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Once a doctor has successfully completed a GMC recognised training programme, the GMC will enter a doctor on the specialist only register when:
The JCST will send their recommendation that a resident doctor be awarded a Certificate of Completion of Training to the GMC once the outcome 6 ARCP form on ISCP has been signed-off by:
If you have any queries about the progress with your CCT recommendation, please contact the JCST.
In order to be entered on the specialist register, a resident doctor must apply to the GMC for specialist registration.
The GMC should contact the resident doctor via email around 4 months before their CCT date to ask them to apply for specialist registration. This is based on the CCT date the GMC have been notified of by the JCST.
Even if you think you have not seen/received the email from the GMC, if the GMC believe you are eligible to apply for specialist registration, you can apply by logging into your GMC online account.
Once logged in, go to 'My Registration' then 'My Applications'.
GMC website: Certificate of completion of training application
Deadline for applying
Please remember that you must apply for specialist registration no later than 12 months from your final CCT date.
If you do not apply within 12 months of CCT date, you will no longer be eligible for a CCT and will need to apply for specialist registration via the Portfolio pathway.
Once you have been issued an outcome 6 you must remain in programme and employed up-to, and including, your CCT date.
The purpose of a Period of Grace (PoG) is to offer continued employment (at speciality registrar level) to doctors who have completed training and not yet obtained a consultant post.
You should have been contacted 6-months before your CCT date to confirm if you wanted to opt-in, or opt out, of a Period of Grace.
If you are remaining until the end of your Period of Grace you do not need to formally resign.
If you opted-in to a Period of Grace but subsequently decide you no longer require this, you must submit your resignation to the Lead Employer (please include your specialty in the subject line , and your GMC number in the body of the email), with 3-months notice, confirming that your last day of employment will be your CCT date (or s specific date you want to be your last day of employment if you want to use only part of your period of grace, or are less than 3 months from your CCT date).
Notice period
All surgical training programmes that lead to CCT have a 3-month notice period. You must give 3-months notice to the Lead Employer when resigning.
If you want to leave the training programme at any date before your employment contract end date (including during your Period of Grace), you must notify the Lead Employer (Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals), giving 3 months notice. You do not need to wait for your outcome 6 ARCP to be issued to submit your resignation.
Please email lead.employer@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk, with your specialty in the subject line, and your GMC number if the body of the email, confirming the specific date you want to be your last day of employment.
If you need to give less than 3-months notice, this is possible only with the agreement of your Training Programme Director (TPD) and the host trust affected. Once you have agreement of your TPD and the affected host trust organisation. After you have agreement of your TPD and host trust, please complete the Lead Employer's Early Resignation form.
Last updated 9 January 2026