Eligibility Criteria and Application Documents

Documents required for application

Please have the following supporting documents available to upload:

Current GMC/IMC registration certificate
Training Programme Director confirmation of support (if applicable*) - download
For non-standard route trainee download and complete this form (if not on NTN or post CCT)
Diploma Supervisor signed agreement - download here
Details of Higher Surgical Training - download here
The names of your Module Tutors - they must be approved diploma tutors
Photo of you (Head Shot)

The documents above must be uploaded during the application process

The documents below may be uploaded at this time, however they must uploaded prior to sitting the diploma exam

Evidence of ISB FRCS Examination in Plastic or Orthopaedic Surgery or equivalent (if applicable)
Hand Fellowship letter of acceptance (if applicable)
CESR/CCT certificate (if applicable)

* You will need support from your Training Programme Director if you have an NTN (not yet post CCT)

Eligibility criteria

*At enrolment we expect the following eligibility criteria to be met:***

A. Commitment of the candidate to pursue a career in the sub-specialty of Hand Surgery

B. Holds current medical registration from Great Britain or Ireland (GMC/IMC)

C. Has completed a minimum of 4 years of Higher surgical training in Orth/Plast (ST3-ST6 or equivalent)

D. Has secured a dedicated Diploma Supervisor and Diploma Module Tutors (all need to be approved by the BSSH and the University of Manchester)

E. Commitment to the Diploma by agreeing to the following educational contract:

At submission of the 'Intent to sit exam' form I will have met the following criteria (around 3 months prior to the exam):

Criterion	Evidence
I. I have completed a minimum of 5 years of Higher Surgical training with successful yearly appraisal/ARCP (or equivalent)	This will be evidenced by : CCT/CESR certificate OR Written confirmation from your clinical supervisor/Training Programme Director
II. I have worked in Hand Surgery for a minimum of 6 months at Senior Higher Surgical Training level (ST7+ or equivalent) AND Have completed a minimum of 6 months sub-specialty Hand Fellowship in a recognised¹ unit NOTE : a minimum of 6 months of this training must be in Great Britain and/or Ireland NOTE¹: “Recognised unit” includes TIG Fellowship posts - any other posts should be discussed with the Diploma Director and/or require escalation to Committee to ensure your learning needs will be met	The above dates and location will be evidenced by a Mini CV submitted on your ”Intent to sit exam” form approximately 3 months prior to sitting the exam
III. I have gained exposure to Hand Surgery beyond parent specialty during HST or Fellowship NOTE: i.e. a plastic surgeon should have worked with orthopaedic hand surgeons in clinics/theatres/specialty clinics of elective and trauma etc and vice versa, or if coming from another surgical speciality should demonstrate experience of all aspects of sub-specialty orthoplastic hand surgery indicated in the Module 1-8 “Intended Learning Outcomes” in the Diploma Handbook. This is in order to gain adequate knowledge and experience to pass the exam -any queries with eligibility will be discussed with your Diploma Consultant Supervisor or the Director and Diploma Committee.	The exact nature of this experience will be left to you and your Diploma Supervisor to ensure your learning needs for the course have been met, or can be met. A mini CV of dates/locations/speciality will be requested at time of submitting your “Intent to sit the exam” form approximately 3 months prior to sitting.
IV. I will complete my Diploma Record of Coursework book and submit my External assessments NOTE: Completion of Diploma Record of Coursework book with submitted External assessments (min 62.5% of WBAs and min 62.5% of tutorials completed in Great Britain and Ireland Face to Face)	By 3 months prior to the exam most External Assessments should be submitted and more than 85-90% of Tutorials and WBAs should have been completed. Approximately 6 weeks prior to sitting the exam your completed “Record of Coursework and Assessments” book along with details of the location of Approved Tutors/Signatories is required to be submitted.

Criterion

Evidence

I. I have completed a minimum of 5 years of Higher Surgical training with successful yearly appraisal/ARCP (or equivalent)

This will be evidenced by :

CCT/CESR certificate

Written confirmation from your clinical supervisor/Training Programme Director

II. I have worked in Hand Surgery for a minimum of 6 months at Senior Higher Surgical Training level (ST7+ or equivalent) AND Have completed a minimum of 6 months sub-specialty Hand Fellowship in a recognised¹ unit

NOTE : a minimum of 6 months of this training must be in Great Britain and/or Ireland

NOTE¹: “Recognised unit” includes TIG Fellowship posts - any other posts should be discussed with the Diploma Director and/or require escalation to Committee to ensure your learning needs will be met

The above dates and location will be evidenced by a Mini CV submitted on your ”Intent to sit exam” form approximately 3 months prior to sitting the exam

III. I have gained exposure to Hand Surgery beyond parent specialty during HST or Fellowship

NOTE: i.e. a plastic surgeon should have worked with orthopaedic hand surgeons in clinics/theatres/specialty clinics of elective and trauma etc and vice versa, or if coming from another surgical speciality should demonstrate experience of all aspects of sub-specialty orthoplastic hand surgery indicated in the Module 1-8 “Intended Learning Outcomes” in the Diploma Handbook. This is in order to gain adequate knowledge and experience to pass the exam -any queries with eligibility will be discussed with your Diploma Consultant Supervisor or the Director and Diploma Committee.

The exact nature of this experience will be left to you and your Diploma Supervisor to ensure your learning needs for the course have been met, or can be met.

A mini CV of dates/locations/speciality will be requested at time of submitting your “Intent to sit the exam” form approximately 3 months prior to sitting.

IV. I will complete my Diploma Record of Coursework book and submit my External assessments

NOTE: Completion of Diploma Record of Coursework book with submitted External assessments (min 62.5% of WBAs and min 62.5% of tutorials completed in Great Britain and Ireland Face to Face)

By 3 months prior to the exam most External Assessments should be submitted and more than 85-90% of Tutorials and WBAs should have been completed.

Approximately 6 weeks prior to sitting the exam your completed “Record of Coursework and Assessments” book along with details of the location of Approved Tutors/Signatories is required to be submitted.

¹“recognised unit” includes TIG Fellowship posts - any other posts should be discussed with the Diploma Director and/or escalation to Committee

²i.e. a plastic surgeon should have worked with orthopaedic hand surgeons in clinics/theatres/specialty clinics etc and vice versa, or if coming from another surgical speciality should demonstrate experience of all aspects of subspecialty orthoplastic hand surgery

Please note that by submitting this application you agree you have read and understood the above information about eligibility to sit the exam

CLICK HERE TO START YOUR APPLICATION

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