Criteria for Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST)

The following are a guide to the minimum requirements to support a Competency Progression Committee (CPC) decision that a doctor is ready for independent practice and can be recommended for the specialist register of the Irish Medical Council.

You must ensure each of these criteria is satisfied. The award of CSCST is based on satisfying the scheme competency progression committee of being fit for independent practice as a GP in Ireland.

• Certified training is four years in duration (unless by exception for RPL trainees), of which a minimum of 50% must be in general practice.
• Training must be completed within six years of the date of commencement of the first training post in order to preserve the educational validity of the process. In exceptional circumstances where there are mitigating circumstances, this period of six years can be considered for extension by the GP Training Academic Council (or appropriate ICGP training committee)”
• Clinical service commitments must be fulfilled in accordance with the terms and conditions of your HSE service (employment) contract.
• Full attendance is expected by trainees in their clinical posts and a minimum of 75% attendance is mandatory in each clinical post for trainees on a four-year scheme. For RPL trainees a minimum of 80% attendance is mandatory in each clinical post.
• Compliance with the College’s GPTAC training policies.
• Satisfactory completion of each of the clinical rotation rotations will be evidenced by submission of agreed scheme and / or national standard end of rotation evaluation (ITER) for each placement.
• Demonstrated competency progression in each clinical post as evidenced through EPA records. These are reviewed by scheme as defined by CPC policy.
• To be awarded CSCST the EPA records must satisfy the agreed scheme and / or national standard, to include the required intimate examinations: 
  • 1. Breast examination
  • 2. Bimanual examination of the female pelvis
  • 3. Vaginal/vulval examination in women, considering also trans men.
  • 4. Scrotal/penile examination in men, considering also trans women.
  • 5. Digital rectal examination
• Scheme Directing team reports pertaining to attendance and overall participation in the day release course. Full attendance is expected unless evidence is supplied for any leave. Day release is an integral part of the working week and is governed by the same employment expectations as clinical work.
• Written trainee analysis of a video-recorded real patient consultations as required by the agreed scheme and / or national standard.
• A certificate of completion of basic life support by an accredited provider within the previous 2 years of the proposed date of satisfactory completion of training.
• Demonstrated competence in urgent/unscheduled care, including out of hours duty, to the agreed scheme and / or national standard.
• Completion of clinical audit or quality improvement project to the nationally agreed standard.
•  Satisfactory completion of all MICGP exams

Please direct all CSCT queries to gptraining@icgp.ie.