About sub-specialty recognition

This section provides information about sub-specialty recognition.

Doctors who already hold specialist registration are able to apply for their entry on the Register to be updated with an approved sub-specialty (pdf) in which they have subsequently completed training. It must be a sub-specialty of the parent specialty in which they hold specialist registration.

Doctors who do not hold specialist registration and are applying for entry onto the Specialist Register with a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or a CESR via the combined programme route in the parent specialty, may apply for sub-specialty recognition as part of their application. There is no extra fee or application form to complete when the application is made as part of an application for CCT or CESR(CP).

Either application can be made only if:

1) The applicant’s UK training was in GMC-approved training posts and followed the curriculum for their sub-specialty. Approval for sub-specialty training in the UK is prospective and cannot be granted retrospectively.

OR

2) The applicant’s overseas training can be demonstrated to be equivalent to an approved UK training course.

Please note: Overseas and UK training cannot be combined (unless prospective OOP approval is granted for training spent overseas outside an approved UK sub-specialty training programme).

If you are a doctor looking for guidance on how to apply, please see our guidance on applying for sub-specialty recognition.