Please also note that contact details from the individual signing your CREST will be required. This should be an institutional email address and not a personal one (ex: Gmail, Yahoo). The hospital stamp which is used to certify the signatory should also include the details of the hospital, and not just their name and job title.

Dipsignmeaning

From the beginning of pre-school to our final exam in medical school, more often than not, our ability to successfully complete a stage had been dependent on exams and assessments. For example, a student of a medical school has a curriculum (set by the authority who runs medical education in that country) and following that, a syllabus is made by the teachers involved who imparts the necessary education for that student to pass the relevant exams.

In plain words, ‘foundation competencies’ is a curriculum developed for foundation doctors in the UK (interns/house officers) to achieve during and by the end of their training. So, how can these competencies be assessed if a doctor has not undertaken an official UK foundation training? This is where the CREST form comes into play.

Crest signmeaning

You may have heard of the certificate of readiness to enter speciality training (CREST), which is required to enter CT1/ST1 training in all specialities. It is also known as certificate of alternative certificate of foundation competences. Getting it signed it an important part of progression into training.

Crestof a hill meaning

Be very clear with your consultant who will be signing it that, if they are unable to confirm any competency, they must tell you before ticking it as that makes the whole form ineligible to submit for your training application. You may have some evidence or reference they can take into account and mention that in the form if they have not personally witnessed any of your competencies.

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What is acrestof a wave

As we mentioned already, if your target is to join any speciality training program in the UK, the best thing you can do is to NOT join without NHS work experience. Start your NHS career in a non-training post (where you will get paid the same) and gain experience as well as enrich your portfolio (CV) for the application of your desired training.

One in five doctors in the UK are IMGs. We aim to create an environment for them to grow, learn and be confident in their work.

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The form itself doesn’t have validity unless there is a new version available. The work period for which the CREST is getting signed has to be within 3.5 years from the start date of the training you are applying for. For example, if you are applying to join training which will start in August 2025, you can not get the CREST form signed referencing any work that you did before March 2022.

Crestroadsign

Median strip or traffic island

Road signs

This signatory must be a consultant who has worked with you for AT LEAST 3 continuous months in that last 3.5 years. They must also currently be on a specialist register. If you’ve worked in the UK in the last 3.5 years for 3 or more months in an acute post, you should have the CREST form completed by a UK consultant rather than an overseas consultant.

Officially, the minimum you have to work is for 3 months. But, truth be told, it may not be possible to convince your consultant of your capability to that extent within just three months of working. So, let’s be realistic and set a practical time frame.

That is all our guidance about the certificate of readiness to enter speciality training (CREST) form. If you have any questions, ask in the comments below! Good luck!

Yes. If the consultant is happy that you have met all the competencies mentioned in the form (either personally witnessed or evidence received) then yes they can sign the form. But you will have to add their registration document (translated in English if not) along with it.

The individual signing your CREST form (or the signatory) needs to be registered with any medical regulatory board. If it is not with GMC, they must submit current evidence of their registration with that board. If it is not in English, a certified translated copy must accompany it.

Trucksignmeaning

If all the clauses mentioned in this checklist are confirmed/completed, then your CREST form is eligible to submit for your training application.

Now, if your desired training is at CT1/ST1 level, and you have not completed UKFPO foundation program (which is the case for many IMGs) – you will have to get this CREST form signed. How can you do that?

The CREST form is nothing but a list of competencies. So, obviously you have to have evidences or convince your signatory that you have those competencies. That is the first thing – your signing consultant knowing that you are capable of doing all those things mentioned in the form. The other technicalities can be found in the following checklist.

Please note, CREST form is ONLY required if you have not completed UKFPO foundation program or an FY2 standalone post. In those cases, you will be awarded an FPCC (foundation program completion certificate) which is the proof of your foundation competencies.

If you adhere to updating your e-portfolio regularly and work in a fairly independent speciality like acute medicine or emergency medicine or have medical on-call shifts, it shouldn’t take you more than 1 year to a gain the competencies as outlined by the CREST form. Also take into account that you will have to complete e-learning modules, attend teachings and training courses (like ALS), and participate in audits and QIPs.