START stands for Specialty Trainee Assessment of Readiness for Tenure and it guides trainees as they prepare for completion of training and practice as a new consultant paediatrician.
Ordinarily, START is a four-hour assessment with consultant paediatricians which assesses your abilities relating to clinical decision-making as a new consultant. It helps you address any gaps that you may have in your training. A trainee should sit the assessment at least 11 months before their CCT date and we allocate places by priority to CCT date.
We hold two or three START diets per year based on assessor availability and publish dates for each diet on our website.
With high numbers of trainees needing to complete START by 2027, places will be allocated on a hybrid basis from 2026 – some trainees will be invited to take a place and there will also be an application form for those to inform us if your CCT date is imminent and need a place. For full details on the assessment and how to make an application for START please see our webpage on: How to apply