Fixed Term Specialty Training Appointments (FTSTA)

Fixed Term Specialty Training Appointments (FTSTA)  offer formal, approved paediatric training, usually but not exclusively in the early years (ST1-3) of the paediatric curriculum. 

• FTSTAs are up to one year fixed-term appointments. Subsequent years may be accredited if the doctor is unable to secure a run-through training position, providing that the post is not made up of short term posts. The training in year two is complemented by, rather than duplicated by, the training provided in year one.
   
• Appointments to FTSTAs will usually be by the same UK recruitment process as for run-through training and will be managed by the RCPCH. In some cases Postgraduate Deaneries will recruit to FTSTA positions on a local basis.
   
• Those doctors appointed to FTSTAs will not be allocated a National Training Number (NTN) since these are only allocated to trainees on the run through paediatric training programme. Like those in run-through training, those undertaking FTSTAs are required to be registered with the RCPCH in order to access e-portfolio and ASSET.
   
• Doctors will generally be discouraged from undertaking more than two years in FTSTAs in a given specialty although they cannot be prevented from doing so, but a doctor cannot obtain a CCT with only FTSTA appointments. 
   
• Paediatric trainees who are unable to progress beyond ST3 because of an incomplete MRCPCH may be placed in an FTSTA position until the full MRCPCH is achieved.
   
• At the end of each FTSTA, the trainee should participate in the Annual Review of Competence Process (ARCP) and receive the appropriate annual assessment outcome documentation. It will be the responsibility of each individual undertaking an FTSTA to retain copies of their Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) outcomes as evidence of the competences they have obtained.
   
• Upon a successful completion of a FTSTA, a doctor may apply to join the main run-through paediatric training programme and be able to do so at a level higher than ST1.