The Physician Specialty Recruitment Office coordinates a single national process for recruiting trainees into CT1-level training posts, in the programmes of internal medicine training (IMT) and acute care common stem: internal medicine (ACCS-IM).  

All such posts across all four UK nations – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales– are included in this coordinated process. Successful completion of IMT will lead to eligibility to enter higher specialty training, and the post start date for this round of recruitment will be 6 August 2025. Whilst the vast majority of IMT programmes will start on this date, they can start as late as April 2026. It is anticipated that this will be the only round of national recruitment to IMT programmes starting in this period.

Applications are equally open to those who may, either from the outset or subsequently, wish to train less than full time or job share. 

Summary information is included below, please see the hyperlinks tab for links to further information about the recruitment process. 

IMT programme and recruitment process webinar

In September 2023, the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board hosted an interactive and informative webinar providing information and guidance on Internal Medicine Training and the recruitment and application process. This webinar is relevant for trainees applying or considering an application in future years. The webinar covered: 

• An introduction to IMT 
• An overview of the recruitment process 
• The trainee experience – applying and preparing for interview  
• Question and answer 

– ACCS-IM and IMT posts included – 

As noted, this single process recruits trainees to posts in both ACCS-IM and IMT programmes. So even though this vacancy is labelled as ‘IMT’, if you are seeking an ACCS-IM post, please apply via this vacancy. 

Please be aware not all regions will have ACCS-IM posts available, please see the hyperlinks tab for details on post numbers. 

– Timeline – 

The full timeline for the round, including application periods, interview dates etc. is published on the IMT Recruitment website. See the hyperlinks tab to access this information. 

Please note that there is a strict application policy that applications cannot be accepted after the deadline. 

– Vacancies – 

When making your application you will not need to give any regional preferences, and all interviews will be undertaken remotely online. You will remain in contention for all ACCS-IM/IMT vacancies available. When you are invited to give your preferences, there will be no restriction on how many programmes you can choose.  

See the hyperlinks tab for details on post numbers, competition ratios, interview dates and each region. 

– Further information – 

Please see the hyperlinks tab for information on the programmes, the recruitment process, eligibility/entry criteria, person specification, etc. as well as contact information for any further queries. 

– Foundation competence – 

Applicants who are currently undertaking a UK (or UK-affiliated) foundation training programmes and those currently undertaking a specialty training programme and in possession of a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN) will not be required to provide any evidence of achievement of foundation competence at the application stage. 

All other applicants will be required to do so, and to upload this evidence to Oriel, so as to allow this to be submitted alongside their application. 

This will either be in the form of a Foundation Programme Completion Certificate, for those who have completed foundation training since February 2022; or a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training (2024 version) for all other candidates. If you are required to submit a 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.

More information on accessing, completing, uploading and providing this document can be found at sources accessed via the hyperlinks tab on Oriel. 

– Programme preferences – 

In late-February candidates will be contacted to begin choosing programme preferences. Candidates will have the opportunity to rank all the programmes across the UK. Preference information will include the particular area/hospital locations, specialties covered, etc. 

On Oriel you will need to divide your options into two groups – ‘preferences’ and ‘not wanted’. Any programmes you add to the preferences category are ranked in order of preference. Please note: if you do not do this, you cannot be offered a post!  

Please see the hyperlinks tab for more information. 

– 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 (RLMT).