Appraisal & Assessment

An ARCP assessment will be arranged to review your training progress. The ARCP will be held in accordance with A Reference Guide for Postgraduate Foundation and Specialty Training in the UK (the “Gold Guide”), Tenth Edition 2024.

All ARCP panels are now hosted virtually, and Postgraduate Doctors in Training are no longer expected to attend.

For information about the ARCP process, please familiarise yourself with the video and other information on the Deanery website.

Preparation

Postgraduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs) will be required to submit evidence throughout their training year, which demonstrates that they are meeting the requirements set out in the curriculum of their training programme. 

To prepare for your ARCP, please refer to the College decision aid(s) and curriculum requirements for your Specialty Programme, which can normally be found on the relevant School’s webpage or your college website. The ARCP panel can only make a decision based on the evidence provided in your portfolio. You should discuss your portfolio with your Educational Supervisor prior to the ARCP taking place. If there are any matters that you do not feel comfortable discussing with your Educational Supervisor, which may have a direct impact on your training, please ensure you approach your Training Programme Director in advance of the ARCP.

Academic Postgraduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs) will also need to submit a Report on Academic Progress.  

Postgraduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs) will be notified in writing by NHS England of the deadline in which all of their evidence must be uploaded to their eportfolio or submitted via email if an eportfolio is not used by the training programme. Evidence uploaded after this date will not be considered by the RCP/ARCP panel.  

Form R (Part B)

Before your ARCP, all Post Graduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs) registered with the Gemenral Medical Council (GMC) and as part of the revalidation process, you must submit a Form R (Part B). The process for submission has changed - you should now complete the Form R (Part B ONLY) using TIS Self-Service.

You should complete the Form R by the submission of evidence deadline, ensuring you save a copy of the completed form (downloadable as a PDF file once completed) to your ePortfolio.

If for any reason your situation or any of the information reported on your Form R changes between the time of submision and your ARCP taking place, you must submit a new form. We DO NOT require an emailed copy of the form once completed via TIS Self-Service.

Statutory Leave

If you will be on statutory leave (e.g., sick, parental or adoption leave) at the time of the ARCP your evidence will not be reviewed by an ARCP Panel and you will be issued an 'N' (Not Assessed) outcome. A full ARCP will normally be arranged after your return. However, please ensure that all your statutory leave up to the ARCP date is recorded accurately on your ePortfolio as part of your placement history and on your Form R (Part B).

Trainees on statutory leave are still required to submit a Form R (Part B). This is to ensure that there are no gaps in your revalidation history and to inform the Revalidation team of any incidents which may have taken place/or been resolved since your last ARCP, and prior to commencement of your leave.

If you haven’t already done so, please inform the Programme Support team and your TPD of your statutory leave, including start and return dates (if known).

Progression and CCT calculation

Please ensure you include an up-to-date CCT calculator on your portfolio before your ARCP and share it with your Training Program Director (TPD). This will help determine an accurate training progression and completion date. Failure to complete and update the calculator may result in an ARCP Outcome 5.

Additionally, list all your training placements from the start of your specialty training, including any placements in other Deanery regions. You can find a CCT calculator available at the bottom of this page to download, or alternatively on your Royal College's website.

Post-ARCP Feedback  

The ARCP outcome form will be released to you on the day of the ARCP, and we strongly encourage you to check the form for accuracy (if there are discrepancies, please let us know). You should familiarise yourself with the comments and actions (where appropriate) and acknowledge the form on your ePortfolio.

You will receive notification of your ARCP outcome via email by default. The email will summarise any key points and advise you on next steps.

Notification of your outcome should trigger you to arrange a meeting with your Educational Supervisor to discuss what steps need to be taken next, to formulate a plan for your upcoming 12-months in training, and agree your personal development and education plan.

In addition, for outcomes 3 or 4, you must arrange a more comprehensive feedback meeting with a member of the ARCP panel to discuss your outcome and learning objectives. This will normally take place within 10 working days of your ARCP.

If you would prefer to receive notification of your ARCP outcome via telephone call on the day of the panel, please email england.stp-arcp.yh@nhs.net and provide us with your contact details. A member of the ARCP panel will call you at the end of the day. Please only choose this option if you know you will be available to take the call. If we don’t hear from you, you will continue to receive notification of your outcome via email only.