Sub-specialty training programmes – Training requirements
Paediatric trainees completing level 3 training successfully in a recognised sub-specialty
training programme will be eligible to enter the GMC Specialist Register as a Paediatrician
with sub-specialty recognition.
Sub-specialty training is undertaken within the NTN grid, following formal appointment
through the NTN Grid matching process. Programmes of sub-specialty training are prescribed
by the College Specialty Advisory Committee’s (CSAC) and there is a specific curriculum for
each sub-specialty.
Training Requirements
Specialty Trainees (ST)
- Competence based training
The below requirements are a guide to show how long it will commonly take to gain subspecialty competences. Grid programmes are generally 24-36 months; this time may be
adjusted depending on the trainee’s progression. Any trainees wishing to complete subspecialty training in less time than the guide (i.e. they feel they already possess a number of
sub-specialty competences) will be carefully considered by the CSAC at the time of
application to the NTN Grid.
ST5 trainees may apply to 24-36 month programmes (providing there is clear evidence that
they will have completed level 2 competences by the time of commencing the grid post).
Trainees appointed to grid programmes will generally be expected to gain their competences
and complete the programme in the guided time. Occasionally trainees will require additional
training time; a relevant post will be found for the further 12 months. Trainees must complete
all general and sub-specialty specific competences prior to CCT.
Sub-specialty
Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology and
Therapeutics
Child Mental Health
Training Programme Requirements
24-36 months
12m paediatric pharmacology research is essential.
24-36 months
36 months
Community Child Health
Minimum 24m community child health clinical training. The
remaining 12m may be in a specialty relevant to community child
health, a specific area of community child health or approved
research. The CSAC will be flexible about the nature of the
‘relevant specialty’ or research but it must help the trainee to
enhance their competences in community child health.
24-36 months
Paediatric Diabetes and
Endocrinology
A minimum of 24 months training is required in Endocrinology and
Diabetes. Additional training/research is advantageous
24-36 months
Paediatric Emergency Medicine
12 months in paediatric emergency medicine
3m minimum experience required in anaesthetics/ paediatric
intensive care, 3 months in each of orthopaedics and surgery.
Paediatric Emergency Medicine can be completed from within a
Paediatrics or Emergency Medicine training programme – CCT will
be dependent on the route of training.
36 months
Paediatric Gastroenterology,
Hepatology and Nutrition
Themed training with gastroenterology emphasis (24m
gastroenterology, 6m hepatology, 6m nutrition) or hepatology
emphasis (30m hepatology, 6m gastroenterology)
24-36 months
Paediatric Immunology, Infectious
Diseases and Allergy
Themed training with an emphasis in one of Paediatric
Immunology, Paediatric Infectious Disease and Immunology or
Paediatric Allergy and Immunology.
24-36 months
Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine
Paediatric Inherited Metabolic
Medicine
6 months anaesthetic training (to be undertaken as OOPE) is
essential which will be organised upon appointment if not already
completed.
24-36 months
36 months
Minimum 24m neonatal clinical training. The remaining 12m may
be in neonates, approved research or in an allied sub-specialty1
Neonatal Medicine
Neonatal trainees must complete the neonatal assessment
framework during their training – a CCT with sub-specialty
recognition will not be achieved without the framework completed.
Paediatric Nephrology
24-36 months
36 months
Paediatric Neurodisability
For trainees starting Grid programmes from September 2013
onwards:
36m including 12m (or modular equivalent) in paediatric neurology
and 3m (or modular equivalent) in child psychiatry.
For trainees starting Grid programmes up to September 2013:
24m including 6m (or modular equivalent) in paediatric neurology
and 3m (or modular equivalent) in child psychiatry
42 months
Paediatric Neurology
6m will be added to CCT on appointment for the completion of
required adult neurology (if not already achieved). Clinical
experience should include 24m paediatric neurology, 12m
neurodisability and within this time the equivalent of a day per
week for one year in child psychiatry.
