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Applying to Core and Higher Training
Thinking about applying to psychiatry training?Each year, we host webinars for anyone considering applying for core or higher training in the near future. These webinars provide practical guidance on the application process and the key factors to consider when applying. Attendees have the opportunity to hear from resident doctors about their experiences of applying and starting psychiatry training. These webinars are also useful for trainers wishing to support their resident doctors in this process.
Applying to Core Training
The next Applying to Core Training webinar will be held on 9 November 2026, 5-6pm. You will hear from a representative of the recruitment office on how to apply and a member of the Psychiatric Resident Doctors' Committee (PRDC) about their experiences. There will also be the opportunity to ask the panel questions and reflect on the application process.
You can catch up on last year's webinar below:
You can find the questions and answers discussed during the 2025 webinar here: Applying to CT1 - QA Report 2025
Applying to Higher Training
The next Applying to Higher Training webinar will be held on 16 November 2026, 5-6pm. Hear from a range of speakers including a representative from the recruitment office to explain the application process, and a member of the Psychiatric Resident Doctors' Committee (PRDC) to speak about their transition from core to higher training. There will also be an opportunity to ask the panel questions.
You can catch up on last year's webinar below:
You can find the questions and answers discussed during the 2025 webinar here: Applying to Higher Training - QA Report 2025
Get involved
We held a webinar in May 2026 to call for more interviewers and self-assessment verifiers for ST4 recruitment.
Dr Paul Emmerson was joined by Professor Nandini Chakraborty, Dr Brian Gillatt, and a representative from the National Recruitment Office to talk about the ST4 recruitment process. This webinar was aimed at senior psychiatrists to encourage them to get involved with interviews and self-assessment verification.
If you would like to get involved, please complete this expression of interest form - ST4 Psychiatry Panel Member Sign Up - Feb 2027 Intake – Fill in form
You can watch the webinar below:
Resources
The National Psychiatry Recruitment Office is your first 'port of call' for specific information relating to the Core Training programme in psychiatry, within England, Scotland and Wales.
Below you can find helpful information about applying to Core Training:
- Applying for Core Training
- CT1 Core Psychiatry Training person specification
- ST1 Child and adolescent psychiatry person specification
- Up-to-date list of anticipated core training vacancies
- Special Circumstances
- Fitness to Practise declaration
- How to prepare for the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MRSA)
- Core training recruitment timelines
You can contact the National Psychiatry Recruitment Office by email at psychiatryrecruitment.nw@hee.nhs.uk or by phone on +44 1612 689 996.
For information about how to apply in Northern Ireland, please contact via email at psychiatry.nimdta@hscni.net or visit the Specialty Recruitment pages of the NIMDTA website.
The National Psychiatry Recruitment Office is your first 'port of call' for specific information relating to the Higher Training programme in psychiatry, within England, Scotland and Wales.
Below you can find helpful information about applying to Higher Training:
- Applying for Higher Training
- All ST4 person specifications and how to apply
- The August 2023 Certificate C is available online
- Up-to-date list of anticipated higher training vacancies
- Special Circumstances
- Reapplication to Specialty Form and Reapplication to Specialty in Different Region Form
- Fitness to Practise declaration
- Self Assessment
- Booking a Interview
- Higher training recruitment timelines
Key dates
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Application window | Between Thursday 16 November 23 and Thursday 7 December 2023 |
| Self-assessment evidence upload window | Tuesday 13 February 2024 – Friday 23 February 2024 |
| Interviews | Monday 29 January 2024/Tuesday 30 January 2024 Wednesday 31 January 2024/Thursday 1 February 2024 Monday 5 February 2024/Tuesday 6 February 2024 Wednesday 8 February 2024/Thursday 9 February 2024 |
| Preferencing Window | March 2024 – Preferences re-open between offers cycles. |
| Anticipated start date | Wednesday 7 August 2024 |
You can contact the National Psychiatry Recruitment Office by email at psychiatryrecruitment.nw@hee.nhs.uk or by phone on +44 1612 689 508.
For information about how to apply in Northern Ireland, please contact via email: psychiatry.nimdta@hscni.net or see their Higher Psychiatry Trainee Handbook on the NIMDTA website.
We’re a national community representing psychiatric resident doctors within the UK, here to support you throughout your training.
We believe passionately that by driving improvements in the quality of training and through supporting and valuing each other, we can improve the quality of care and the lives of people with mental illness.
- Psychiatric Resident Doctors’ Committee Homepage
- PTC and You Guide
- Your PRDC representatives
- The Registrar – Magazine of the Psychiatric Resident Doctors' Committee
Get in touch with the PTC via email: prdcsupport@rcpsych.ac.uk
You can find information about training and the curricula below:
- Curricula and guidance homepage
- Specialty training guides
- Dual training
- Run-through training
- Curricula documents and resources
Core Training Curriculum
Specialty Curriculum
- Child and adolescent psychiatry curriculum
- General psychiatry curriculum curriculum
- Psychiatry of learning disability curriculum
- Old age psychiatry curriculum
- Forensic psychiatry curriculum
- Medical psychotherapy curriculum
Subspecialty Curriculum
Get in touch with the Curricula team via email: psychiatrytraining@rcpsych.ac.uk.