FAQs about the MTI programme - for MTI applicants and current doctors

MTI is not the only option for GMC registration. Some overseas postgraduate qualifications are accepted by the GMC as evidence that you have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to apply for full registration with a licence to practise. You can check if your qualification is acceptable here. You can also gain GMC registration by sitting the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test. More information available here.

You should only start your application with the GMC once the RCoA has confirmed your MTI approval.

Details and the link on how to register with the GMC will be provided in your MTI approval letter.

You should apply for registration with a licence to practise through a Sponsorship with a GMC approved sponsor.

No, it is your responsibility to send the documents to the GMC. The only document that we will be sending to the GMC is the Certificate of Sponsorship for GMC registration, if this is required.

 *According to the World Bank definition.

No, the fees cover the administration undertaken by the Global Partnerships department to process your application and therefore cannot be reimbursed.

The GMC will have a separate fee for their application and you will also cover the visa fees. Also, take into account that when you move to the UK you may have to arrange your accommodation and sustain yourself for a month until you receive your first salary. Other expenditure may include the NHS healthcare surcharge and an indemnity insurance (which is highly recommended for doctors practising in the UK). More information on relocation fees can be found in the Academy of Medical Royal College’s Relocation Guide.

The RCoA does not have any relocation allowance for MTI doctors. Some hospitals may offer relocation allowances for overseas doctors (but this is not a requirement), so please check with them.

There are not any fees specific to your MTI placement that need to be paid to the Global Partnerships department. However, if you become a member of the RCoA, as an Associate Member you will need to pay your annual subscription as of the second year. As an MTI doctor, you will enjoy the first year of subscription free and you will be required to pay the subsequent years.

No. The registration fee is for RCoA processing of the registration form and unfortunately is not refundable.

In order to gain access to the Lifelong Learning Platform, you need to become an Associate Member of the College in the first instance. You will need to complete  the Application form for Associate Membership of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, Medical Training Initiative (MTI). Please complete this form only once you are in the UK and have started your post in the NHS. You will also need to ensure that the AoMRC’s MTI Starter’s Report has been completed and submitted to the AOMRC and the College. Failure to submit this report may result in the AoMRC withdrawing your CoS under the assumption that you have not arrived in the UK. 

Once you have a College Reference Number (CRN) and we receive the starter's report we will be able to create a Lifelong Learning Platform account for you.

The MTI Application Form to join the College asks for a College Reference Number (CRN), please leave this blank as this will be allocated to you by the Membership department once they process your application. You will use your CRN as your identification when you call/email the College.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges have developed a comprehensive Relocation Guide, which you may find useful. It will also be helpful to speak to former MTI doctors / colleagues at your new hospital if you are able who will be able to give you information about relocating to the UK

Yes, we run a New to the NHS meeting twice a year. This is designed for newly-appointed MTI doctors to better understand your role and the NHS, and it also offers a fantastic networking opportunity. The dates will be published on our Calendar of Events on the website and you will also receive an email from us to inform you of dates and how to register. This event is completely free for MTI doctors approved by the RCoA (although we do ask for a deposit to save your place, once you have attended the event this will be returned to you). You can also book yourself into one of the MTI Simulation Courses run by 5 different centres across the UK. These courses are specifically designed for you and the dates, location, price and how to book can be found here.

The GMC also organises Welcome to UK Practice workshops throughout the years. This workshop makes up part of the New to the NHS meeting, so if you attend this you will not need to attend this again.

No, the MTI is not designed for you if you intend to reside permanently in the UK. The scheme allows you to live and work in the UK for a maximum of 24 months and you before you apply for MTI, you must have clear career plans to return to your home country. You will be able to use the skills acquired in the NHS to take on leadership roles once you return to your home country. If you intend to move permanently to the UK, you will need to consider a different option.

Yes, you must have an Educational Supervisor who will guide you throughout your placement in the NHS.

You should be introduced to your supervisor within the first week of starting your post in the UK.

