Who is eligible for the portfolio pathway programme

The portfolio pathway programme (previously CESR) is the process that enables doctors who don't hold a CCT to join the GMC's specialist register and therefore be eligible to take up substantive consultant posts. This may include:

• SAS and specialty doctors
• International Medical Graduates
• Locally Employed Doctors
• Those on the Medical Training Initiative and all other such grades

The process is open to anyone who has obtained their qualifications and/or experience outside of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA), or who has achieved their competencies outside of a GMC approved approved training programme within the EU. The first step of an application will be to check your eligibility and the application process detailed on the GMC website.

The portfolio pathway process

In order to apply for specialist registration via the portfolio pathway, applicants are required to submit a body of solid and robust evidence to demonstrate they have acquired the knowledge, skills, and experience (KSE) required of a practising consultant in the UK.

Following confirmation of eligibility, applicants can begin their application with the GMC. Applicants will  then have 24 months to prepare the evidence and submit application.  The GMC have developed guidance on making a portfolio pathway application. Once an application is submitted, it is allocated a GMC advisor to review and advise,  and following this it will be sent to the RCoA to review and assess the application and make a recommendation to the GMC. Once an application is submitted to the GMC, it can take an estimated three and six months to process.  

Gathering evidence for a portfolio pathway application is a very large undertaking, so it is incredibly important applicants efficiently plan and prepare in advance, ensuring they have the required evidence to demonstrate the required KSE at the specified supervision levels, before submitting an application. The evidence should demonstrate the breadth of the applicants practice and experience, and should include multiple types of evidence that can be triangulated. Access to the Lifelong Learning Platform (LLP) is recommended when recording and building evidence.

The specific requirements and details of accepted evidence are defined in Anaesthetics Specialty Specific Guidance (SSG), alongside the required learning outcomes that all applicants will need to demonstrate. It is important that applicants thoroughly read and follow the SSG for each domain when preparing a portfolio pathway application.  Reference to the 2021 Anaesthetics CCT curriculum is also advised.  

If you have any questions regarding your portfolio pathway application, please contact the College team - portfolio@rcoa.ac.uk 

Portfolio pathway application in a non-CCT specialty

Some doctors may be eligible to apply for entry onto the specialist register via portfolio pathway in a non-CCT specialty, which if successful leads to specialist registration in that specialty. Non-CCT applicants will be expected to submit much the same evidence as those applying for entry onto the specialist register anaesthetics. 

To be eligible to apply you must have either a specialist qualification from outside the UK in any non-CCT specialty or at least six months continuous specialist training outside the UK in any non-CCT specialty.

Guidance for non-CCT Portfolio Pathway applications in:

• Cardiothoracic anaesthesia
• Neuro anaesthesia
• Paediatric anaesthesia

More information can be found on the GMC's Portfolio Pathway application in a non-CCT specialty page.

Tests of knowledge

Applicants need to demonstrate that they have a test of knowledge as part of their application. Below is a list of accepted tests of knowledge. Please note, there is no direct equivalent to the FRCA and it is College policy not to comment on the 'equivalence' of the FRCA to other qualifications.