Programme approval

Specialty Training Programmes

Form A should be completed if a deanery is introducing a new specialty programme which has not had previous approval from the GMC (or from PMETB, the GMC's predecessor body), or if a new training location is being added to an approved programme. We also provide guidance (Form A guidance) on how to complete this form and on uplifts for maximum training capacity.

If the additional location has not previously hosted training in that particular specialty, then a Form B will also need to be supplied. Form B guidance is also available.

Any additional posts, such as DH funded stroke posts, should be approved as part of the overall programme.

Please note that if the name of a trust changes, there is no need to notify the GMC by submitting a request. The GMC are notified by ODS (Organisation Data Services) of any changes in trust name.

Approved programmes

The GMC shares a list of approved programmes with the relevant deaneries via GMC Connect.

GMC definition of a 'programme'

This definition will help deaneries, Colleges/Faculties, and local education providers to be clear when seeking approval, reporting to the GMC or undertaking any other quality-assurance, management or control activities. Postgraduate deans particularly are asked to ensure that all programme approval requests reflect this definition.

The following definition is to be used in all approval applications to the GMC:

A programme is a formal alignment or rotation of posts which together comprise a programme of training in a given specialty or subspecialty. A programme may either deliver the totality of the curriculum though linked stages in an entirety to CCT, or the programme may deliver different component elements of the approved curriculum.

An example of the latter - where an approved curriculum distinguishes an early 'core' element such as core medical training and then a later specialty-specific element to complete the training to CCT, there will be two programmes to be approved.