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The following
illustration gives a general outline of the career
structure with the typical time frame for a doctor's
career progression and the various training stages
that a doctor will undertake. The undergraduate
course provides you with some exposure to the
different specialities within medicine. It involves
practical clinical tasks and seeks to develop
attitudes and behaviours appropriate to the medical
profession, as well as the skills of independent
learning.
 Pre-registration
house officer (1 year)
The pre-registration house officer (PRHO) year
in undertaken by all doctors. At this stage basic
clinical training in medicine and surgery, and
possibly general practice is undertaken. PRHO's
are provisionally registered with the GMC. However,
on successful completion of this year, full registration
with the GMC may be gained, which enables you
to practise independently as a doctor.
Senior house officer (2 to 3 years)
At this point doctors train in a number of different
specialties and it would be usual to begin to
consider what eventual career path you would like
to follow. For example, whether to become a GP
or a hospital consultant in a specific specialty.
Specialist registrar (4 to 5 years)
This is a period of specialist training in an
area you have chosen. By the end of this stage
you should have completed the relevant medical
royal college exams for your chosen specialty.
Consultant
GP registrar (1 to 2 years)
For GPs this period of specialist training is
usually community based and is shorter than that
for hospital based specialties. Further exams/assessments
will have to be successfully completed before
you become a GP principal.
GP principal
On successful completion of postgraduate training
in whatever chosen specialty, you will then be
able to apply for a career grade post - a consultant
or a GP principal. Whilst these are viewed as
career pinnacles, all doctors are expected to
continually demonstrate their fitness to practise
medicine and so learning continues throughout
a doctor's career.
When considering medical colleges, do your research
- be sure that this demanding career is for you.
Some useful references are listed under Useful
contacts and resources, which may be helpful.
Alongside the need to demonstrate a long-term
commitment to medicine to reach a career grade,
there are other factors to consider such as the
financial impact of training. Information about
funding to study medicine is provided later.
For further information
on all of the above please contact the BMA.
British Medical Association
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9JP
Tel: 020 7387 4499
Fax: 020 7383 6400
Email: info.web@bma.org.uk
Web: www.bma.org.uk
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