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Specialist registration via the Portfolio pathway route

The Portfolio pathway route is an alternative certification of competence and a route to joining the GMC’s specialist register, in order to practise as a consultant in the NHS.

Introduction to Portfolio pathway

The Portfolio Pathway programme (previously referred to as the Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration or CESR) is the process that enables doctors who not completed a General Medical Council (GMC)-approved training programme, but who are able to demonstrate that they have the knowledge, skills and experience (KSEs) required for practising as an eligible specialist in the UK.

The process entails applicants submitting a body of evidence to demonstrate that they have acquired the KSEs necessary for practising as a Consultant in the UK. The specific requirements are defined in the specialty specific guidance (SSG) published by the GMC:

Who is eligible to apply for a Portfolio pathway?
To be eligible you must have either undertaken specialist training for a minimum of six months or been awarded a specialist qualification in Ophthalmology. More information about eligibility and the application process is available via the GMC website.

The role of the GMC
The Portfolio pathway process is owned by the GMC and applications are made to them. Applications are then assessed by the College’s Portfolio pathway assessors who, based on the evidence presented, make a recommendation to the GMC. The GMC subsequently issue a decision.

The role of the College
The Portfolio pathway assessors review applications received from the GMC. A minimum of two assessors review each application. Once a decision has been made the College completes an evaluation form and makes a recommendation to the GMC on behalf of assessors.

The ultimate decision is legally the GMC’s and they can ask for clarification regarding elements of the recommendation prior to implementing the recommendation. They conduct a  quality assurance of the College evaluation which looks at whether the evidence College evaluators rely on supports the conclusions they draw.

The College can provide advice on the type of evidence required but will not review any application before submission nor provide any indication as to the likely success of the application.

The College does not arrange additional training for any areas of practice that an applicant believes requires further development. Applicants in the UK should speak with the College Tutor in their hospital to discuss the options for obtaining any additional training.

You will need to apply to the GMC, who will then send your application to the RCOphth for evaluation. We urge that when you have started an application with the GMC and are in the process of amassing your evidence you contact the Portfolio Pathway Manager at the College to double check on any curriculum requirements you are unsure of. However, the SSGH contains links to a guidance document which assessors use. It is an excel format and provides clear guidance to applicants.

Clinical evidence from your ophthalmology practice should be provided. The majority of your evidence is expected to be from the last five years of clinical practice (WTE, does not need to be consecutive) but evidence from the last seven years of clinical practice (WTE, does not need to be consecutive) will be considered where these skills have been maintained. In any particular area, a minimum of 80% of your evidence should be from the last five years of clinical practice (WTE, does not need to be consecutive).

Without the FRCOphth, it is unlikely you will be successful. The test of knowledge in the Ophthalmology CCT curriculum is the FRCOphth exam. You must demonstrate either successful completion of this exam, or alternative evidence that demonstrates comparable knowledge mapped to this exam. If you have attended FRCOphth courses you should submit the certificates. The FRCSEd (Ophth) does not demonstrate comparable knowledge to the FRCOphth. Aspects of its content and methods of assessment do not adequately assess the curriculum or the real-life exchanges of a UK consultant role in Ophthalmology. If you do not hold the FRCOphth, we strongly recommend that you obtain it before you apply to guarantee that the knowledge aspect of the curriculum is demonstrated.

The SSG contains more guidance on alternative evidence of knowledge.

Canvassing on behalf of applicants through any source is not permitted. It is therefore inappropriate to approach any assessors about your application. If an assessor has a personal or professional relationship with you, they will be excluded from assessing your application.

You may be able to contact the College’s Portfolio Pathway Manager for an update on the status of your application, such as what stage of the process it is at, but the College can tell you no more than this. In addition, as the GMC have the application for an undetermined period of time after the College has completed their assessment, it may be more beneficial to liaise directly with the GMC regarding when a decision is likely to be made.

When choosing your application specialty, please make sure you choose the curriculum version that you wish to be assessed against – 2016 or 2024, as the application structure is tailored to the above specialty specific guidance version.

The 2024 curriculum was approved in June 2024. Applicants will have until 31 July 2026 to choose which curriculum their application is assessed against. From 1 August 2026 all applications will be assessed against the 2024 curriculum. Applications completed and submitted after 31 July 2026 will NOT be considered against the old curriculum even if they were started in the above timeframe.

Resources

2024 Curriculum

The 2024 curriculum assesses overall capabilities in both clinical and generic professional skills and lists high-level, overarching learning outcomes that describe what an ophthalmologist does

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RCOphth Education

Education in Ophthalmology is the development of knowledge, practical skills and professional competencies, and this includes personal and professional development.

Find out more