The General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2003

Education and training leading to the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training

4.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Board shall from time to time establish the standards and requirements relating to postgraduate medical education and training necessary for the award of a CCT in general practice and in each of the specialties listed in Schedule 3.

(2) Standards and requirements established by the Board under paragraph (1) must comply with the minimum requirements for general practice and specialist training, set out in articles 5 and 6 respectively, but nothing in this Order shall prevent the Board from establishing additional requirements or higher standards under this article as it considers appropriate.

(3) The standards and requirements established under paragraph (1) shall be set out in rules.

(4) The standards and requirements established under paragraph (1) shall include—

(a) the standards required for entry to training;

(b) the education and training curriculum to be followed for general practice and for each specialty listed in Schedule 3;

(c) the outcomes to be achieved by that education and training, including the level of skill, knowledge and expertise required; and

(d) the methods of assessment of progress during and upon completion of that education and training.

(5) In performing the function mentioned in article 3(2)(b), the Board may approve—

(a) a course of postgraduate medical education and training (or part of such a course) which the Board is satisfied meets or would meet the standards and requirements established under paragraph (1);

(b) a programme of postgraduate medical education and training (or part of such a programme) which the Board is satisfied meets or would meet the standards and requirements established under paragraph (1);

(c) a training post which the Board is satisfied meets or would meet the standards and requirements established under paragraph (1);

(d) a general practitioner, whom the Board considers to be properly organised and equipped for providing the training specified in article 5(1)(c)(i);

(e) examinations, assessments or other tests of competence.

(6) In connection with paragraph (5), the Board may approve postgraduate medical education and training taking place outside the United Kingdom.

(7) In exercising its functions under paragraph (5), the Board may attach conditions to any approval it gives or has given including, if the Board considers appropriate, a period of time for which that approval is valid.

(8) The Board may at any time withdraw approval where it is satisfied that—

(a) any conditions imposed under paragraph (7); or

(b) any standards or requirements established under paragraph (1),

are not being met.

(9) The Board shall cause to be published from time to time (electronically or otherwise) a list of the education and training it has approved which shall specify—

(a) any course or programme (or part of such a course or programme), training post, general practitioner, examination, assessment or other test of competence that it has approved pursuant to paragraph (5);

(b) the date on which that approval was given;

(c) any conditions to which that approval is subject pursuant to paragraph (7);

(d) where relevant, the date on which that approval was withdrawn; and

(e) such other matters as the Board may specify in rules made under paragraph (10).

(10) The Board shall make rules about the procedure to be followed for giving, withdrawing, and attaching conditions to, approval under this article.

(11) Subject to the minimum requirements specified in articles 5 and 6, rules made under paragraph (10) may provide that of the categories specified in paragraph (5), only certain categories will be approved by the Board in respect of general practice or a specialty listed in Schedule 3.