What this page covers
Requirements are set per training year (12 months whole-time equivalent) and checked at every 6-monthly ESR and every ARCP. Two things matter: that you meet the minimum numbers, and that the evidence is spread across the period rather than bunched before the review.
Numbers below are full time. If you train less than full time, the yearly totals stay the same, your training year simply lasts longer, and each 6-month review needs a pro rata share. Six-monthly ESRs, 12-monthly certificates and "every capability in every review period" are calendar rules and are not pro rata.
Over the whole of training
- At least one Audio-COT and at least one face-to-face COT.
- COTs and CATs from more than one assessor.
- All five intimate CEPS by the end of ST3.
- One QIP, in a GP post in ST1 or ST2.
The numbers by year
| Requirement | ST1 | ST2 | ST3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical case reviews (CCRs) | 36 per year 18 per review | 36 per year 18 per review | 36 per year 18 per review |
| Every capability evidenced in each review period | 13 of 13 per review | 13 of 13 per review | 13 of 13 per review |
| Clinical experience group coverage check current RCGP guidance | spread across all 9 | spread across all 9 | spread across all 9 |
| Consultation Observation Tool (COT), including Audio-COT check current RCGP guidance | 4 per year 2 per review COT in GP posts, mini-CEX in hospital posts; combined total 4 | 4 per year 2 per review combined COT/mini-CEX total 4 | 7 per year all COT; e.g. 6 face-to-face + 1 Audio-COT |
| Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mini-CEX) | counts towards the combined total of 4 with COT | counts towards the combined total of 4 with COT | Not required ST3 is normally all GP; COT used |
| Care Assessment Tool (CAT), including Case-based Discussion (CbD) check current RCGP guidance | 4 per year 2 per review | 4 per year 2 per review | 5 per year |
| Clinical Examination and Procedural Skills (CEPS) | ongoing, no fixed number | ongoing, no fixed number | all 5 intimate examinations completed by end of ST3 plus a range |
| Multi-Source Feedback (MSF) | 1 per year | 1 per year | 1 per year in the first half of ST3; separate from the leadership MSF |
| Leadership activity | Not required | Not required | 1 per year |
| Leadership MSF check current RCGP guidance | Not required | Not required | 1 per year |
| Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) | Not required | Not required | 1 per year |
| Prescribing assessment | Not required | Not required | 1 per year |
| Quality Improvement Project (QIP) check current RCGP guidance | 1 in ST1 or ST2, in a primary care post | (see ST1) | Not required |
| Quality Improvement Activity (QIA) | 1 unless the QIP is done this year | 1 unless the QIP is done this year | 1 per year |
| Learning Event Analysis (LEA) / Significant Event Analysis (SEA) | 1 per year | 1 per year | 1 per year |
| Clinical Supervisor's Report (CSR) check current RCGP guidance | 1 per post | 1 per post | 1 per post |
| Educational Supervisor's Review (ESR) check current RCGP guidance | 2 per year | 2 per year | 2 per year |
| Personal Development Plan (PDP) | at least 1 new objective per review | at least 1 new objective per review | at least 1 new objective per review |
| CPR and AED competence | 1 per year | 1 per year | 1 per year |
| Safeguarding Level 3 (adults and children) certificate | in date from the start of ST1 | in date | in date |
| Annual safeguarding knowledge update (adult and child) | 1 per year | 1 per year | 1 per year |
| Safeguarding reflection in practice (adult and child) check current RCGP guidance | 1 adult + 1 child | 1 adult + 1 child | 1 adult + 1 child |
| Urgent and unscheduled care (UUC), including out of hours | evidence as gained | evidence as gained | capability shown by final ARCP |
| Form R (England) / equivalent self-declaration | before each ARCP | before each ARCP | before each ARCP |
| MRCGP examinations (AKT, SCA) | none required | AKT often attempted | both passed by final ARCP |
Full time, per training year unless stated. Less than full time: per-year totals stay the same and each 6-month review needs a pro rata share; 6-monthly ESRs and 12-monthly certificates are not pro rata. Check with your deanery and educational supervisor.
