Article 14 and the PMETB: light at the end of the tunnel

Matt Green on applying to the specialist register using Article 14 as featured in BMJ Careers 

What is article 14?

The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB; www.pmetb.org.uk), which gained its full statutory powers in September 2005, regulates postgraduate education for doctors in the United Kingdom. One of its present responsibilities is to coordinate applications to the specialist register made by hospital doctors via article 14, which is the process whereby hospital doctors who have not followed the conventional specialist training route but who have gained the equivalent experience apply for inclusion to the register to become eligible to work as a consultant in the NHS.

To apply or not to apply?

Most emphasis is placed on the applicant's training, qualifications, and the experience they have gained in their last five years of practice. Together with this, the applicants are assessed on six different evaluation criteria based on the General Medical Council's (GMC's) Good Medical Practice guidelines. These are:

• Good clinical care
• Relationships with patients
• Maintaining good clinical practice
• Teaching, appraising, and assessing
• Working with colleagues
• Probity and health.

The first thing we ask doctors approaching us for assistance who are deciding whether or not to apply via article 14 is whether they have discussed their intentions with their current medical director and other referees. Discussing your intended application with your referees and other sources can establish whether you have gained enough experience to become a consultant. The article 14 application process comprises four steps: 

• Compiling and submitting your application
• Confirmation that your application contains all of the necessary evidence
• Completion of structured reports by referees
• Assessment and decision by royal college or faculty and the PMETB
• Compiling and submitting your article 14 application. 

The actual application you submit to the PMETB comprises three parts: 

• A fully up to date CV in the format stipulated by PMETB
• Completed PMETB application form
• Supporting evidence. 

It is important to note that the assessment panel will only have your completed application form, CV, and supporting evidence together with the feedback from your referees to make their decision. It is therefore vital that your application is clear and easy to follow. The PMETB has come under criticism for the delay in processing article 14 applications so it is vital that your application is as complete and ordered as possible to avoid any unnecessary delays.

One useful tool for doctors wishing to apply via article 14 is the use of a 360° assessment. The aim of this is to gain feedback from the colleagues and patients who you work with based on the GMC guidelines that are used by the PMETB to assess your application. This form of assessment can be mediated by your hospital if the service is available, or by an external company.

When collating your evidence anything that you refer to in your CV—such as a management report or a guideline development proposal—must be included in your supporting evidence.

Common errors made by applicants

• Supporting documents (for example, confirmation of post letters) not having been validated with an official stamp from the relevant hospital
• Copies of certificates such as degree, royal college membership, or development courses attended not having been validated by a person of good standing
• Insufficient or excessive evidence being included—the supporting evidence should not exceed one lever arch box file
• The responsibilities and experience gained not being clearly described separately for each post
• Any gaps in employment not being accounted for.

What happens once I have submitted my application?

Firstly, the PMETB will confirm that you have provided all of the necessary evidence required. If this is not the case they will write to you requesting additional information. Once they have all of the evidence they require they will then request structured reports from your referees. When these are complete your application is assessed by the relevant royal college or faculty against the PMETB criteria for entry to the specialist register. The PMETB will then make a decision based on these recommendations, together with guidance from any other experts, as to whether you are deemed competent to enter the specialist register. If the outcome is negative the applicant does have the right to appeal to an independent panel.

Taking your application forward

You can gain support and advice about your PMETB application from a variety of sources, including your royal college about specialty specific issues; the PMETB help line (0800 028 0644 for UK callers; +44 020 7535 5830 for overseas callers); and from organisations such as Apply2Medicine (www.apply2medicine.co.uk/pmetb) who can provide a comprehensive service to help with the completion of your CV, application, and collating of supporting evidence.

Matt Green, director

Apply2Medicine, Nottingham matt.green@apply2medicine.co.uk 

To download this article as a PDF click here.