You should begin by following the GMC’s application route finder to establish whether this is the right pathway for you. If it is, you can then begin your application with the GMC.

Please refer to our application process guidance to see the full application route, alongside our information for applicants webpage for more information and useful resources.

Yes, overseas evidence from previous workplaces can be accepted, providing it is validated and signed off. It is important to also provide evidence from your current workplace so that the evidence you submit covers the most recent five years. This is so that the assessors can triangulate all of the evidence and assess if it demonstrates the required knowledge, skills and experience (KSE) as detailed in the SSG. 

To organise your Anaesthetics Portfolio Pathway application, you must align all your evidence with the required Knowledge, Skills and Experience (KSE) outlined in the  Specialty Specific Guidance (SSG) for Anaesthetics. Ensure you get to know and learn the SSG and the Special Interest Area guidance.

Core Organisational Principles

• Do not upload too much evidence or too little: applications should be no more than 1000 pages of evidence (around 100 electronic uploads). It is expected that between 800-1000 pages of quality evidence will be required to successfully demonstrate the KSE.
• Organise by domain: Organise your documents digitally, combining related evidence into single, indexed PDF files for each domain to stay within upload limits. The SSG is based on 14 domains plus Special Interest Area and Practical Procedures. Your digital portfolio on the GMC online portal must use this exact structure, grouping evidence under the relevant headings to demonstrate you have achieved the required KSE.
• Ensure evidence is clearly labelled and include cover letters: include cover letters for each domain, clearly outlining any cross-referencing and page numbers.  Do not include multiple copies of a piece of evidence in your application. Instead, include one copy and list it in your application under each relevant domain, with a clear cover letter stating that the evidence is located elsewhere, what the evidence is and exactly where it is located, and that you would like to cross-reference it.
• Ensure your evidence is accessible: If you are submitting a HALO, you must upload the associated SLEs/WPBA separately to ensure they can be accessed by evaluators.
• Logbooks: Logbooks should be presented in a clear and structured format with cases consolidated into relevant areas of clinical practice – logbooks should not be presented as a lengthy, undifferentiated spreadsheet of hundreds of cases. See the SSG recommendations for the logbook requirements.
• Triangulate Evidence: Provide multiple types of evidence (e.g., logbook summaries, SLEs/Workplace-Based Assessments [WBPAs], reflections, certificates, structured reports) for each domain to demonstrate competence and provide robust assurance to assessors.
• Ensure Recency: The majority of your primary evidence should be from the last five years of practice. Older evidence will need to be supported by more recent documentation showing that skills and knowledge are up to date. If your evidence is greater than the last five years of clinical practise, please include evidence to triangulate this (e.g recent testimonials from consultant colleagues/supervisors, as well as assessments and logbooks, demonstrating that you have kept up to date in this area).
• Anonymise Meticulously: Remove all patient-identifiable data (PID) and third-party personal details (names, contact info, etc.) from all documents before uploading them to the GMC portal. Documents containing unredacted information will be deleted.

Clear cross referencing/cross linking of evidence from other domains is very important. To cross-reference evidence across different domains, start by ensuring you have a clear understanding of the curriculum structure and avoid uploading duplicate evidence. When submitting evidence, upload it to the domain that is most relevant to your application. If the same piece of evidence supports other domains, you can cross-reference it by specifying its title and where it is located within your application in the cover letter. It’s acceptable to cross-reference the same evidence to multiple domains, provided it remains relevant.

Make sure your cross-referencing is explicit and well-justified. Including a concise cover sheet or index can help explain how each piece of evidence relates to the domains and indicate any cross-referenced files. Additionally, map your evidence clearly to the KSE within each domain to make the connections easy to follow.

Yes, all domains must be achieved and evidenced for a successful Portfolio Pathway application. 

As per the SSG, logbooks should be presented in a clear and structured format, and not as a lengthy, undifferentiated spreadsheet of hundreds of cases. Cases should be grouped and consolidated into relevant areas of clinical practice.  Logbooks should be validated and organised with a summary of the total numbers for the various procedures listed in the logbook alongside speciality summary statistics, with detailed clinical evidence of cases and procedures to be provided demonstrating case mix, weekly rotas, dates, ASA rating and age of patients.

Choosing your Special Interest Area (SIA) requires looking at your interests, experience and strengths, and whether you can already demonstrate the KSE as detailed in the SIA SSG. Or alternatively, if you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the requirements of the SIA in due course. 

The duration of an SIA can vary; however, Portfolio Pathway applicants are generally expected to evidence an indicative time of 12 months’ (whole time equivalent) worth of evidence in a SIA, which can be demonstrated through a single SIA or a combination of SIAs. See the SSG and the Special Interest Area guidance for more information.

No, SIAs must align with those described in the SSG. See the SSG and Special Interest Area guidance for more information.

If you are unable to complete the required areas for an SIA at your current workplace, you should discuss options with your educational supervisor/equivalent to see whether short-term placements at other hospitals would be possible or whether there are any regional training opportunities or simulation courses.

A holistic judgement should be made on all of the evidence provided which supports the KSE of the SIA. The evidence for an SIA doesn’t have to all come from one workplace, or be completed in one block - you may also use evidence from past and current experience that is relevant to the SIA (although this would depend on how long ago the previous experience was, as you would need to demonstrate that you’ve stayed up to date with ongoing experience). 

There is no set number of SLEs required as they are formative tools intended to guide learning – a range of SLEs covering different aspects of the domains will help demonstrate competence, and they should be used in a formative way to demonstrate reflection on learning and progress. 

