Nuclear Medicine - ST3

Training Programme Nuclear Medicine ST3
Post Type Specialty Training
Post Commencing August 2026
Duration (months) 72
Recruitment Lead London
Recruiting For England, Scotland, Wales

Information

Nuclear Medicine is the specialty responsible for the administration of unsealed radioactive substances for the purposes of diagnosis, therapy and research. Nuclear Medicine trainees combine their skills as a physician with that of a physiological imager to solve diagnostic problems and where appropriate offer radionuclide therapy options for treatment. Specialists in Nuclear Medicine have ultimate responsibility for Nuclear Medicine services and must hold the appropriate certificate from Health Ministers to administer radioactive substances.

Over the past decade there have been significant developments in the technology of scanners to allow hybrid imaging which combines functional imaging using radionuclides and radiological anatomic imaging using CT or MRI. In response to this, the Nuclear Medicine specialty training curriculum underwent major revision in 2014 in order to provide specialty trainees with the skills required to confidently report hybrid imaging studies, review diagnostic imaging studies including plain films, ultrasound and CT in patients undergoing radionuclide imaging, and present and discuss a broad range of imaging data at multidisciplinary meetings. Trainees entering Nuclear Medicine therefore undertake Clinical Radiology training during the first 3 years of training and aim to clear FRCR1 and 2A. In the latter 3 years, trainees undertake higher training in Nuclear Medicine and complete FRCR2B and the Diploma in Nuclear Medicine. In 2021 the curriculum was changed to fully recognise the clinical radiology training, so this 6-year training programme will enable trainees to apply for entry to the specialist register with CCT in both Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Radiology. During the first 3 years trainees will spend 80% of their time in Radiology and 20% in Nuclear Medicine reverting to 20% Radiology and 80% Nuclear Medicine thereafter. Full details of the specialty training curriculum are available on www.jrcptb.org.uk

National updates/changes

There are national updates to the recruitment process in relation to GMC eligibility and maximum application limits (https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/news/changes-to-medical-specialty-training-recruitment-for-2026) and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) interviews (https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/position-statement-on-the-use-of-artificial-intelligence-%28ai%29-during-interviews)

Please review the 2026 Person Specification (https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/person-specifications/person-specifications-2026/clinical-radiology-st1-2026) for all eligibility requirements for this recruitment year.

Change to recruitment process

Self-assessment/verification process is no longer part of the recruitment process. For information about the new recruitment process please review the candidate guidance website (https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/medicine/higher-training-in-medicine/nuclear-medicine) and 2026 lead presentation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS1cKbWu-5I).

The following guidance is available for candidates and you must read these prior to submitting your evidence

MDRS applicant guidance (https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training)

Nuclear Medicine ST3 (https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/medicine/higher-training-in-medicine/nuclear-medicine)

Longlisting will be carried out and completed before the MSRA invites.

As part of the selection process, all applicants will be required to sit the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA). This will be used for shortlisting. Further information on the shortlisting stages and the MSRA can be found in the Applicant Supplementary Handbook and MSRA Guidance Document (https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/multi-specialty-recruitment-assessment-msra). 

There will be a cut off score below which applicants will not be shortlisted. Applicants will 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.

For information regarding reasonable adjustments and Disability Confident Scheme please refer to the Medical Specialty Recruitment website (https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/overview-of-specialty-training/applying).

Please review the person specification, available on the hyperlinks tab, for the full eligibility criteria for this specialty.

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

The Medical Specialty Recruitment website (https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/overseas-applicants) has guidance for applicants requiring a visa. 

If you have made a positive declaration in the FTP section, you must follow this up by completing our form on the support portal (https://lasepgmdesupport.hee.nhs.uk/support/tickets/new?form_19=true), 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.

A full timeline can be found in the Supplementary Applicant guidance:              

MSRA Window: Tuesday 6 to Monday 19 January 2026

Interview Dates:  Friday 27 February 2026

Interview venue: Online via Qpercom Recruit 

All interviews will be held remotely via Qpercom Recruit. For more information, please refer to the supplementary applicant guidance. 

Applicants applying for both Clinical Radiology ST1 and Nuclear Medicine ST3

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

You will not be asked to give preferences of specific programmes at the application stage. These will be given at a later stage via Oriel in 2026; more information will follow at a later stage for those still in competition at that time.
Please visit the PGMDE Support Portal (https://lasepgmdesupport.hee.nhs.uk/support/home?applicants), where you will find a series of FAQs, and you will be able to submit an enquiry to the London Recruitment Team.

Please click this link (https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/medicine/higher-training-in-medicine/nuclear-medicine/overview-of-nuclear-medicine/posts) for updated post information

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

Please follow the links below for information about salary scales in the four UK nations.

England: https://www.nhsemployers.org/topics-networks/pay-pensions-and-reward/medical-and-dental-pay-and-contracts

Northern Ireland: http://www.nimdta.gov.uk/recruitment/trust-hr-information/  

Scotland: http://www.msg.scot.nhs.uk/pay/medical/junior-doctors

Wales: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/nhswalesaboutus/workingfornhswales/payconditions/payandconditionsresources

Specialties