview/selection centre
Clinical experience
Essential
- Evidence of experience of managing patients in a range of acute and long-term illness or close involvement on a regular basis with the management of such patients through multi-disciplinary team meetings.
- Evidence of wide experience of prescribing and monitoring the effects of medicines.
When is this evaluated?
- Application form
- Interview/selection centre
- References
Clinical skills - clinical knowledge and expertise
Essential
- Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems.
- Evidenceviii of competence in management of patients through workplace-based assessments, portfolio evidence, including logbook documentation, if applicable, satisfactory review (for example, ARCP outcome 1), reports, outcomes (for example, CT1 competences in medicine) or equivalent record of satisfactory attainment of competences.
- Evidence of competence to work without direct supervision, where appropriate.
- Awareness of the skills required for pharmaceutical medicine (see below)
When is this evaluated?
- Application form
- Interview/selection centre
- References
viii Evidence can include portfolio, logbook, ARCP, or equivalent. Where relevant or applicable, workplace-based assessments (such as CbD, mini-CEX, ACAT, DOPS, MSF, or equivalent) may also be used to demonstrate achievement of competences.
Academic skills
Desirable
Research, audit and quality improvement skills
- Demonstrates understanding of the importance and basic principles of scientific research, clinical research, evidence-based medical practice.
- Demonstrates understanding of basic research methodology. Evidence of relevant academic and research achievements, e.g. degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements.
Teaching
- Evidence of interest and experience in teaching.
When is this evaluated?
- Application form
- Interview/selection centre
- References
Personal skills
Essential
Problem solving and decision making
- Capacity to use logical and lateral thinking to solve problems and make decisions, indicating an analytical and scientific approach.
Empathy and sensitivity
- Capacity to take in others’ perspectives and treat others with understanding; sees patients as people.
- Demonstrates respect for all.
Organisation and planning
- Capacity to manage and prioritise time and information effectively.
- Evidence of thoroughness (is well prepared, shows self-discipline and commitment, is punctual and meets deadlines).
Vigilance and situational awareness
- Capacity to monitor developing situations and anticipate issues.
Coping with pressure and managing uncertainty
- Capacity to operate under pressure.
- Demonstrates initiative and resilience to cope with changing circumstances.
- Is able to deliver good clinical care in the face of uncertainty.
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).
Desirable
Communication skills
- Demonstrates clarity in written and spoken communication, and capacity to adapt language to the situation, as appropriate.
- Able to build rapport, listen, persuade and negotiate.
Management and leadership skills
- Evidence of involvement in management commensurate with experience.
- Evidence of effective multi-disciplinary team working and leadership, supported by multi-source feedback or other workplace-based assessments.
- Evidence of effective leadership in and outside medicine.
Managing others and team involvement
- Able to work in multi-professional teams and supervise junior medical staff.
- Ability to show leadership, make decisions, organise and motivate other team members for the benefit of patients through, for example, audit and quality improvement projects.
- Capacity to work effectively with others.
IT skills
- Demonstrates information technology skills.
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
- Shows initiative, drive and enthusiasm (self-starter, motivated, shows curiosity, initiative).
- Demonstrable interest in, and understanding of, the specialty.
- Commitment to personal and professional development.
- Evidence of self-reflective practice.
When is this evaluated?
- Application form
- Interview/selection centre
- References