Applying for entry onto the Specialist Register with a Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration - (CESR) in Academic or Research medicine

This page is to help GMC registered doctors who are eligible* to apply for entry onto the Specialist Register with a Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) in Academic or Research medicine.

Entry onto the Specialist Register with a CESR in Academic or Research medicine is only awarded to a small number of doctors who have not followed conventional specialist training, have focused on a specific area of narrow research and have made a world class contribution to their academic field. It is not intended to be a route to entry onto the specialist register for individuals who have followed a conventional path to specialist training but are missing competencies in one or two areas.

You are also required to demonstrate that you have the knowledge and skill consistent with practice as a consultant in the NHS.

Please read our description of a likely candidate for a CESR in Academic or Research medicine (opens in a new window) before continuing.

If you are eligible to apply for entry onto the Specialist Register with a CCT (opens in a new window), or a CESR through the combined programme (opens in a new window), because you have completed an approved Specialty Training programme in the UK, you should not apply for entry onto the Specialist Register with a CESR in Academic or Research medicine.

Please also bear in mind that if you do not intend to work as an honorary, fixed-term or substantive consultant in the NHS, it is not a legal requirement to be entered onto the Specialist Register. Please check with your prospective employer whether it is a requirement for them.

To make your application you will need to complete an application form (CN4). You will find a link to download the application form at the end of this guidance.

You will also need to

• provide evidence that you have the knowledge and skill equivalent to the standards required of a consultant in any of the UK health services
• demonstrate that you have made a significant contribution to your academic field/have contributed significantly to the field of medical education 
• give us the names and contact details of your referees
• pay the appropriate application fee.

When we have received your application, supporting evidence, structured reports from your referees, and the application fee, we will make a final check and then send your application to the GMC academic and research committee for further evaluation. This committee is made up of GMC associates who are senior specialists within their respective medical specialties. They will evaluate your evidence, considering your contribution to your academic field and whether you have the knowledge and skill consistent with practice as a consultant in the UK health services. Where an associate on the standing committee for academic and research certification does not closely match your area of expertise, a GMC associate who does match your area of expertise will be asked to review your application.

They will take particular note of the structured reports from your referees, but in addition have a further option to seek the opinion of an alternative world leading expert in your particular field. Two members of the committee and the chair will then work together to provide us their evaluation in a set format.

Given that candidates for the academic or research CESR route are likely to have in depth knowledge of a very narrow area of medical practice, applicants should be aware that awards may be granted in an area of practice which is narrower than that originally applied for.

Please read this guidance carefully and in good time before you need your certificate. You should bear in mind that it can take a long time to compile your supporting evidence and obtain references. Once your application is complete, the assessment process will take around three months.

Your steps to certification

• Read this guidance (13 pages)
• Compile the evidence you wish to provide in support of your application
• Get agreement from your referees that they will supply us with a structured report when we contact them
• Complete the CN4 application form (please contact us for a copy)
• Send your form, evidence and fee to the Certification team

There is more information about these steps on the following pages of this guidance.

*If you are not sure if you are reading the right guidance for you, you can check by answering a few questions (opens in a new window). (If you have already answered these questions and are still unsure, please contact us (opens in a new window).)