Exceptional Leave

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) or your Training Programme Director (TPD) may allow an interruption to your training for a total of three months throughout the whole of your specialty training; this is referred to as exceptional leave and is available to Irish trainees only.

If you are considering making an application for exceptional leave you will need to:

  • Discuss your intention with your TPD and gain their support
  • Discuss your intention with RCSI and gain their support
  • Inform the JCST of the dates of your exceptional leave - please note that the JCST will also need to see written support from both your TPD and RCSI

Please note that exceptional leave cannot be used to cover a period of unsatisfactory training.