Specialty specific guidance for Portfolio pathway applications

We require evidence from you when you apply for Specialist or GP registration via the Portfolio pathway. Our Specialty Specific Guidance (SSG) documents explain what we expect you to submit for your application.

If you’re applying in a non-CCT specialty (one that isn’t specifically listed below), please use the guidance for the specialty which most closely matches yours. Please read the relevant guidance and gather your evidence before starting and submitting your application.

How to use your SSG

It's important you read your SSG in full. There is lots of helpful information in the introductory parts of the document, which give an indication of any types of evidence relevant to different learning outcomes in the curriculum and how to cross reference these, how much evidence is enough to meet the learning outcomes, and how to organise your evidence so it’s clear.

Your SSG will also confirm the number of referees required for an application in your specialty, and who these individuals should be, plus how recent the evidence you submit needs to be.

You should always work from the SSG on our website, rather than download and save a copy, as the website version is the most up to date version.

Recency of evidence

You need to submit recent evidence to support your application in line with the information set out in the SSG for your specialty. Evidence falling outside of this period is unlikely to hold weight in your application when reviewed by the evaluators, unless accompanied by current evidence which demonstrates maintenance of competency. The specific time period over which evidence is considered current for each specialty is discussed in the SSGs below.

Applications are viewed holistically and assessed on their own merits, depending on what the overall body of evidence. The following approach is taken:

• Small amounts of older evidence may support your application if it’s highly relevant to your specialty – to be relevant it must also be primary evidence, although this is dependent on the overall body of evidence you have provided including other recent and robust primary evidence
• Older secondary evidence will add very little to demonstrating competence so you should not submit this
• Where much of your primary evidence sits outside of the standard evidence timeframes set out in your SSG, this will not demonstrate a robust application and will need to be supported by recent primary evidence

Curriculum changes

Some specialties have made significant changes to the curriculum. Once a curriculum gets approved and published, you may make your Portfolio application in either the new curriculum or the previous version. We call this "dual running", and it ensures fairness between the CCT and Portfolio route. "Dual run" curricula will likely be available until implementation of CCT training for the relevant specialty.

Your SSG will tell you whether the curriculum for your specialty will be dual run.

Our position statement on "Transition of learners to a new curriculum" contains further information.

It’s important you check our website regularly for updates to the SSG and curriculum for your specialty.

Evidence List

View your specialty specific guidance