Trainee name
Address
4 April 2007
Dear Trainee
Re: New PMETB rules regarding Out-of-programme experience (OOPE) and retrospective approval of previous training
The JCHST is writing to all current surgical SpRs in the United Kingdom, programme directors, and postgraduate deans confirming new arrangements put in place by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) from 1 January 2007. The PMETB guidance on recognition of OOPE towards the CCT is available from their website (www.pmetb.org.uk – see guidance on approval of overseas posts and 28 February clarification on approval of posts and programmes) and the ‘latest news’ section of the JCHST website.
Please read the information below carefully if you are considering having a period of OOPE or previous training (either overseas or research) recognised towards your CCT. It may affect your expected CCT date. We have discussed the interpretation of the guidance with PMETB and confirmed with its officials that the information in this letter is correct as of this date. This letter supersedes all other communications that you may have received from us on this subject.
Prospective approval of OOPE
As of 30 September 2005, PMETB is the only body which can give, amend or withdraw training approval for any and all posts and programmes intended to lead to the award of a CCT. The new PMETB guidance states that, as of 1 January 2007, all out of programme experience posts must be prospectively approved by PMETB, with an application submitted to them directly from the deanery concerned. PMETB will not accept applications directly from trainees or from the JCHST.
For any OOPE posts not approved before 1 January 2007, therefore, prospective approval by PMETB will be needed. Guidance on this can be found on the PMETB website at http://www.pmetb.org.uk/index.php?id=postandprogrammeapproval. There is no specific PMETB form to fill in, but the application must include the following:
· A formal covering letter from the Deanery to PMETB, seeking prospective approval of the OOPE post and confirming that this post has Deanery support. As mentioned above, PMETB cannot accept applications from individual trainees or the JCHST;
· Confirmation that the OOPE post has the explicit written support of the relevant College representative(s). PMETB requires local College representatives to act in accordance with the national policy of their College and to seek advice where necessary to ensure consistent standards across the UK. For surgical trainees, the SACs will be responsible for this process – see advice below;
· A statement from the competent authority in the country where the OOPE will take place, detailing the purpose and structure of the post to the satisfaction of the Deanery and the SAC;
· If the statement from the competent authority is not available, then a brief description of the OOPE post covering the following points: a) where it is based; b) its structure; c) its educational goals and characteristics, and d) confirmation that the post is subject to quality management in line with PMETB requirements.
The stipulation that applications come from deaneries is to maintain consistency with PMETB’s policy of holding deaneries responsible for quality management of education and training at local level.
As indicated above, PMETB requires evidence of College support for OOPE posts, and for surgical trainees the SACs will be responsible for this process. We advise trainees considering OOPE to submit the necessary documentation (outlined in http://www.jchst.org/trainee_info/traineeinfoinprog_html/ on the JCHST website) to the relevant SAC. If the post is deemed satisfactory, the SAC will grant a recommendation for approval, and a letter will be sent to you, your Deanery and your Programme Director. The Deanery may then use this letter as evidence to inform the application to PMETB. If you are considering an OOPE post, we recommend that you seek advice from your Deanery as soon as possible about the PMETB application.
Please note that the PMETB will accept the approval given by the Colleges (in our case, by the SACs) and deaneries up to the end of December 2006, as long as evidence can be produced. This applies whether the posts began in 2006 or 2007. If these circumstances apply to you, no further document needs to be submitted to PMETB. Please be aware that the above guidance applies to all overseas (for PMETB purposes including posts in Eire) and research OOPEs.
Advanced Training Posts in the UK may also require PMETB approval; if you are considering one of these posts, you should verify with the host deanery that the post has PMETB educational approval. If it does not, an application for prospective approval will have to be submitted to PMETB from the unit via your home deanery. Your home deanery must support your period out of programme.
If your post is prospectively approved by either the SAC and/or the PMETB, the SAC will still need to ensure that on completion of the post you have complied with the requirements of the CCT programme in order for the time to be recognised towards your CCT. When you finish the post you will therefore be required to submit to us:
- A
satisfactory trainer report/ JCHST yellow assessment form;
- A
completed trainee report/ JCHST green assessment form;
- Validated
consolidation sheets for the entire period;
- A
copy of the PMETB approval letter from your Deanery (if appropriate).
Out-of-programme research
Recent PMETB guidance effective from 1 January 2007 and published on 21st March 2007 (see the PMETB website, http://www.pmetb.org.uk/fileadmin/user/QA/Post_
and_programme_approval/PMETB_guidance_on_research_approval.pdf) explains that, if research is part of the PMETB approved CCT curriculum requirements, the programme should reflect this. The PMETB has confirmed that this guidance applies to both run-through and current Calman trainees. Therefore, allowances can be made for out-of-programme experience in research posts, as long as prospective approval is received from PMETB. The process is the same as outlined above.
End of retrospective approval of previous training and research
The PMETB guidance also states that all retrospective recognition of non-educationally approved posts (that did not have prospective approval) towards completion of CCT programmes should stop as of 1 January 2007. They have implemented a transition period, ending on 31st July 2007, for those who submitted applications before 1 January 2007. Those who did not do so will have their CCT dates extended.
The above also applies to research undertaken prior to the SpR grade. Unless an application was submitted before 1 January 2007, PMETB will not allow the recognition of previous research to be recognised towards the CCT.
Because LAT and FTTA posts are educationally approved by the PMETB, no further PMETB action is necessary and the SAC can recognise them towards the CCT as set out in the Manual of Higher Surgical Training in the UK and Ireland (Pink Book).
Please note that if you are currently in an OOPE post and did not have SAC or Deanery prospective approval prior to 1 January 2007, you should forward all necessary documentation to the SAC and contact your Deanery immediately for advice.
If you have any questions about how these new rules will affect you, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please note that PMETB have confirmed that the content of this letter is accurate as of its date, but that there may be further developments, especially regarding research. If any of the above information changes, we will immediately post updates on the ‘Latest News’ section of our website, which we recommend that you monitor.
Yours sincerely
Jessica Lichtenstein
Deputy Head of JCHST
0207 869 6252
jlichtenstein@jchst.org
Sallie Nicholas
Head of JCHST
0207 869 6240
cc: Programme Directors
Postgraduate Deans