Clinical Radiology ST1

Clinical Radiology is the use of imaging to diagnose, treat and monitor various disease processes. Rapid advances in technology and our understanding of the features of disease on diagnostic images allow imaging to be used at earlier and earlier stages of the diagnostic process. Similarly, changes in the characteristics of disease with treatment can be detected by imaging, which is frequently used to monitor progress.

Clinical Radiologists are medical specialists who provide a diagnostic imaging service to patients referred to them by family practitioners and hospital doctors. Not only do radiologists use imaging techniques to monitor disease processes and guide patient management, but they also perform minimally invasive interventional procedures such as drainages, embolisations and radiofrequency ablation of tumours.  

Since 2022, Clinical Radiology applicants with a preference for Interventional Radiology (IR) have the option to be recruited from ST1 into posts on a dedicated IR pathway. They will still be required to cover all the essential diagnostic requirements of the Clinical Radiology curriculum, complemented by early exposure to IR. These trainees will be expected to transfer to the IR sub-specialty curriculum from ST4 if they are progressing satisfactorily and their supervisors are confident they have the necessary aptitude for the sub-specialty. Trainees on the IR pathway will be able to revert to CR only before ST4 if they choose to do so. Trainees that select CR only at recruitment will still have the ability to enter IR sub-specialty training from ST4 if they choose to and are successfully selected.

Summary of change for recruitment process 2024-2025

There are changes to the 2024-2025 process. Please ensure you check the specialty guidance for 2024/2025 carefully. You must also read the medical recruitment handbook before applying to ensure you have understood the application process, and all relevant documentation that you will need to submit especially relating to foundation competences. 

If you are required to submit a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training 2024 (CREST) form with your application and do not do so then you will not be offered another opportunity to upload it and your application will not proceed to the next stage of the process. You can find it here.

Process

The Royal College of Radiologists & NHS England (NHSE) London Recruitment Office are acting as the national recruitment office for Clinical Radiology ST1, coordinating the national process for recruiting trainees into Clinical Radiology ST1 posts. 

This training programme is for completion of CCT subject to satisfactory progression.

Please note the national Clinical Radiology ST1 person specification can be downloaded via the National Specialty Training Website: https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/person-specifications/person-specifications-2025/clinical-radiology-st1-2025

Two specialties, Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine will be using the same selection process but will require separate applications.

As part of the selection process, all applicants to Clinical Radiology ST1 will be required to sit the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA). This will be used for shortlisting.

There will be a cut off score below which applicants will not be shortlisted. Applicants will also be ranked based on their score. If the available interview appointments are oversubscribed, they will be offered based on ranking order in the first instance.

Applicants who have been invited to interview who have applied to both specialties will have a single interview, with the score being used for selection to both clinical specialties.

Please note that applicants who wish to apply to both specialties will need to complete separate application forms for Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Radiology. The final rank and score for candidates will be comprised of, Interview score (60%) and self-assessment verified score (40%). The portfolio self-assessment will take place online. Applicants will be required to assign themselves a score as part of their Oriel application form. Applicants who are shortlisted will be invited to upload their evidence and then have their self-assessments verified by a panel.

Reasonable adjustments and Disability Confident Scheme:  

For information regarding reasonable adjustments and Disability Confident Scheme please refer to  the Medical Specialty Recruitment website

Eligibility Criteria for recruitment to Specialty Training – Competences:

All applicants applying to medical specialties are required to have essential competences or equivalent depending on the level they are applying for. For more information on competences please refer to the Person specification

Please upload all required evidence of competences to your online application form when completing the application form online. For those experiencing difficulties when uploading evidence, please ensure you contact the team via the PGMDE Support Portal.

Eligibility to work in the UK

All medical practitioners are on the shortage occupation list, so all specialty recruitment applicants will be exempt from the resident labour market test.

NHS England (NHSE) is responsible for the sponsorship of Medical and Dental trainees for their Skilled worker visa application in England. The Medical Specialty Recruitment website has guidance for applicants requiring a visa.

Fitness to Practice

If you have made a positive declaration in the FTP section, you must follow this up by completing our form on the support portal, you must contact London recruitment office via support portal by the close of the application window. Failure to provide the outlined information by the close of application may result in your application being withdrawn.

Key Dates & Information

A full timeline can be found on the Medical Specialty Recruitment website

MSRA Window: 2nd January – 13th January 2025

Evidence verification upload dates: 13th February – 19^th February 2025 (dates subject to change)

Verified self-assessment score appeals:  27th February 2025 (by 5pm) – 4^th March 2025 (subject to change)

Interview Dates: 10^th – 14^th March 2025

Interview venue: Remote Interview via a virtual interview system called Qpercom Recruit (access to a microphone, camera and good Wi-Fi connection is essential). Instructions on using the system will be sent out no later than a week before interviews.

Posts commence from: between August 2025 and October 2025 (see individual preferences for more details)

Successful completion of this placement will lead to a Certificate of Completion of Training in Clinical Radiology. 

The expected duration of this programme is 5 years; however, the actual duration may depend on the circumstances of the individual.  

There is a strict application policy and we will not accept applications submitted after the submissions deadline. All applications must be made via Oriel

The Supplementary Applicant guidance also contains detailed information about how to complete your application form, the shortlisting process, evidence verification process, interview process and preferences. We therefore recommend that all applicants read the Supplementary Handbook thoroughly before starting to complete an application form.

Shortlisting Process 

As part of the selection process for 2025 all applicants to Clinical Radiology ST1 will be required to take a Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA).  

Attendance at the test is mandatory and can be taken between 2nd and 13th January 2025.

The MSRA is a computer-based assessment which forms our short-listing process. The assessment has been fully researched and evaluated and has been shown to have high predictive validity.

Applicants will be invited to attend the MSRA exam, further information will be sent after the application closing date.

Verification Process

The portfolio self-assessment will take place online. Applicants will be required to assign themselves a score in their Oriel application form. Approximately the top 850 candidates in the MSRA will be invited to upload their evidence. These scores and evidence will be verified by a panel. 

Interview Process

Length of interview: Two stations, up to 10 minutes each.

Interview structure: Document checking, two interview stations. The interview stations will cover different criteria from the person specification. The final score will be comprised of the combine Verified Self-Assessment score and Interview score.

Preferencing Posts

Preferencing will be made available via Oriel at a later stage, information will be sent to your registered email account with instructions on how to complete preferencing. You should only preference training placements that you are prepared to train and work in for the duration of your training, which will be at least five years. The preferencing window will reopen between offer iterations.

You will have the option to preference both Clinical Radiology posts and posts that include a preference for Interventional Radiology. Further information can be found in the supplementary applicant handbook.

Contacts / Enquiries

Please visit the PGMDE Support Portal where you will find a series of FAQs, and you will be able to submit an enquiry to the Recruitment Team. 

Number of Indicative Posts Available

Please see the Medical Specialty Recruitment website for updated post information

Please note that post numbers and post information are subject to change.