Prospective Trainees
Applying for Specialty Training
Recruitment to Respiratory Medicine training is managed and coordinated by the Joint Royal College of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB).
The website www.st3recruitment.org.uk provides information about eligibility and the application process. Candidates apply for a training number within the Yorkshire and Humber region as a whole, before ranking their preferred area for training - East, West or South Yorkshire. This is a competitive process, based on application and interview scores.
In recent years, the online system for applications opens each February for programmes starting in August. However, further training positions can become available at a later date, in which case a second round of recruitment is advertised.
New starters (ST3).
Welcome to Yorkshire and respiratory medicine. Here are some tips from previous registrars.
- Understand the ePortfolio thoroughly and work out how to use it efficiently. This may take some time.
- Get ready for your ARCP by planning well in advance of May. The requirements for an outcome 1 have become more stringent and the local panel has little discretion.
- Start getting assessments early and keep a log of everything you do. Don't forget to log procedures, bronchs, clinics, NIV experience and spirometry.
- Speak to your supervisor about planning your career and training.
- Try to make sure your supervisor meetings are more than just opportunities to tick boxes on the ePortfolio
- Set yourself an annual target that goes above and beyond the curriculum requirements for example get a publication (however small e.g. case report, letter, rapid response, Thorax Journal Club) or obtain a teaching qualification.
- Make crib sheets for your clinic cases prior to starting ST3 ie reminder of essential questions/investigations/treatments for each disease based on guidelines
- Don’t feel pressured into doing things just because everyone else is. If you have no interest in a career in academic medicine then you don’t need a PhD. Speak to other trainees about what they are up to and follow your own interests.
- Speak to other trainees at training days and don't be afraid to ask for advice from the more senior ones. Your trainee reps are usually a great source of information.
- Get Level 1 USS sorted as soon as possible.
- Take a day or half day of study leave here and there to spend time learning in smoking cessation clinic, lung function, with respiratory physiotherapists etc. Don't forget to document this through reflections or DOPs.
- Sign up to contents alert emails for the major respiratory journals to help keep up to date.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions (to Consultants and to other StRs) –no one expects you to suddenly become a respiratory specialist overnight!
There is also available from the BTS including an induction pack and links to the Respiratory Futures website which it is well worth joining.
