Surgical training: the role of ISCP, JCST and the SACs

The Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP) website houses the curriculum for the ten surgical specialties. ISCP also hosts trainee e-portfolios in a secure area. The e-portfolio holds learning agreements and evidence such as Workplace based assessments (WBAs), which are shared between trainees and trainers to support training from CT/ST1 to completion. Core and higher surgical trainees are required to register with ISCP. 

ISCP offers information on the surgical curriculum and the published syllabuses that can be accessed publicly.

The Joint Committee on Surgical Training (JCST)

The JCST is an advisory body to the four surgical royal colleges of the United Kingdom and Ireland for all matters related to surgical training. JCST works closely with the Surgical Specialty Associations (SSAs) in Great Britain and Ireland. JCST is the parent body for the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP), the ten Specialty Advisory Committees (SACs) for the surgical specialties and the Intercollegiate Core Surgical Training Committee (CSTC).

SAC responsibilities include:

• the development of the syllabus and curriculum for each of the surgical specialties – as recorded in ISCP;
• working with Deaneries to organise and lead on National Selection for entry into surgical training programmes;
• providing advice to local training committees;
• enrolling surgical trainees with JCST and the SACs;
• making recommendations for the award of the CCT/CESR CP;
• evaluating Portfolio route applications (formerly known as CESR applications). 

The JCST website provides information on the processes for entering and completing surgical training. It also provides information on entry to the Specialist Register, including via the Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR).