Introduction to BST
Basic Specialist Training (BST) - formerly General Professional Training (GPT) - is a two-year postgraduate training programme accredited by the RCPI.
BST is undertaken by Senior House Officers who have completed their internship and wish to specialise in hospital-based medicine.
There are four BST programmes accredited by the RCPI:
General Internal Medicine
Paediatrics
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Histopathology
Completion of BST is a requirement for entry into Higher Medical Training in most specialties.
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The BST Programme – An Overview
BST consists of two educational elements:
1. Two years of supervised clinical training in approved SHO posts, during which certain skills must be acquired. These skills are listed in the relevant GPT curriculum, available only to registered trainees.
2. 4-6 short educational courses, depending on the specialty. For information on BST Mandatory Programmes please log onto the RCPI Online Medical Education Centre using your Username and Password
Registered trainees are also required to complete BST Logbooks as a record of their progress through the two-year programme - see here for more information.
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Entry Requirements
• Registration with the Medical Council of Ireland (either full or temporary registration)
• Completion of internship/pre-registration year (this cannot be done in Ireland if your medical school was overseas)
Please note – it is the responsibility of doctors to arrange for recruitment to approved SHO posts. Certain registrar posts may also be approved for the purpose of BST. Registrar posts will not be recognised for training purposes for General Internal Medicine from 1st July 2010
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How to register on the BST Programme
BST cannot be accredited unless the doctor is registered on the BST Programme. Doctors should submit a BST registration form to the RCPI within one month of entering their first SHO post. Please see here for more information.
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How to find posts approved for BST
Doctors on the BST programme are responsible for arranging their own SHO posts and making sure their posts are approved for training.
There are two ways of doing this:
1. Applying for a one- or two-year SHO rotation programme
2. Applying for ‘stand-alone’ SHO posts (not recognised for the General Internal Medicine scheme from 1st July 2010)
SHO Rotation Programmes
One- and two-year SHO rotation programmes (also called ‘training schemes’ and ‘SHO schemes’) are run by teaching/university hospitals and by some of the larger regional hospitals. SHO rotation programmes consist of a series of pre-arranged SHO posts, or ‘rotations’, completion of which ensures the doctor’s training meets the requirements for BST. See here for more information.
Stand Alone Posts
The term ‘stand-alone posts’ refers to SHO posts that are filled directly by hospitals every 6 months. Stand alone posts are not recognised for the General Internal Medicine scheme from 1st July 2010. These posts generally run from July to December and January to June. Irish medical posts are advertised approximately four months in advance in the Irish Independent (Thursdays), Sunday Independent, Irish Medical News and Irish Medical Times. See also www.publicjobs.ie and www.hospitaljobs.ie. Hospitals are required to indicate in the advert if a post is approved for training.
Please see here for a list of hospitals approved for BST.
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Further Information
SHO Matching Scheme
BST Registration
Approved Posts and Hospitals for BST
BST Certification
Frequently Asked Questions
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BST – Who to contact
The BST programme is administered by Aoife Ní Mhaitiú and Jessica Ramsey in the RCPI. They can be contacted at the following:
Email: bst@rcpi.ie
Phone: (normal office hours)
00 353 (0)1 863 9711 (Aoife Ní Mhaitiú)
00 353 (0)1 863 9715 (Jessica Ramsey)
Fax: 00 353 (0)1 672 4707
Postal Address:
BST Section
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
Frederick House
19 South Frederick Street
Dublin 2
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