Out of Programme Research (OOPR)

The GMC has stated that only specialties which include research in their curriculum can count periods of research towards training.

The table below lists the research allowance for your specialty:

*If the trainee is on track to achieve all other clinical competencies

If your specialty is one that does not count research towards training, you will just need to send a fully completed and signed OOP Request Form to the JCST so that we can extend your training by the amount of time you will be out of programme.

If your specialty does count OOPR towards training, but you do not wish to count this or you have already exceeded your OOPR allowance, you will need to send a fully completed and signed OOP Request Form to the JCST.

If you cannot or do not wish to count your OOPR towards training but you are undertaking over fifty percent clinical work during your OOPR, you could make an OOPT application to count the clinical time towards training.

The research that academic trainees undertake as part of their regular rotation is automatically considered to count towards training. If you embark upon a period that is solely research or over fifty percent research, however, this will be considered to be time spent out of programme. If the time is considered to be OOP, you will need to check whether your specialty counts OOPR towards training. If it does not count OOPR, this period cannot count towards your training and you will need to send a fully completed OOP Request Form to the JCST so that your certification date can be extended. If your specialty does count OOPR, you will need to apply to your SAC to have the time counted.

Even if you obtain SAC initial support for your OOPR, your certification date will be extended by the whole of the OOPR period. It is only once you return from your OOPR and have your ARCP panel assess what was achieved that your certification date will be amended to take into account the months of OOPR counting towards training.

To go on OOPR you will need to:

• Discuss your intentions with your Training Programme Director (TPD) and gain their support
• Contact your Deanery/LETB and ask what applications you need to make to them to gain their support
• If the time is not going to count towards training, you just need to send the JCST a fully completed and signed OOP Request Form
• If the time is to be counted towards training, once you have the support of your TPD you will need to make an initial application to your SAC for provisional support
• Once you have TPD, Deanery/LETB and SAC support, but before you start your OOPR, your Deanery/LETB will need to apply on your behalf to the GMC to seek their approval for your research.
• When you have completed your period of OOPR, at your next ARCP, the panel will look at the evidence submitted and determine whether the research has met training standards and you achieved what you set out to achieve. At this point your certification date will be re-calculated to take into account research time if deemed appropriate.

Please note that the GMC will not approve posts retrospectively - full guidance here.

Applying for SAC provisional support

Before you start you will need to forward the following to the JCST:

• A fully completed and signed copy of your Deanery/LETB OOP Request Form or confirmation in writing from your TPD supporting the OOPR. These will need to show:

1. The exact dates of your research time
2. Whether the time is counting towards training
3. That your Deanery/LETB is aware of the time out of programme

• A signed offer letter
• Details of your research
• Name and contact details of your OOPR supervisor
• Up to date CV

In addition to the above:

Neurosurgery trainees will need to submit:

• Their current logbook listed by SAC Indicative Operation Groups

Please note that the JCST office and the SACs can take up to six weeks to process and issue SAC provisional support.

Applying for SAC support for an OOPR extension

If your OOPR is extended beyond the original dates you will need to forward to the JCST:

• A fully completed and signed copy of your Deanery/LETB OOP Request/Extension Form or confirmation in writing from your TPD supporting the OOPR
• A signed offer letter for the extension period
• Up to date CV
• An update report from your supervisor

Please note that the GMC must approve extensions of OOPR - full guidance here.

Once you finish your OOPR, your ARCP panel should look at the evidence submitted and decide then what proportion, if any, of the OOPR can count towards your training.