Subspecialty training FAQs

You will need to discuss your suitability for subspecialty training with your Head of School (HoS). You will need to have had a satisfactory ARCP before applying and should have completed as many of the core curriculum competencies appropriate to your stage of training. You need to ensure you have completed both aspects of the O&G  competencies in order to obtain your CCT.

To be eligible to enter subspecialty training, you need to fulfil one of the following criteria please see the criteria on how to apply for subspecialty training.

Please read the guidance on how to apply for subspecialty training

Please see details on the new fees page.

The HoS of your home deanery will remain responsible for your training. All of your ARCPs (annual review of competence progression) will be undertaken in your home deanery. Remember that your ARCP will assess your progress in both subspecialty training and the core curriculum – the training matrix will help you identify what you need to ensure a satisfactory ARCP outcome.

If your ARCP identifies issues with your subspecialty training, in terms of either your progress or the department’s ability to provide training, your home deanery will be responsible. However, the HoS in the deanery where you are undertaking your training (host deanery) will work with your training unit to help you.

If you are pre-CCT subspecialty trainee, you will need to provide sufficient evidence for all the generic core and non-clinical specialty CiPs at meeting expectations for ST6/7 level by the time of completion of subspecialty training and general training. These include clinical governance, teaching experience, research and innovation, leadership and management, and presentation and publications. You can use experiences during subspecialty training and emergency duties to help evidence these generic capabilities and skills. For more information, please see the curriculum guidance for your subspecialty.

Cross specialty guidance:

• SST Curriculum 2019: See the relevant guidance.
• SST Curriculum 2024: See the relevant guidance.

To ensure your expected progress, you will be assessed regularly through the centralized subspecialty assessment, typically conducted annually but more frequently if needed. The assessment, managed by RCOG, runs twice a year in March and October. Please read the guidance on subspecialty training assessment for more details.

The annual RCOG subspecialty review assesses your progress against the subspecialty curriculum, and feeds in to the information collected for your ARCP. For more information, please read the guidance on how subspecialty training is assessed.

If you are a Gynaecological Oncology/Urogynaecology/Reproductive Medicine subspecialty trainee, you need to provide evidence to demonstrate competencies in cross specialty core CiPs for the obstetric core CiPs 10 and 12. It is recommended that you do some obstetrics on-call to assist in the accumulation of evidence showing ongoing involvement and learning in obstetrics at advanced level. Other obstetric experience is likely to be necessary to satisfy the requirements of both CiP 10 and 12. Please see RCOG guidance document for subspecialty training on-call commitments. 

Pre CCT subspecialty trainees in Gynaecological Oncology/Urogynaecology/Reproductive Medicine who are not part of an on-call rota including obstetrics will need to formulate a plan with their supervisor, based on this guidance, on how to access appropriate learning opportunities in obstetrics so that entrustability level 5 can be reached in CiPs 10 and 12 by the time the trainee is completing training. If you fail to achieve this, you may be able to complete the subspecialty training programme and a recommendation for an additional general training time may be given before an outcome 6 can be awarded in recognition of completion of the relevant core curriculum. 

Please read the FAQs below (on this page) on ATSMs and subspecialty training.

Subspecialty trainees following the pre-2019 core curriculum

Subspecialty trainees following the pre-2019 core curriculum: Before starting subspecialty training, you should have completed the intermediate and advanced core competences that lie outside your chosen subspecialist field.

If you haven’t managed this by the time of your appointment, your training should be targeted to achieving all outstanding competences before you take up your post. You’ll need to discuss with your Head of School how you can achieve the competences in a short space of time (there are typically 3–4 months between appointment and starting the subspecialty training programme). Your training placements will likely be adjusted to help you achieve this, provided there’s no adverse impact on other trainees and service delivery.

If you don’t achieve all the outstanding competences, your Head of School and Subspecialty Training Programme Supervisor  will discuss how this can be achieved within your subspecialty training, or whether your start date should be delayed until the end of ST6. If you then don’t complete the outstanding competences by the end of ST6, the offer of subspecialty training may be withdrawn. You can reduce the likelihood of this by early and frequent discussion with your Head of School.

If you are experiencing problems achieving your subspecialty or core curriculum objectives, an action plan will be developed at your ARCP. This requires liaison between your HoS and your Subspecialty Training Programme Supervisor.

RCOG review panels and your Subspecialty Training Programme Supervisor can recommend extending your training, but only your HoS on behalf of the Postgraduate Dean can authorise this.

Yes. Your placement post-CCT is at the discretion of your deanery. Some deaneries may wish to use your tertiary-level skills, but they are not obliged to do so. Priority will be given to those in pre-CCT training.

It may be possible to obtain approval for CCT before completion of subspecialty training. This issue can be complex and the individual circumstances require discussion. It is therefore important toPlease seek advice from your Head of SchoolHoS and Postgraduate Dean as well as the Chairs of SEAC and Subspecialty Committees.

Trainees who are progressing well within the training programme and wish to bring forward their projected date of subspecialty training completion may now do so providing:

1. This request is supported by the Subspecialty Training Programme supervisor and HoS.
2. This request must also be supported by the assessment panel during the subspecialty centralised assessment.
3. Requests are made in a timely manner.

Requests to bring forward the subspecialty training projected completion dates must sent to the Subspecialty Committee via email subspecialtytraining@rcog.org.uk at least six weeks before the centralised assessment together with support from the Subspecialty Training Programme Supervisors and the HoS. This request, together with the new completion date, must be clearly documented on the Educational Supervisor Report for the assessment panels to review and assess training accordingly. 

Ultimately, the award and timing of the CCT is down to the home deanery and ARCP processes so you should seek the advice of your HoS or Training Programme Director on the process to bring your CCT date forward.

Yes, ATSMs that have already been started before SST can be completed but you must complete the module before August 2026. 

You may be able to transfer the ATSM to a SITM and you need discuss this with your subspecialty training programme supervisor and SITM Director. Please see more information at O&G Curriculum 2024.

It is not usual to start SITMs not related to your subspecialty during subspecialty training as the programmes are designed to deliver all training requirements for subspecialists within that subspecialty. However, there may be additional skills you may wish to acquire. Please discuss with your Subspecialty Training Programme Supervisor to check if this is appropriate to undertake at your stage of training within the programme. We also recommend that you seek advice from your SITM Director and/or HoS.

• If you wish to undertake SITM not related to your subspecialty during subspecialty training:
• Discuss the benefits with your subspecialty training programme director and ensure you have their full support.
• Meet the Deanery SITM Director to check whether it is possible to undertake the SITM locally.
• Confirm when it would be possible to undertake the SITM and who your SITM Preceptor would be.
• Ensure you have support from your HoS or Deanery Specialist Training Committee Chair.

Please note that the SITM Director has overall responsibility for ensuring SITMs are allocated equitably for all senior trainees – and in particular those for whom it is mandatory to complete two SITMs.

Once you have all the necessary support:

1. Download and Complete the SITM Registration Form:
   • Available on the SITMs: Registration and Completion page.
   • Your SITM Educational Supervisor, SITM Preceptor, and SITM Director must provide their support.
2. Submit the Completed Form:
   • Send it to the RCOG along with a letter of support from your Subspecialty Training Programme Supervisor and the HoS/Deanery Specialist Training Committee Chair.
   • Include the appropriate registration fee.
3. Application Review:
   • The Chair of the RCOG Subspecialty Committee reviews all applications for SITMs within subspecialty training.