New Ophthalmic Specialist Training (OST) Curriculum – proposed start date August 2024

  • 15 Sep 2021
  • RCOphth

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) is due to submit a proposal to the General Medical Council (GMC) with a start date for the new Ophthalmic Specialist Training (OST) curriculum of August 2024. This will allow time to ensure the new e-Portfolio is fully functional before the launch. The new curriculum and e-Portfolio will be piloted for one year, starting in August 2023, to test new assessment tools and confirm suitability of training posts for the new curriculum, in order to identify adjustments necessary before full implementation.

Next steps for ophthalmologists in training

All ophthalmologists in training are strongly encouraged to acquire general competences as early as possible in their training over the next couple of years and to make plans to sit the final examinations by the end of ST5 or middle of ST6 year. This will allow a smoother transition to the new curriculum in 2024.

Results of the consultation

The College previously wrote to members in 2019 and in April 2021 about future changes to the OST Curriculum and the rationale for these changes. There was a thorough two stage consultation process.

Download a summary of the consultation

The rewriting of the OST curriculum is at the request of the GMC for all Royal Colleges and Faculties to include the Generic Professional Capabilities (GPC) Framework and meet the GMC standards of curricular design.

The key objective of the proposed new curriculum is to accelerate progression to consultant posts and ensure national standardisation of high-level special interest area training.

New OST Curriculum – newsletters, FAQs, Assessment Strategy, Assessment Blueprint and Syllabi

Find these documents on the Ophthalmic Specialist Training Curriculum page.

View documents

More information

The Ophthalmic Specialist Training Curriculum is the foundation of the Ophthalmic Specialist Training programme. It contains the learning outcomes and resources needed to progress within the training programme.

Find out more