Post Graduation

The Pre-Registration Year/Careers and Opportunities in Medicine

The pre-registration year is the final period of basic medical education, and its satisfactory completion is essential for full registration as a medical practitioner. The intention is to provide the medical graduate with appropriately supervised clinical experience and increasing responsibility for the care of patients.

PRE-REGISTRATION HOUSE OFFICER (PRHO) posts may be undertaken at the teaching hospitals themselves (St George’s and Epsom & St Helier Hospitals) or at approved district general hospitals England. Most graduates will do 1-year posts in Medicine and Surgery in the same hospital.

Introduction of Foundation Programmes (2 years)

From August 2005, any newly-qualified doctor taking up a Pre-registration House Officer (PRHO) post will do so within a 2-year Foundation Programme. The second year will usually consist of three 4 month posts in specialties such as A&E Medicine, General Medicine, Psychiatry, and General Practice.

Careers and Opportunities

Most doctors do not decide which branch of medicine they wish to follow until 1-2 years after graduating. Advice about career opportunities and training requirements is available to both undergraduates and postgraduates. Junior doctors in training have regular assessment of their progress, and career counselling is offered as part of this process. After the 2-year Foundation Programme there is a wide range of career paths within Medicine. Examples are: anaesthetics, general practice, geriatrics, internal medicine, laboratory medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and system specialties (eg cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics). There are many additional opportunities for doctors, including research, work overseas, in Government or the armed forces. All branches of clinical medicine require a period of general training followed by specialist training, the duration of the latter depending on the specialty. It takes about five years to become a principal in general practice, and seven or more years to become a hospital consultant.