Experience | IMT Recruitment - Full, comprehensive guidance on applying to IMT posts in UK ACCS-AM and CMT training programmes

Am I eligible?

Experience

The 'eligibility' section of the IMT person specifications states that candidates must either be employed currently in a UKFPO approved foundation programme; or have a minimum of 12 months' experience after full GMC registration or equivalent in line with GMC standards / Good Medical Practice.

The experience must be gained by the advertised post start so it is possible to apply on the basis that you will have gained the experience by that time. This means that by August 2025, candidates must have at least 24 months experience working as a doctor to be eligible (12 months pre-registration and 12 months post-registration).

Current UK foundation trainees

If you are applying to IMT while currently on the second year (FY2) of a UK/UKFPO-affiliated foundation training programme, you should be on track to have the minimum experience by the start date of posts.

Other applicants

If you are not currently employed in UK foundation training, you will be required to demonstrate you have gained, or are able to gain, the minimum of 24 months' experience prior to the intended IMT start date.

Main points to note:

Any country - experience worldwide can count towards the 24 months.
Any 'specialty' - experience in all specialties/programmes counts (provided this is postgraduate working/training), irrespective of whether this is a training programme (eg foundation in the UK), medical specialty, general practice, psychiatry, etc.
GMC registration - as part of your 24 months, you must have at least 12 months' experience after eligibility for full GMC registration. Candidates who qualified outside the UK can take this to mean 12 months' experience after their eligibility for full registration with their equivalent of the GMC; you do not necessarily have to have worked for 12 months after full GMC registration in the UK.
Pre-registration year as part of medical degree - unlike the UK, in some countries the pre-registration year takes place prior to graduation from medical school. In this case, this year would normally count as the first 12 months, after which you become fully registered with the equivalent of the GMC in that country, and so another 12 months experience after this is required.

The person specification states: If you have previously resigned, or been removed from a training programme in any specialty, you must obtain a Support for Reapplication to Specialty Training form signed by the Training Programme Director/Head of School and Postgraduate Dean from the region you previously undertook training in. This must be submitted with your application.

This means that if you started any training programme and exited prematurely, your application can only be considered if accompanied by a completed form. From 2025 recruitment, the form will state the recruitment year to which it relates. You must ensure you are using the correct form for the recruitment year; forms used in previous recruitment years will not be accepted.

If you need a form, you are advised to contact your training region as early as possible to ensure it is ready to submit with your application.

Providing information

On your application you will asked to declare if you have resigned or been removed from a training programme. Those answering yes will be directed to attach their form and you cannot submit your application without attaching the form.

If I applied in a previous round, but withdrew my application / rejected a post offer, does that count as resigning?

No. You would only be considered to have resigned if you had physically begun working in the post, before leaving it at a later stage.

If you applied in a previous round and then withdrew your application for any reason, even after accepting a post (as long as your withdrawal came before you actually started working in the post), this would not be classed as resigning.

If I left one programme but then joined another, do I need to supply a form?

No. If you left one programme and are either currently training in another programme, or subsequently successfully completed another, you do not need a form. For example, you would not need a form if you:

left a general practice programme and are training in IMT at the time of application - you would need a reapplication to the same specialty form instead
left an emergency medicine programme, are training in a paediatrics programme at time of application to IMT.

The person specification states: If you are currently in training and applying to continue training in the same specialty in another region, you must obtain a Support for Application to another region form signed by the Training Programme Director/Head of School of your current Specialty Training Programme. This must confirm satisfactory progress and be submitted with your application.

This means that if at time of application you are working in an IMT/ACCS-IM training programme, meaning you hold a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN), your application can only be considered if accompanied by a completed form. You cannot use forms submitted for previous rounds as it should be signed reasonably close to when you are applying to ensure ongoing satisfactory progress.

If you need a form, you are advised to contact your Training Programme Director/Head of School as early as possible to ensure it is ready to submit with your application.

Providing information

On your application you will asked to declare if you currently training in the specialty of application. Those answering yes will be directed to attach their form and you cannot submit your application without it.

In addition to demonstrating you have the experience requirements, there are three related requirements to your career stated on the person specifications:

ability to provide a complete employment history; candidates not providing any employment history on their application form will be rejected.
evidence that career progression is consistent with personal circumstances
evidence that present achievement and performance is commensurate with totality of period of training.

The second and third of those points will be assessed at interview. At the applicattion stage, you just need to complete in full the employment section of the form.