How long does training take?
Public Health training usually lasts five years, full-time. Part-time training is proportionately longer. The five years usually includes one year (full or part-time) on an academic course, and 48 months in speciality training posts.
Academic study
Shortly after being accepted on to a training scheme, trainees are likely to spend a year in a part or full-time academic course that will usually lead to a Masters or Diploma in Public Health, and provide most of the basic training to take the FPH Part A MFPH Examination.
Although this is usually undertaken within the first part of the specialty training programme, periods spent on academic courses do not count towards the 48 months of training required for the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).
It is possible to gain entry to specialty training above the initial academic year of training if an appropriate academic course has been undertaken prior to entry.
Flexible training
Every post in public health is potentially available as a part-time post. Trainees should consult with their Training Programme Director and/or Faculty Adviser for more information on training part-time.
In order for part-time training to be counted towards the required 48 months of training, it must be at least half time (0.5 wte). The training unit is the week. Training time is counted full-time, or for part-time a proportional amount is counted i.e. whole time equivalent (wte).
Recognition of previous experience
Retrospective recognition of training to count towards a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) criteria is no longer possible for new entrants to specialty training.
Future recognition of overseas training experience
The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) may approve training outside the UK towards the award of a CCT. However, such training must be approved prospectively by PMETB. Retrospective approval is not permitted. To be eligible for a CCT, the trainee must complete a full UK specialty training programme in prospective PMETB approved posts and programmes.
Overseas posts will only count if:
- they are part of an approved CCT programme;
- are supervised;
- have prospective PMETB approval.
This time in training is formally known as Out of Programme Training (OOPT) or Research (OOPR). Please see the PMETB guidance on OOPE for further details.
Guidance from the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) regarding recognition of prior experience and learning for trainees from disciplines other than medicine. Medical trainees are able to have previous experience/training via the CESR (CP) option.
The UKPHR will accept recognition of prior experience and learning of appropriate experience for up to 12 months. This reduction in training time may only be split between phases 1 and 2.
Applications for (UKPHR) recognition of prior experience and learning must be made prior to transfer into phase 3 of training.
- The Director of Training will assess the application and decide whether recognition of prior experience and learning should be granted.
- The Trainee will receive a letter from the FPH with the decision and a copy will be sent to the regional Faculty Adviser/Training Programme Director.
Please complete the application form [word] and send it to: Training and Sponsorship Administrator, Education and Training Department, Faculty of Public Health, 4 St Andrews Place, London, NW1 4LB.
