The importance of the development of professional, non-clinical skills has been increasingly recognised. Therefore the first of a new suite of optional training modules has been developed, which are primarily non-clinical skills based, and which can be undertaken at any stage of career development from specialty trainee through to consultant level. The APM is not required to be eligible for CCT. The APM has been designed to support the development of professional, non-clinical skills in a structured training package.

The first Advanced Professional Module (APM) is the Clinical Research APM. It is envisaged that other generic professional modules will be developed in the future.