Specialty Training Review (ARCP)
The ARCP panel will base its decision on the evidence submitted by the trainee, for the period since commencing training or the previous ARCP review. The ARCP records the competencies attained by trainees and their progression through the training programme.
Flexible trainees have annual ARCPs but their learning agreements will reflect their less than full-time status.
The ARCP panel will review the evidence submitted and make their recommendation without the trainee being present. Depending on local deanery processes, trainees may be invited to receive feedback and discuss their outcome and future plans with the ARCP panel.
Who is on the ARCP panel?
Members of the ARCP panel of assessors can include:
- the training programme director
- other members of the relevant specialty training committee
- a JCST/SAC representative
- a Deanery representative
- an academic representative
- an external representative
- a lay representative
What happens at the ARCP?
The ARCP panel reviews a trainee’s progress based on the evidence submitted and provides the trainee with an outcome.
Specialty trainees are required to provide the ARCP panel with:
- Structured reports from their educational supervisor (via the ISCP)
- Clinical logbook forms (via the ISCP)
- Portfolio (via the ISCP)
- Updated registration form (form R)
You may be required to provide this all or some of this evidence electronically. You should check with your deanery for full details.
The outcome of the ARCP will determine the rate at which the trainee progresses through the training programme. If a trainee consistently underperforms or fails to supply sufficient evidence, they may be asked to relinquish their national training number.
The ARCP also determines CCT dates for trainees. For more information on the eight possible outcomes, please see the Gold Guide.