You will meet your supervisor regularly (depending on your needs and your supervisor’s availability) to discuss your progression and learning objectives.

The main role of your supervisor is to guide you throughout your training in the UK. This includes setting your career aims and objectives and completing your 6-monthly reports.

You must ensure that a six-monthly report is completed every six months and returned to the RCoA.

Normally on the Lifelong Learning Platform, but you should discuss this with your supervisor.

Apart from the 6-monthly reports, you will need to have a more formal assessment every 12 months. We call it an ARCP-like assessment as we advise supervisors that they conduct this in a similar way as the Deanery’s ARCP. We do not have a specific format for it. Some Trusts do mandate that MTI doctors complete their Trusts appraisals, and if this is the case, you will not need to have an ARCP-like assessment.

Yes, one of the benefits of being an MTI doctor sponsored by the RCoA is access to the exams.

The following links contain information on the exams:

• FRCA
• FFICM
• FFPMRCA

The College cannot advise individual doctors on specific episodes of clinical care or medicolegal issues. Support for individual practitioners is in the domain of the medical defence organisations and the College strongly advises anaesthetists to obtain appropriate independent insurance cover and membership of a medical defence organisation. Useful links to support and wellness organisations can be found here

Before starting your post in the UK, you should have received and signed a contract with your Trust. The contract will detail your salary and the terms and conditions. Please ensure that you read these carefully before signing it. Signing a contract confirms that you are happy with the job description (including the duties it specifies), the annual leave given to you, the study leave allowance and your salary. If you are not happy with your salary once you have started your post, please speak with your HR department. Your Trust holds your contract and therefore the College cannot become involved in any dispute in regards to contractual issues that have been agreed pre-employment by both parties.

If you are not happy with the duties that you are asked to perform (and these are not part of your job description), discuss this with your Educational Supervisor in the first instance. If after this you are still not happy, please contact us via Global@rcoa.ac.uk detailing the issues.

Please discuss this with your Educational Supervisor, if the areas of your interest are available in the department and you can be accommodated, they will arrange for you to gain experience in these.

If you have been appointed to an ICM post, you may not be able to change to an anaesthesia post after coming to the UK without agreement from your employer. Please be aware that if you were appointed to a purely ICM post, you should not expect that once you are in the UK you will be given an anaesthesia post.

Your Tier 5 visa is linked to your MTI post and the expectation is that you complete your MTI in the hospital that appointed you. Leaving your post would result in your visa being terminated. However, in certain circumstances it is possible to change hospitals providing that:

• an opportunity has arisen for you to take another MTI post (approved by the College) within another Trust;
• there is a professional reason for the move, e.g. to enhance your experience in a specialised area of your interest, not offered in your current post, that would benefit your healthcare system back home;
• before accepting the new post, you have discussed this with your current hospital and they have agreed, and the necessary notice period has been given.

In the first instance, you will need to discuss your plans with your current hospital, and once your move has been confirmed, please inform the College so that we can update our records. Your new hospital will then need to inform the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges by completing the MTI Extension and Transfer Form. (If this is not done you will be in breach of your visa conditions).

You may be able to terminate your MTI post. Please first discuss this with your Educational Supervisor, your HR department and inform the College explaining the reasons. Once your resignation has been formalised, your hospital will also need to inform the AoMRC by completing and returning to MTI@aomrc.org.uk the End of Placement Report.

Your hospital will need to complete and return to the AoMRC the End of Placement Report.

We will only be able to issue your certificate if we have received satisfactory six-monthly reports to cover the entirety of your MTI placement, confirmation of your work dates, copy of End of Placement Report and confirmation that you have returned to your home country upon completing your placement in the UK.

No, if you stay in the UK we will be unable to issue your certificate. The MTI scheme is philanthropic in nature, and the expectation is that doctors do return to their home country to put in practice the skills gained in the UK. When you apply for MTI and submit your application to the College, you are agreeing that this is your intention and therefore if you stay in the UK you have not met one of the essential requirements of the MTI scheme and hence you are not eligible for the certificate.