Dual training
The General Medical Council (GMC) approves which specialties can be undertaken as ‘dual training’ leading to dual specialist registration. Further information on dual training can be found on the GMC website.
In most cases, trainees are competitively appointed to ‘dual training’ specialties through a single recruitment process. Where trainees are competitively appointed to a training programme leading to dual specialist registration, trainees are expected to complete the programmes in full and obtain the capabilities set out in both curricula. Application to the GMC for a CCT/CESR(CP) should only take place when both programmes are complete.
Where a trainee wishes to curtail the programme leading to dual certification and to apply to the GMC for a single CCT, the trainee must apply to the Postgraduate Dean for agreement to do so. If the Postgraduate Dean agrees, the dual certification programme will terminate and a single CCT will be pursued.
Trainees who wish to curtail a dual programme and pursue a single CCT must ensure that they have completed/obtained the following:
- the capabilities for a single CCT as stipulated in the curriculum for that specialty
- confirmation from the Training Programme Director that the capabilities for a single CCT have been met
- a final ARCP outcome 6 for a single CCT
Completion of two CCTs can be of either four or five years’ duration and all training must be in GMC approved programmes.
Training combinations with a recommended four years’ duration
A recommended two years (WTE) in designated General (Adult) Psychiatry posts; 12 months may be in a GMC approved sub-specialty of General (Adult) Psychiatry in either:
- substance-misuse (addiction) psychiatry
- liaison psychiatry
- rehabilitation psychiatry
A recommended two years in designated Old Age Psychiatry Posts; one year may be in the GMC approved sub-speciality of Liaison psychiatry.
A trainee who would like to pursue a single CCT in either old age psychiatry or adult psychiatry
should make sure they have completed the recommended 36 months which must consist of two years in either old age psychiatry posts or adult psychiatry posts and one further year in another psychiatric specialty or sub-specialty post as listed above.
Training combinations with a recommended five years’ duration
A recommended two years (WTE) in designated Adult Psychiatry posts; one year may be in a GMC approved sub-specialty of Adult Psychiatry in either:
- Substance-misuse (Addiction) Psychiatry
- Liaison Psychiatry
- Rehabilitation Psychiatry
Trainees could also spend 12 months in another but will not lead to an endorsement on the GMC Specialist Register:
- Perinatal Psychiatry
- Neuropsychiatry
- Eating Disorder Psychiatry
A recommended 36 months (WTE) in designated Medical Psychotherapy placements.
A trainee who wishes to pursue a single CCT in either general (adult) psychiatry or medical psychotherapy must ensure they have completed a recommended 36 months which must consist of two years in either adult psychiatry posts and one year in another psychiatry specialty, most likely to be medical psychotherapy or three years in designated medical psychotherapy posts.
A recommended two years in designated General Psychiatry posts one year may be in a GMC approved sub-specialty of General Psychiatry in either:
- Substance Misuse (Addiction) Psychiatry
- Liaison Psychiatry
- Rehabilitation Psychiatry
Trainees could also spend 12 months in another but will not lead to an endorsement on the GMC Specialist Register:
- Peri-natal Psychiatry
- Neuropsychiatry
- Eating Disorder Psychiatry
Three years in designated Forensic Psychiatry placements. A trainee who wishes to pursue a single CCT in either general (adult) psychiatry or forensic psychiatry must ensure they have completed the recommended 36 months which must consist of two years in either general psychiatry posts and one year in another psychiatry specialty, most likely to be forensic psychiatry, or three years in designated forensic psychiatry posts.
- two years in designated Forensic Psychiatry placements
- two years in designated Medical Psychotherapy Placements
- one year in a Forensic Medical Psychotherapy setting
A trainee who wishes to pursue a single CCT in either forensic psychiatry or medical psychotherapy must ensure they have completed the recommended 36 months which should consist of three years in either designated forensic psychiatry posts or three years in designated medical psychotherapy posts. Forensic Psychiatry and Adult Psychiatry which must consist of:
- three years in designated Forensic Psychiatry placements
- two years in designated Adult Psychiatry placements
- two years in designated Psychiatry of Learning (Intellectual) Disability placements
- two years in designated Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Placements
- one year in a Psychiatry of Learning (Intellectual) Disability setting for adolescents and children.
A trainee who wishes to pursue a single CCT in either Psychiatry of Learning (Intellectual) Disability or Child and Adolescent Psychiatry must ensure they have completed a recommended 36 months which should consist of three years in either designated Child and Adolescent Psychiatry posts or three years in Psychiatry of Learning (Intellectual) Disability posts, up to one year of which may be in a Psychiatry of Learning (Intellectual) Disability setting for adolescents and children or another relevant psychiatry specialty.
- two years in designated Child and Adolescent psychiatric posts
- two years in designated psychotherapy posts
- one year in which there is an integration between posts to achieve the curriculum competencies - for example, this could include delivering psychological therapy while working on in a CAMHS inpatient or outpatient setting.
A trainee who wishes to pursue a single CCT in either child and adolescent psychiatry or medical psychotherapy must ensure they have completed a recommended 36 months which must consist of three years in either child and adolescent posts and one year in another psychiatry specialty, or three years in designated medical psychotherapy posts.
- two years in designated Forensic Psychiatry placements.
- two years in designated Child and Adolescent Psychiatry placements.
- one year in a Forensic Psychiatry setting for adolescents and children.
A trainee who wishes to pursue a single CCT in either Forensic Psychiatry or Child and Adolescent Psychiatry must ensure they have completed a recommended 36 months which should consist of three years in either designated Forensic Psychiatry posts or three years in designated Child and Adolescent Psychiatry posts.
- two years in designated Forensic psychiatric posts
- two years in Learning (Intellectual) Disability
- one year in a placement tailored to the trainee’s needs and interests, commonly a Forensic setting for patients with Learning Disability
