This page has been updated following a check on the CST portfolio guidance on 31st October.
Completing your application for a training post can be a challenging task. You want to ensure that you stand out from the crowd by presenting the full breadth and depth of the experience that you’ve gained to date. At the simplest level, this means scoring as many points as possible on the self-assessment for IMT, or highest grade on your when your are uploading your index page for CST. However, it’s essential that you are honest when claiming your points and follow the guidance correctly.
Which course and what score or indicator?
Every year, large numbers of doctors contact us on this topic. Many are confused about points and indicators they can claim for the various “Teach the Teacher” course formats that we offer. The criteria tyically changes from one year to the next, and this year is no exception. Some doctors, understandably, become quite anxious about making the right choice.
We can assure you that all of our courses are CPD accredited and are accepted as evidence of training for thousands of doctors every year. It’s important to be aware that there are different scoring criteria in play for surgical and medical training programmes. This year, the scoring or recognition criteria has changed significantly once more. For 2024/25 selection processes, updated information for IMT and ACCS was shared well in advance. However, detail of the completely revised CST recruitment process was publicised very late on 27th September – and a check on their webpage on 31st October reveals that there has been a further change.
If you’ve already taken a course, then you will want to ensure you claim the correct number of points or choose the correct indicator. Alternatively, if you are still considering which course to take, then you want to ensure your make the best choice.
Here’s a table to summarise the latest publicised scoring for the most popular Medical Teaching Course options, as of 27th September.
| Oxford Medical Course | CPD points | IMT/ ACCS Application Points | CST index page indicator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach the Teacher Course for Doctors (2 days, tutor led in Virtual Classroom or In-Person) | 12 | 1 | D |
| Teach the Teacher Online Course | 3 | 0 | D |
For clarity, the following sections outline the differences between IMT/ACCS and CST programmes to help you with this matter.
2024/25 IMT and ACCS Recruitment – Application Scoring – Training in Teaching
The self-assessment scoring for these programmes is quite different this year than for previous years. A document called “Changes to the application scoring matrix from 2025…” was posted on the Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment Document Library December 2023. Here is a copy of the summary table in the “Training in Teaching” section of this document and on current IMT Recruitment Application scoring webpages.
| For IMT/ ACCS: Option | Score available | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I have a higher qualification in teaching e.g. PG Cert or PG Diploma. | 3 | This could be full time over one academic year or part-time over multiple years. |
| I have had training in teaching methods which is below the level of a PG Cert or PG Diploma | 1 | This should be additional to any training received as part of your primary medical qualification. Training should be delivered with a duration of at least six hours (i.e. a one-day course) of synchronous (live) teaching time. |
| I have had no training in teaching methods. | 0 |
The “Summary of changes” table at the start of this document includes the following paragraph:
“The guidance on the one-point option has been amended to specify that the training must have included a minimum of six hours (one day) of synchronously delivered teaching; (i.e. being taught live by a teacher) “
For IMT or ACCS applications at CT1 level, you score 1 point for our tutor-led 2-day Teach the Teacher Course for Doctors , whether you take the course in our Virtual Classroom, or in-person. Both formats fulfil the criteria of “synchronously delivered teaching” and being “taught by a live teacher”.
Our instant-access Teach the Teacher Online Course is designed for you to work through alone and at your own pace. It does not involve a live tutor, and therefore cannot be used this year for IMT or ACCS self-assessment scoring.
These changes also apply to 25 physician higher specialities at ST3/ST4 level.
2024/25 CST index page indicator – Teaching Experience
This year, the new process only went live on the information website on 27th September 2024 and information on Teaching Experience has changed since then. So, here’s a summary of the latest information as it appears on the 2024/25 Core Surgical Training Portfolio Guidance for Candidates webpage for NHS England, Scotland and Wales at time of writing our blog-post.
The updated guidance page includes the following paragraphs:
Candidates will no longer be asked to complete self-assessment on Oriel.
Instead, candidates invited to interview will be requested to upload an index page with the appropriate indicators for each domain.
Candidates will assign a letter from A to E to each domain showing which category of evidence they think their evidence sits in (A being the top, E being the bottom).
The portfolio has moved to this structure as the category acts as a guide for the assessor and is not the final score allocated – this is determined during the interview.
Although the scoring for “Training Qualifications” is described as having been removed from this process, a Teach the Teacher Course is still relevant for CST recruitment withing the Teaching Experience section..
Here’s a screenshot from the “Commitment to specialty (all surgical specialties)” indicator guidance section near the bottom of the NHS webpage.
Expanding the “Training experience” tab describes the indicator to select when uploading your index page. It includes the following information as the last two entries on the table.
| For CST: Teaching Experience Options | Indicator | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I have undertaken some educational activity focused on learning to teach | D | This would include any form of educational event focused on learning the skills of teaching – such as a training the trainers course online or otherwise |
| I have not provided teaching | E |
Information under the Evidence required” tab states:
“A certificate for the educational event focused on learning how to teach”
So, the certificate which you receive for completing any of our Teach the Teacher courses means you can select indicator D on the scale of A-E. Your final grade for Teaching Experience will be determined by your assessor during interview. So, being able to confidently explain what you learned from your course will be essential for your success.
For CST programme applications, you can select indicator D for any of our Teach the Teacher courses, including, 2-day tutor-led Teach the Teacher Course for Doctors, whether that is taken in our Virtual Classroom or In-person, our Extended Teach the Teacher Course, or our Teach the Teacher Online Course where you gain access to materials which you work through on your own or at your own pace.
Please note: The bottom of the “2024/5 Core Surgical Training Portfolio Guidance for Candidates” webpage states “Page last reviewed: 27th September 2024; Next review due 27th August 2025.”
Other things to consider
Completing the application is only the first hurdle in achieving your training post. If you are successful in getting through to interview then you have the challenge of presenting yourself at your best during the intensive interview process. So, you need to gain as much experience in numerous areas between now and then. You will need to demonstrate your patient communication, team communication and leadership skills. Taking courses in these subjects will give you fresh input and help you to clarify your thinking. And it’s always worth considering a dedicated interview preparation course to help you pull everything together.
We’ve got more advice on our CST & IMT Interview Free Advice webpage.
All the best with your application and continue to develop your abilities to maximise your potential.
Stephen McGuire – Managing Director
