Starting a career in medicine
Training to become a Doctor in the UK has recently been reviewed and full details of the changes can be found on the Modernising Medical Careers Website .
A brief over-view is provided below:
To become a Doctor you need to apply to a Medical School. Medical students graduate after four-six years in medical school and apply through a system of open and fair competition for a place in a two-year Foundation Programme.
At successful completion of Foundation Year 1, subject to sign-off by the medical school, doctors become fully registered with the GMC , and continue into Foundation Year 2. This will typically consist of three varied four-month placements, usually including at least one placement in a shortage specialty (a specialty that is actively recruiting), academic medicine or general practice. This gives trainees the opportunity to try out a number of different specialties before making a decision about which specialty training programme they would like to pursue.
Foundation training is managed by a combination of medical schools, postgraduate deaneries and health care providers to provide training in a variety of specialties and settings (acute, community, mental health and general practice). This training is supported and overseen by the postgraduate medical deaneries. This administrative body may be referred to as a foundation school.
By the end of the Foundation Programme, all doctors will have achieved the same generic clinical and non-clinical competences defined in the national curriculum, regardless of the precise nature of their placements over the two years.
Entry Requirements:
Courses in medicine are open to anyone over the age of 17. Good A level grades or the equivalent are needed for most student places. However, medical schools will consider people with other attributes and skills that support their application. Evidence of scientific ability and the capacity for study are important. Some colleges run an access to medicine course, which aims to bring students up to speed on relevant scientific knowledge before they begin a medical course.
For details of medical schools, contact UCAS .
For Further Information on becoming a Doctor contact:
British Medical Association
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9JP
Tel: 020 7387 4499
Fax: 020 7383 6400
Website:
www.bma.org.uk
Modernising Medical Careers
To find out more about the Modernising Medical Careers Project, contact:
Modernising Medical Careers
Second Floor
Eileen House
80-94 Newington Causeway
London
SE1 6EF
Tel: 020 7972 1188
Website:
www.mmc.nhs.uk