Certificate Confirming Eligibility for Specialist Registration
Equivalence
Introduction
In order to be eligible to apply for substantive, honorary or fixed term Ophthalmology Consultant posts in the NHS, you must be on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council (GMC). There are two routes to being placed on the Register, the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) and the Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR). Doctors with a European recognised ophthalmic specialist qualification may however apply directly to the GMC.
Definitions
CESR
Allows doctors who have not completed a UK specialist training programme and have a combination of qualifications and/or training and experience gained anywhere in the world to be evaluated as part of an application for entry to the GMC Specialist Register. (If you are interested in Medical Ophthalmology you need to contact The Royal College of Physicians (JRCPTB) as they assess applications for medical ophthalmology).
Also provides a route to the Specialist Register for a small number of doctors with highly specialised knowledge and skill derived from academic or research work.
CCT
Marks the completion of a GMC approved ophthalmology “run-through” training programme usually lasting 7 years.
Before you apply
Doctors are strongly advised to read all relevant guidance published on the GMC website and The Royal College of Ophthalmologists website prior to submitting their CESR application to GMC.
The College has assisted the GMC in producing Specialty Specific Guidance for applicants and is available on the GMC website.
The College has also produced a Frequently Asked Questions document that gives an overview of the application process and addresses many of the questions that the College has been asked by previous applicants.
Finally there is an Ophthalmology CESR application guide that is specifically aimed at helping applicants provide their evidence in the correct order and gives details about the learning outcomes required and areas where evidence is often missing.
It must be remembered that the application is now assessed against the current CCT curriculum which is available here. This should be studied in detail as there must be evidence in your application of competence in all the learning outcomes of this curriculum.
It is very important that prospective applicants read all the guidance documents in detail. Some previous applicants have failed because of lack of a single piece of evidence despite the remaining evidence covering all the remaining learning outcomes. Attention to detail is the most important part of a successful application.
Applying for a CESR
All paperwork must be sent directly to the GMC. Any enquiries about the administrative process should be made to the GMC via email or addressed to the GMC’s offices.
GMC Guidance and Application form.
Role of the College
The College’s role is to evaluate individual applications and send recommendations to the GMC. The College works closely with the GMC to ensure that a robust system of assessment is established.
The College is happy to provide guidance and advice but is not responsible for giving guarantees or opinions as to the likelihood of a specific application being successful.
Contacting the College
All specialty specific questions must be made in writing, by email or letter to:
Email equivalence@rcophth.ac.uk
Write to: Miss
Head of Education and Training
Education and Training Department
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists
17 Cornwall Terrace
London
NW1 4QW
