The Portfolio Pathway (previously Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration) is for doctors who wish to join the GMC Specialist Register whose specialist training, qualifications or experience were partly or completely acquired outside of an approved CCT programme or equivalent training qualification in the European Economic Area.
The Portfolio Pathway requires that you provide primary evidence that you have acquired or maintained the knowledge, skills and experience equivalent to the higher level learning outcomes of a consultant in the UK health services, in this case paediatrics. The evidence can be from in training or in practice, but it needs to be recent, so if you do not have evidence covering all learning outcomes from within your last five years (working time equivalent) in medical roles, it may be necessary to undertake further training or clinical posts before being successful.
The knowledge, skills and experience, and the evidence needed to demonstrate them, is listed in the Specialty Specific Guidance (SSG) in paediatrics. This document guides you through the evidence needed to support an application to Portfolio Pathway, and how this evidence should relate to your achieved learning outcomes.
It can be possible to apply for Specialist Registration through Portfolio Pathway in a sub-specialty of paediatrics using the non-CCT specialty route, but only if you have trained for a qualification in a paediatric sub-specialty outside the UK. Otherwise, you will need to apply for Portfolio Pathway in paediatrics. The GMC can determine if your training outside the UK makes you eligible to apply through the non-CCT route.
The non-specialty application would require you to meet the learning outcomes given in our relevant sub-specialty training programme, but not the full clinical capabilities expected of doctors who trained in general paediatrics.
Your application will be made to the GMC and all Portfolio Pathway applications are decided on by the GMC, based upon recommendations by the College. Once the College receives an application from the GMC for evaluation, it can take two to three months for the GMC to determine the final outcome.
All intending applicants are advised first to contact both the Portfolio.Pathway@rcpch.ac.uk and the GMC Specialist Applications team to discuss the most appropriate route for certification.
Further information (including the SSG) and how to apply, please see our Portfolio Pathway webpage.