GMC Portfolio pathway

What is the Portfolio pathway?

The portfolio pathway, formerly Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR), is an alternative route to the GMC specialist register. You can achieve consultant status without completing a postgraduate training programme or gaining a certificate of completion of training (CCT).

After you submit your Portfolio pathway application, the GMC will ask RCPsych to assess your portfolio. This is to verify that your knowledge, skills, and experience (KSE) meet UK specialist psychiatry higher learning outcomes (HLOs). The College will then make a recommendation to the GMC.

If the RCPsych and GMC agree that you’ve met all the HLOs, you’ll be added to the specialist register. You can then apply for a consultant psychiatrist job.

Who is the Portfolio pathway intended for?

The Portfolio pathway is intended for doctors who have:

• Trained outside the UK and European Economic Area (EEA)—Are you an international medical graduate (IMG) with specialist training or extensive experience from overseas? This pathway provides an opportunity to become a recognised specialist practising in the UK.
• Trained partly within and partly outside the UK/EEA—If your training combines UK/EEA and non-UK/EEA experience, you may be eligible to apply. 
• Gained experience in non-training posts in the UK—This pathway is used by NHS specialty and specialist (SAS) doctors. It offers a route to recognise your substantial non-training grade experience as equivalent to full specialist training.

Discover more about the Portfolio pathway on the GMC website.

Your 7-step guide to the Portfolio pathway

Here are the 7 key steps to preparing and submitting your Portfolio pathway application to the GMC:

1. Understand the pathway and confirm your eligibility—Familiarise yourself thoroughly with the specific requirements and standards of the Portfolio pathway for psychiatry via the GMC website. You must meet the eligibility criteria regarding specialist experience and qualifications before you begin.
2. Access the correct curriculum—Obtain the most current GMC-approved curriculum for psychiatry. This is available on the RCPsych website. It outlines the knowledge, skills, and behaviours expected of a consultant psychiatrist and is the framework your evidence will be assessed against.
3. Map your experience and identify gaps—Go through each domain and capability listed in the curriculum and honestly map where your existing experience provides evidence. This critical step will highlight areas where your documentation is strong. It will also help you identify any potential gaps in your experience or evidence that you may need to address before applying.
4. Systematically gather your evidence—Collect high-quality, verifiable documentation that proves your competence in each curriculum domain. This is the core of your application and includes evidence such as:
   • detailed logbooks
   • course certificates
   • exam results
   • publications
   • audits
   • teaching evaluations
   • management roles
   • examples demonstrating your communication skills and professionalism
5. Organise and map your portfolio—Structure your evidence precisely according to the GMC's detailed guidance. This is vital for ease of assessment. Index everything clearly and create a comprehensive mapping document that cross-references each piece of evidence to specific curriculum capabilities.
6. Secure robust consultant references—Obtain structured references from senior colleagues. They must confidently attest to your abilities and experience at a consultant level across the curriculum domains. Follow GMC guidelines on references precisely.
7. Complete and submit your GMC application—Fill out the online Portfolio pathway application form via the GMC website. Upload your compiled and mapped portfolio of evidence as specified. You’ll then pay the required fee to submit your formal application for assessment.

Once you start your application, you’ll have up to 24 months to complete it.

Submitting your Portfolio pathway application is a significant milestone. With strategic planning and careful preparation, you can demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and experience to achieve specialist registration.

Learn more about the role of RCPsych in specialist registration via the Portfolio pathway.