Completion of Training (CCT) for SpRs

For a paediatrician to take up a substantive, honorary or fixed term consultant appointment in the NHS, it is a legal requirement that they must be listed on the Specialist Register at the General Medical Council (GMC).

For entry to the Specialist Register a trainee must apply to the College for confirmation of completion of training. The College will make an assessment of your training and make a recommendation to the GMC.

The successful completion of a recognised UK paediatric training programme is marked by the issue of a Record of In-Training Assessment (RITA G) by the Postgraduate Deanery.

It may be useful to take a look at our list of Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 41KB, 3 pages).

Applying for CCT application pack
Completing the application
What happens next?

Applying for CCT application pack   

For entry to the Specialist Register the trainee must apply to the College for confirmation of their completion of training. The Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) application pack can be requested from the certification team in the Education & Training Support Centre. The application pack contains full guidance notes on how to complete the application.

Trainees are strongly advised to begin the application process once they are within six months of their CCT date, as the process can take some time to complete. If a recommendation is made to the GMC by the College six months past the CCT date, this may result in the GMC requesting further documentation, including reasons for the delay and evidence of professional activities since the CCT date (such as CPD certificates, meeting attendance and audit).

Please let us know when requesting the CCT application pack if you are seeking subspecialty recognition, and we will supply you with contact details for the relevant Training Adviser or please view CSAC contact details.

Please note: 

• In October 2012 the GMC issued new timeframes for applying for CCT. Please read the attached GMC flyer (PDF, 68.5KB, 2 pages) for further information.
• The College will take six weeks to process a CCT application. Please do not leave it too late as the College cannot influence the GMC over the request of additional information in support of delayed CCT applications.
• If you do not appear on the Specialist Register by the time you are due to start a consultant post you will need to request a locum contact from your Trust.

Completing the application

Various documents are required in support of the CCT application which include:

a) The Applicant

b) The RCPCH Regional Adviser (Regional Adviser contact details)

c) The Postgraduate Dean or Head of School

d) The RCPCH Training Adviser for the relevant CSAC (College Specialty Advisory Committee), if the trainee is seeking sub-specialty recognition on the Specialist Register (list of recognised subspecialties) a Grid programme must have been completed (and therefore this does not include a special interest). The Subspecialty Training Adviser should not be based in the same region as the trainee.

• A detailed CV. As specific post information is required for the CCT process, it is strongly advised that applicants follow the College guidance for the CV, as set out in the template for CV(PDF, 20KB, 2 pages). The CV we require differs to that of a CV submitted in support of a job application. 
• Original MRCPCH certificate or recognised equivalent qualification (usually MRCP(UK or Ireland)). We return all original certificates via recorded delivery, as quickly as possible.
• Copies of all RITAs (A to G) issued by the Deanery during the training programme. If the trainee does not have copies of all their RITAs we can also request them from the Deanery, but this can delay the process. If a RITA F was issued for any period counting towards training we would also require a training report to support it.
• Supporting documentation regarding any out-of-programme posts:

a) Original Regional Adviser approval for the post to count towards training (or GMC approval letter)

b) Original evidence of satisfactory performance in the post

c) Original evidence that the post was approved for training in that country, by the appropriate regulatory board (If the post is outside the UK). Again, this can be covered by a GMC approval letter.

• If a LAT (Locum Appointment for Training) post/s is included in the training programme (up to 24 months can count), we will require evidence that the post/s is approved for training by the Regional Adviser. If you wish to count LAT post/s towards your training please read the LAT post guidance.
• If an acting up post/locum consultant post is included in the training programme (up to three months can count), we will require evidence that the post is approved for training by the Regional Adviser. If you wish to count a period of acting up please read the acting up guidance. We will also require an original Supervisor's report confirming satisfactory performance in the post.

Please note: It is strongly advised that CCT documentation be sent to the College via recorded delivery. Incomplete/misplaced applications may result in the award of a CCT being delayed.

• A fee will need to be paid to the College if a trainee has not been a member of the College since they started their Higher Specialist Training (SpR posts). A guide to the fees is enclosed in the application pack. No fee is charged to applicants who have been a member of the College throughout their HST.

What happens next?

Once the above documentation is received at the College the application will be assessed to ensure we have everything required by the GMC. The Officer for Training will approve the application, and the College will make a recommendation to the GMC.

When the recommendation is made to the GMC, the College will inform the applicant by signed letter.

If an applicant is:

• Within six months of their CCT date (no more than six months prior to or six months after their expected CCT date) they will be contacted directly by the GMC (via email) to apply on their new GMC Connect website (the College will have already supplied your contact details to them when we received your application for processing). You can complete the GMC online application before the College has made its recommendation.
• Over six months past their CCT date applicants will also apply using the online GMC Connect system. However, may be asked to supply additional paper documentation of activities since CCT date to the GMC.

It is at this point that the applicant will need to pay the GMC fee, which is currently £390. The fee is set by and made payable online at GMC Connect. The GMC fee will need to be paid before your CCT can be awarded. Please do not send cheques for £390 directly to the College.

The GMC take up to three weeks to process an application once the recommendation and fee have been received. If you have not received your CCT after the three weeks has passed you are advised to contact the GMC directly.

There is a six month period of grace after the end of training during which the trainee may retain their NTN if a consultant post has not been secured. One-off extensions beyond the period of grace may be granted in exceptional circumstances by the Postgraduate Dean/Head of School.

Application for NHS consultant posts may be made if the date of interviews is not more that six months before the expected CCT date.

Once you have secured a consultant post you are advised to register with the RCPCH Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme. This is free to join for Members and Fellows of the College.  Doctors who are not members of the RCPCH can also join the CPD scheme, subject to an annual fee. For more information please visit the CPD page of the website.