How to become a Neurosurgeon in the UK

The management of neurosurgical patients requires excellent medical and surgical skills and a career in Neurosurgery offers many challenges and rewards. To train in Neurosurgery in the UK the usual route is:
  1. Medical degree leading to provisional then full registration with the General Medical Council
  2. Some doctors from abroad may have to take the PLAB test prior to registering with the General Medical Council
  3. 2 years of foundation jobs will then be undertaken.  These may be four or six month jobs and are designed to provide general all-round medical and surgical experience.
  4. Application for neurosurgical training posts can then be made.  All neurosurgical jobs in the UK are appointed centrally once a year. 
    The process takes place annually early in the year, (at the ST1 or ST2 level). For more details Click here 
    A separate process takes place for jobs in the Republic of Ireland.
  5. The MRCS examination is usually taken two to three years after full registration for more details visit Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations
  6. Neurosurgical trainees progress through 3 phases of training (ST1 - ST8).  This usually takes 8 years.  The neurosurgical curriculum and more detail may be found on the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP) website.
  7. The specialty board examination in neurosurgery is usually taken after completing ST6 
  8. After completing training and passing the examination the Specialist Advisory Committee will consider whether a trainee is competent to complete training.   A recommendation is made via the Joint Committee on Surgical Training to the General Medical Council or Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, and if a trainee is deemed competent, he or she will be placed on the specialist register and allowed to apply for a consultant job.
  9. Alternatively doctors who can show that they have completed similar training schemes and achieved the same competencies may apply to be placed on the specialist register directly to the GMC using the CESR (Certificate for Eligibility for Specialist Registration) route.
  10. Doctors  from some countries may have a Relevant European Qualification that permits direct access to the specialist register - please see the The General Medical Council (GMC)website  for the details on this.
  11. Consultants are expected to continue developing their professional skills throughout their working lives. 

How to become a Neurosurgeon