Evidence for the domains should include a variety of evidence types (e.g. SLEs, logbooks and evidence of personal activities) that can be triangulated to demonstrate the breadth of your experience and practice. 

We strongly advise seeking advice from a trainer (e.g. educational supervisor or equivalent) to ensure that the KSE requirements are met.

You should already have been entered onto the GMC Specialist Register for Anaesthetics before applying for substantive consultant posts. Whilst some hospitals in the UK (excluding Scotland) may offer interviews for those awaiting the outcome of their Portfolio Pathway application, we strongly recommend that you wait for the outcome of your Portfolio Pathway application before applying for consultant posts.  

There is no compulsory formal training programme for the Portfolio Pathway route. Applicants need to ensure they demonstrate they have obtained all of the required KSE as per the SSG.

Some hospitals provide Portfolio Pathway (CESR) programmes which support and guide applicants applying for specialist registration through the Portfolio Pathway route – you can find a list of RCoA recognised programmes here.

This list is not exhaustive; it is advisable to attend as many as possible and demonstrate the impact of these courses in your daily practice:

• Leadership and management courses
• Teach the teachers/ Train the trainers
• NHS structure and financial management
• Educational and clinical supervision
• Mentoring skills
• Human factors
• Simulation trainings
• Resuscitation courses
• Safeguarding training (adult and children)
• Data protection / information governance
• Equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Additional courses/training for SIAs

The evidence should be contemporaneous and recorded as close to the time of the event as possible. There is no fixed time limit for retrospectively logging an event such as a SLE, but the focus is on real-time observation and feedback to support the developmental process rather than simply documenting an activity. 

Submitting events long after they occur is discouraged, as delayed entries reduce the quality and immediacy of meaningful, reflective feedback. There should be evidence from your most recent workplace that you have kept up to date, with ongoing experience. 

Demonstration of fully completed QIPs with a closed loop is required as part of your portfolio pathway application. This consists of the full completion of all stages of a quality improvement project, demonstrating leadership of/participation in a QIP, alongside the implementation of the QIP outcomes, a review/reaudit of the outcomes following implementation, and a presentation of the results. The verified audits are required as evidence, not just email correspondence or statistics. Evidence of service improvement, risk management projects or other clinical governance activity is also needed.

1. Map Each Piece of Overseas Evidence to the UK Curriculum

• Familiarise yourself with RCoA Anaesthetic curriculum and SSG.
• Clearly show how your overseas work demonstrates equivalent competencies.
• Use LLP to link overseas evidence to the relevant key capabilities.

2. Ensure High-Quality Documentation

• Overseas documents should be:
  • Official (signed, dated, and on headed paper)
  • Translated into English by a certified translator
  • Anonymised (for patient details)

3. Prioritise Consultant-Level Evidence

• Focus on periods when you worked independently, ideally in a role equivalent to a UK consultant or senior registrar.
• Include logs and case reports showing higher supervision level, autonomous practice, decision-making, and leadership.

4. Include Supervised Learning Events (SLEs)/Workplace-Based Assessments (WBAs)

• If you have assessment tools from overseas, include them - especially if they are:
  • Based on UK-style templates (CBD, DOPS, A-CEX…)
  • Signed by senior colleagues (ideally consultants or equivalent)

5. Provide Comprehensive Logbooks

• Follow the SSG recommendations for the logbook requirements.

6. Include Audits, QI, and Teaching

• Provide evidence of:
  • Audit or QI projects done overseas (a full cycle, with a fully closed loop is required from both the UK and overseas).
  • Formal teaching sessions (slides, feedback forms, schedules)
  • Leadership roles, committee involvement, or clinical governance

7. Obtain Strong Referees

• Referees should ideally be from senior consultants overseas who worked with you recently and can attest to:
  • Clinical competence
  • Independent practice
  • Professionalism, leadership and team-working skills

8. Supplement with UK Experience if Possible

• If you’re currently in the UK, top up any gaps with evidence from current practice.
• UK experience helps prove you can work under NHS systems, policies, and Good Medical Practice.

9. Overseas Training Programme

• If you have completed an overseas speciality training programme, include in your evidence:
  • Level of the training
  • Curriculum
  • In-training assessment tools
  • Exam structure if any

10. Verifier

• Ensure you have a verifier from each hospital you providing evidence from. Verifiers should be:
  • In lead or supervisory roles
  • Use official emails of the institution he/she is verifying for
  • Review the evidence they are verifying

Before Using LLP – Key Rules

• Understand your current stage in the CCT curriculum
• Familiarise yourself with the assessment tools.
• Learn the LLP functions (see tutorial link).
• Use LLP to show competence, progress, or both.
• Keep your logbook updated and prioritize complex, consultant-level cases in SLEs.
• Map evidence to the correct Key Capability using the curriculum tool.
• Ensure each SLE has feedback and reflection; use personal reflections for non-clinical evidence.
• Break down complex cases into smaller pieces and link them to relevant capabilities.
• Discuss supervision levels with your assessor and seek feedback for improvement.
• Name files clearly (e.g., “Obstetric Anaesthesia CBD – PPH case – Jan 2025”).
• Use the Personal Activity portal for evidence that doesn’t need assessment; link it to curriculum domains.
• Include reflections where relevant and use the document store if unsure where to keep evidence.
• Work with an Educational Supervisor familiar with LLP and Portfolio Pathway (CESR).
• Regularly review curriculum domains and linked evidence to monitor progress.
• Complete at least one MSF with a good mix of raters (consultants, nurses, ODPs, trainees).
• Create a targeted PDP aligned with Portfolio Pathway goals.
• Group evidence logically under curriculum domains when exporting.
• Upload overseas evidence and link it to relevant Key Capabilities.