Notes on these numbers
- Clinical case reviews (CCRs), LTFT: Pro rata: e.g. 60% = 36 per training year spread over 20 months, about 11 per 6-month review.
- Every capability evidenced in each review period, LTFT: Same rule per 6-month review period (not pro rata).
- Clinical experience group coverage, LTFT: Same expectation over the training year.
- Clinical experience group coverage, confidence: medium. Our sources were partly secondary for this item: check current RCGP guidance.
- Consultation Observation Tool (COT), including Audio-COT, LTFT: Pro rata per review period; the per-training-year total is the same.
- Consultation Observation Tool (COT), including Audio-COT, confidence: high (totals and audio rule); medium (per-review split of 2, which is a suggested spread). Our sources were partly secondary for this item: check current RCGP guidance.
- Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mini-CEX), LTFT: Pro rata.
- Care Assessment Tool (CAT), including Case-based Discussion (CbD), LTFT: Pro rata per review period.
- Care Assessment Tool (CAT), including Case-based Discussion (CbD), confidence: high (totals); medium (2 per review in ST1/ST2). Our sources were partly secondary for this item: check current RCGP guidance.
- Clinical Examination and Procedural Skills (CEPS), LTFT: Same final requirement.
- Multi-Source Feedback (MSF), LTFT: Once per training year (the training year is longer); confirm timing with ES.
- Leadership activity, LTFT: Same single requirement in the ST3 training year.
- Leadership MSF, LTFT: Once in the ST3 training year.
- Leadership MSF, confidence: medium (respondent minimum); high (timing). Our sources were partly secondary for this item: check current RCGP guidance.
- Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ), LTFT: Once in the ST3 training year.
- Prescribing assessment, LTFT: Once in ST3 training year.
- Quality Improvement Project (QIP), LTFT: Once during training, in a GP post.
- Quality Improvement Project (QIP), confidence: high (requirement); medium (two PDSA cycles). Our sources were partly secondary for this item: check current RCGP guidance.
- Quality Improvement Activity (QIA), LTFT: One per training year.
- Learning Event Analysis (LEA) / Significant Event Analysis (SEA), LTFT: One per training year.
- Clinical Supervisor's Report (CSR), LTFT: One per post.
- Clinical Supervisor's Report (CSR), confidence: high (requirement); medium (ST3 GP post where ES is also CS - check locally). Our sources were partly secondary for this item: check current RCGP guidance.
- Educational Supervisor's Review (ESR), LTFT: Not pro rata: every 6 calendar months regardless of LTFT percentage.
- Educational Supervisor's Review (ESR), confidence: high (6-monthly, LTFT not pro rata); medium (iESR rules and 2-month window, deanery-dependent). Our sources were partly secondary for this item: check current RCGP guidance.
- Personal Development Plan (PDP), LTFT: Same.
- CPR and AED competence, LTFT: Not pro rata: every 12 calendar months.
- Safeguarding Level 3 (adults and children) certificate, LTFT: Time-based (36 months), not pro rata.
- Annual safeguarding knowledge update (adult and child), LTFT: Not pro rata: every 12 calendar months.
- Safeguarding reflection in practice (adult and child), LTFT: Per training year.
- Safeguarding reflection in practice (adult and child), confidence: medium. Our sources were partly secondary for this item: check current RCGP guidance.
- Urgent and unscheduled care (UUC), including out of hours, LTFT: Same capability requirement; local hours expectations may be pro rata - check deanery.
- Form R (England) / equivalent self-declaration, LTFT: Same.
- MRCGP examinations (AKT, SCA), LTFT: n/a
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How to stay on top of it
- Enter your ESR and ARCP dates the week you start, then work backwards.
- Log about one case review a week: three a month reaches 36.
- Do at least one assessment every month, not four in the last fortnight.
- Check the tracker monthly and steer your next logs and assessments to whatever is behind.
- Get LTFT targets agreed in writing with your ES at the start of each year.
Common ARCP pitfalls
- Counting CPD or teaching entries as CCRs (they are separate log types).
- Assuming your ES will chase missing assessments: the portfolio is yours.
- Certificates that expire between the ESR and the panel.
- Forgetting the "over training" rules until late ST3.