F1 and F2 Sign Off

Overview

A two-year (F1/F2) Foundation Programme is both time and outcome-based.  Provisionally registered doctors with a license to practice must complete 12 months at F1 in an approved programme to be eligible to apply for full registration with the GMC and progress to the F2 year.  Fully registered doctors with a license to practice on a two-year programme must complete 12 months at F2 in an approved programme to be eligible for a Foundation Achievement of Competence Document (FACD) and progression to higher training

The North West of England FS is responsible for the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) process for all trainees working within the North West.  The school is also responsible for recommending all local graduates (from the universities of Manchester, Liverpool and Lancaster) and non-UK graduates within HENW for full GMC registration upon successful completion of the F1 year.

Graduates from other UK medical schools should consult their ‘home’ FS/Medical School for advice.

F1 – Attainment of Foundation Year 1 Certificate of Completion (F1CC) and GMC Registration

The requirements for satisfactory completion of the first year (F1) of the Foundation Programme are set out in section 7 of The UK Foundation Programme Reference Guide (2017) from the national Foundation Programme website.

The following gives an approximate timeframe for the F1 sign off and registration period:

May
The GMC contact trainees directly with instructions on how to apply online for full registration.  Local Foundation Programme Directors prepare to review trainee portfolios for the ARCP.  Trainees are responsible for ensuring that their e-portfolio is up to date and completed in line with national and local requirements by the deadline of 31st May. 

June
From 1st June - trust ARCP panels convene to review portfolios and recommend ARCP outcomes.  Trainees to be notified of ARCP outcome and outcomes to be entered and acknowledged (by the panel chair and trainee) on the e-portfolio as soon as possible, but by no later than 30th June.

July
The release of the F1CC is awarded following final review and sign off by the Deputy Dean – Foundation. 

The Foundation School work closely with all other Foundation Schools in the UK to process F1CC's and recommend local graduates for full registration with the GMC, subject to a successful ARCP outcome.  In line with GMC guidance, recommendations for full registration cannot be made before 28 days prior to the last day of F1.

Aug
Full registration will begin on the first day of F2 (the first Wednesday of August)

It is a trainee’s responsibility to ensure that they hold the appropriate level of registration to progress from F1 to F2.  Trainees who do not meet the timeframes for sign off and registration will risk not being fully registered for the start of F2 and will not be able to commence their placement.

Applying for full GMC Registration

Applicants for full registration will need to log into their MyGMC account on the GMC website (www.gmc-uk.org) and follow the relevant instructions on applying for registration with a license to practice and make the registration payment (£200 from 1 April 2015).

From 2015 the submission of the Certificate of Experience (CoE) – which recommends a doctor for full registration - will be entirely online and will be managed by your medical school or by the foundation school which is affiliated with your medical school.  The North West of England Foundation School is responsible for submitting CoEs for graduates from the three local medical schools, Manchester, Liverpool and Lancaster and non-UK graduate training in the HENW region.

If you’re unsure as to which foundation school is affiliated with your medical school then visit the national Foundation Programme website to access the relevant details. 

Full guidance on the application process will be detailed on the GMC website.

Revalidation

Once you have been granted full registration you need to connect to a designated body, this will be your LETB or deanery, not your local Trust (unless you are in a service post –LAS). This is the organisation that will help you with your appraisal and revalidation.  If you are remaining here in the North West then your designated body is the North West of England Foundation School and your responsible officer (RO) is Jane Mamelok. You will need to confirm this by updating your details in the ‘My Revalidation’ section of your GMC Online accounts.

It is important for you to update your connection. The GMC will be sending anyone that hasn’t done this a reminder 30 days after your full registration was granted. If you do not update your connection three months after this reminder is sent, you will get a formal notice that the GMC will be considering whether to remove your licence to practise.

Completing your portfolio and ARCP

This process is the same for every trainee within the North West, irrespective of where a doctor has graduated and will be facilitated by the e-portfolio.

The local trust foundation team will provide full details to its trainees of the local ARCP process and FY1 sign off process which will include completion of the Enhanced Form R.

On completion of the ARCP (which must be signed by the panel chair and the trainee) the Deputy Dean – Foundation (DDF) for Health Education England - North West will access the completed e-portfolio to verify whether a successful ARCP outcome has been awarded and subject to this outcome, will release a completed AF1C certificate to confirm achievement of the FY1 competencies and recommendation for Full GMC registration.

Manchester, Liverpool and Lancaster graduates; once the AF1C has been completed the North West of England Foundation School will submit your CoE online to the GMC UK registration team.

UK graduates; once the F1CC has been completed the North West of England Foundation School will notify the local medical/foundation school.  They will then submit your CoE online to the GMC UK registration team.

Non-UK graduates training in the North West; once the F1CC has been completed the North West of England Foundation School will submit your CoE online to the GMC UK registration team.

Further information on the ARCP process can be found from our Policies and Procedures page.

Further information regarding GMC registration can be found on the GMC website

F2 - Foundation Programme Certificate of Completion (FPCC)

The requirements for satisfactory completion of the second year of the Foundation Programme are set out in section 7 of The UK Foundation Programme Reference Guide (2017) from the national Foundation Programme website.

The following gives an approximate timeframe for F2 sign off:

May
Local Foundation Programme Directors prepare to review trainee portfolios for the ARCP.  Trainees are responsible for ensuring that their e-portfolio is up to date and completed in line with national and local requirements by the deadline of 31st May. 

June
From 1st June - trust ARCP panels convene to review portfolios and recommend ARCP outcomes.  Trainees to be notified of ARCP outcome and outcomes to be entered and acknowledged (by the panel chair and trainee) on the e-portfolio as soon as possible, but by no later than 30th June.

Completion of the portfolio includes the mandatory requirement for all F2 Trainees to complete the F2 Exit Survey at the end of their training year. 

July
The release of the FPCC is awarded following final review and sign off by the Deputy Dean – Foundation. 

Aug

Evidence of Foundation Competences (the FPCC) will be required by the lead employer/school for progression to higher training.