FAQs – Addictions Psychiatry Credential


The RCPsych Credential in Addiction Psychiatry is a programme designed to support clinicians in developing specialist knowledge, skills and experience in addiction psychiatry. The programme combines workplace-based learning, portfolio development, teaching, mentoring and assessments alongside participants' existing clinical work.

The Credential has been developed to help address the national shortage of specialist addiction psychiatrists in England and strengthen the addictions workforce. It provides a structured route for clinicians to develop and demonstrate specialist competencies in addiction psychiatry.

The running and development of this credential has been funded by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).

All attendees are responsible for their own travel and accommodation.

The cost of the faculty conferences are included in your place.

Learning DayDateFormat
Induction Day22 October 2026Online
Scenario Day 11 February 2027In-person (RCPsych)
Scenario Day 22 February 2027In-person (RCPsych)
Faculty of Addictions Psychiatry Annual Conference29 & 30 April 2027Hybrid (TBC)
Conclusion Day22 October 2027Online

Programme Duration: October 2026 – October 2027.

Teaching days will run between 9am to 5pm. Attendance at all of the above learning days is mandatory.


 

The Credential is intended for clinicians wishing to develop specialist competencies in addiction psychiatry.

Clinicians who already hold an endorsement in Addiction Psychiatry are not eligible to apply, as the credential has been designed to support those who have not previously had access to formal specialist training.

Eligible applicants include:

  • Doctors with a CCT in psychiatry.
  • SAS Psychiatrists.
  • Higher resident doctors
  • Other doctors working closely with addiction services where appropriate.

Applicants will also need to:

  • Be working in England.
  • Be working in a service commissioned to provide addiction services.
  • Be undertaking a minimum of three clinical sessions per week in an addiction service.
  • Be able to attend all mandatory teaching days.
  • Be supported by their employing organisation to complete the programme.

Applications are submitted using the online application form.

Applications close at 11:59pm on Friday 14 August 2026.

Please note:
Applications may close early. Whilst the published application deadline is Friday 14 August, we reserve the right to close applications early if we receive a high volume of submissions. This is to ensure applications can be reviewed and assessed within the required timescales.

 

We recommend drafting your responses in a Word document before completing the online application form. Once complete, you can copy and paste your responses into the application form.

No, however, the panel may contact you if clarification is required. 

No. Clinicians who already hold an endorsement in Addiction Psychiatry are not eligible to apply.

For the cohort 1, applications are only open to applicants working in England.

We hope to extend the Addictions Credential to applicants in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in future cohorts. As the credential is funded by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), funding is only available for England. Future places in the devolved nations and the Republic of Ireland will be dependent on funding arrangements within each nation.

If you are based in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland and would like to be contacted about future cohorts, please email credentialing@rcpsych.ac.uk.

Yes. SAS psychiatrists are eligible to apply provided they meet the programme's SAS psychiatrists eligibility requirements. This includes completion of at least four years' full-time postgraduate training (or equivalent gained on a part-time or flexible basis), including: 

  • at least two years in a relevant specialty training programme or as a fixed-term specialty trainee in a relevant specialty, or 
  • equivalent experience and competencies. 


Yes. Participants are expected to remain working in an appropriate addiction service throughout the programme to enable completion of the required workplace-based learning and assessments.

There are 30 places available for Cohort 1.

The programme runs over a 12 month period.

Participants complete:
  • Teaching days
  • Scenario days
  • Workplace-based assessments
  • Portfolio development
  • Case-based discussions
  • Mentoring
  • Reflective learning

No. Participants are expected to already be working within an appropriate addiction service. The Credential is completed alongside existing clinical work.

The College will work to assign you with a mentor. However, we will welcome a supervisor to act as mentor if they meet the criteria.

If you think your educational supervisor would be interested, please ask them to email credentialing@rcpsych.ac.uk.

No, the GMC has announced in December 2023 that they will not be supporting the development of any new credentials outside of the ‘early adopters’.

Learn more about GMC credentials on their website

Participants who successfully complete all credential requirements will be awarded a RCPsych Credential in Addiction Psychiatry certificate.

Please contact the Credential team at credentialing@rcpsych.ac.uk.