2 years in acute paediatric neurology
1 year in neurodisability (with at least 6 months at a tertiary level)
6 months in adult neurology
3 months equivalent child and adolescent psychiatry (generally
undertaken during other attachments)
Paediatric Oncology
Paediatric Palliative Medicine
1
24-36 months
24-36 months
For the Neonatal assessment framework and further information on what can be included
within the additional 12m please refer to the Neonatal CSAC approval for level 3 training
document available on the RCPCH website.
24-36 months
Paediatric Respiratory Medicine
Minimum of 24m grid training in paediatric respiratory medicine if
previous experience of paediatric respiratory medicine / PICU /
relevant research. 36m if no previous experience in these areas
24-36 months
Paediatric Rheumatology
Training should be completed in 2 recognised centres for training
Gaining approval for sub-specialty training completed before grid appointment
To be eligible for CCT in paediatrics (sub-specialty) you need either to have been on the UK
national grid or to have completed a recognised training programme in (sub-specialty) in
another country. Sub-specialty training outside of the grid is not supported by the Royal
College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Trainees wishing to seek a sub-specialty CCT are
expected to complete training in an approved sub-specialty programme following appointment
to the NTN grid via the NTN grid matching process.
Trainees who have completed a sub-specialty post within Level 3 prior to their appointment to
the NTN grid may (under certain circumstances) be permitted to count this time towards their
sub-specialty training. If a trainee would like to do this, they must receive approval from the
relevant CSAC at the point of application to the grid. Certain CSACs may ask for a letter from
the training centre so they can consider if the training received in the sub-specialty post would
equate to training that would be received by a grid trainee. See the below table for the
requirements of each CSAC.
Community Child Health
Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Child Mental Health
Paediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology
Paediatric Emergency Medicine
Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Paediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Allergy
Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine
Paediatric Inherited Metabolic Medicine
Neonatal Medicine
Paediatric Nephrology
Paediatric Neurodisability
Paediatric Neurology
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
CSAC require letter
from centre
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
Contact CSAC directly
by email
CSAC require letter
from centre
Paediatric Oncology
Paediatric Palliative Medicine
Paediatric Respiratory Medicine
Paediatric Rheumatology
Post CCT Sub-specialty Experience
Those who complete a CCT in paediatrics without sub-specialty accreditation can acquire
further experience in their chosen sub-specialty post CCT in non training grade posts. It is not
possible to have this additional experience retrospectively recognised to obtain sub-specialty
recognition on the GMC specialist register.
Specialties not available within the Paediatric NTN Grid
Specialty
How to apply
Entry routes
Audiovestibular Medicine
(formerly Audiological
Medicine)
ST3 available through the Royal
College of Physicians
Paediatrics, ACCS, General
Practise, ENT surgery
Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry
ST4 available through the Royal
College of Psychiatrists
Core Psychiatry Training
(CPT)
Clinical Genetics
ST3 available through the Royal
College of Physicians
Paediatrics, ACCS or CMT
Clinical Neurophysiology
ST3 available through the Royal
College of Physicians
Paediatrics, ACCS or CMT
Dermatology
ST3 available through the Royal
College of Physicians
Paediatrics (with 12m
medicine experience), ACCS
or CMT
Haematology
ST3 available through the Royal
College of Physicians
Paediatrics, ACCS or CMT
Paediatric Cardiology
ST4 available through the Royal
College of Physicians.
Paediatrics, ACCS or Core
Medical Training (CMT)
Paediatric Surgery
ST3 available through the Royal
College of Surgeons
Core Surgical Training (CST)
Clinical Radiology
ST1 available through the Royal
College of Radiologists
Can apply directly from
Foundation Programme. Also
welcomes applicants from ST
and CT trainees in acute care
clinical specialties, such as
medicine, surgery and
paediatrics (these candidates
would be required to
complete the full 5 year
training programme)