If you wish to take a leave of absence from your Higher Specialist Training programme, this will need to be discussed and approved with your National Speciality Director(s) and RCPI in advance. Please complete form below and send directly your training coordinator, or email training@rcpi.ie
You can obtain a maximum of three months’ credit for approved leave of absence during HST. If you take more than three months’ leave during HST, your period of clinical training will be extended accordingly.
For further information, please read Training Handbook for your programme.
RCPI is committed to providing an inclusive, accessible, and supportive training environment for all postgraduate medical trainees. We work to ensure that trainees with disabilities or health conditions have equal opportunities to participate fully in training and are protected from discrimination and harassment.
View the dedicated webpage for more information.
The RPT process is the formal recognition of a structured medical training programme which, if deemed equivalent to one of our BST programmes, will enable application to a RCPI HST training programme and avoid unnecessary duplication of training. It does not enable the applicant to receive a BST Certificate of Completion from the RCPI. The applicant must have completed a structured training programme in full and have evidence to prove same. For more, please see
Download Recognition of Prior Training Policy - V4 2025 (PDF, 325.9 KB)
The RCPI have a strong commitment to ensuring all doctors in training have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Flexible or Less Than Full Time (LTFT) training guidelines are designed to support those trainees who wish to train flexibly for either professional or personal reasons and thereby ensures a pathway by which a trainee has the opportunity to continue their training on a flexible bases while continuing to attain the required competencies and range of experience necessary.
RCPI would consider that all training posts can be used for flexible training arrangements, and we envisage to work and support a trainee on this principle.
All Postgraduate trainees can apply for flexible training at any stage of their training pathway but, it is acknowledged that those in the first year of training BST training should if possible complete a full year in training before requesting flexible options.
Aims of Flexible training
- Retention of trainees who are unable to continue their training on a full-time basis.
- Promote career development and work/life balance for trainees.
- Ensure continued training on a time equivalent basis.
- Maintain a balance between flexible training arrangements, the educational requirements of both full-time and flexible trainees and the service needs.
Principles of Flexible Training
- All trainees can apply for flexible training and all applications will be treated positively and equally.
- No existing trainee will be disadvantaged by the application for flexible training options.
- All accredited posts are deemed suitable for flexible training must be appropriate for the trainee’s training requirements at the time.
- There will be a transparent, independent and fair process in place for trainees who choose to train flexibly.
Flexible Training examples
1. 4-day week.
2. Reduction in working week to between 0.6 and 0.8.
3. Job sharing where two trainees agree to share a post at a 0.6 each.
4. Week on week off.
Flexible Training considerations - Trainees
Trainees should consider the following prior to applying for Flexible training:
- Salary implications and the duration of training before undertaking this route of training.
- Duration of training will lengthen and CSCST date will be extended.
Applications for the training year commencing in July 2025 close on 31 October at 5pm.
Please click here to access the application form.
Less Than Full Time Training Policy 2526
Less Than Full Time Training FAQs
Further information will be available at a later date.