What CST is for
Core surgical training builds the clinical, technical and professional capabilities needed for the next stage of surgical training. The usual two-year CST route is described as CT1 and CT2. Progress depends on meeting curriculum requirements and assessment expectations, as well as gaining suitable clinical experience.
Look beyond operative numbers
Use each placement to develop decision-making, communication and teamwork alongside procedural skills. Agree objectives with your supervisor and ask how clinic, emergency work, theatre and teaching opportunities can support them. A logbook records experience; feedback explains how your performance is developing.
Plan the transition early
MRCS preparation, curriculum evidence and higher training applications need to be planned together. Completion of CST does not automatically secure an ST3 post. Entry routes and programme structures vary by specialty and UK nation. For 2027, England has paused recruitment to IST posts while retaining CST places; Scotland and Wales continue to recruit to run-through IST options. Check each advertised programme rather than assuming all offers have the same structure.
How CST fits into the surgical pathway
Core Surgical Training (CST) is an early stage of postgraduate surgical training. Core Training years 1 and 2 are often called CT1 and CT2. A common route is foundation training, CST and then a separate application to higher specialty training, often at ST3. Some specialties and programmes have different structures, so check the route you intend to follow.
A locally employed surgical job may provide valuable experience, but its job title alone does not establish that you have completed an approved core training programme or the competencies required for a later application. Compare the relevant curriculum, evidence and eligibility requirements with your supervisor.
| Area | A practical focus |
|---|---|
| Clinical development | Supervised experience, feedback and increasing responsibility appropriate to competence. |
| Portfolio | Evidence mapped to the curriculum, with reports and assessments completed on time. |
| MRCS | A realistic plan for Parts A and B alongside clinical training. |
| Next application | Current specialty eligibility, required evidence and recruitment deadlines. |
Turn a placement into a learning plan
At the start of each placement, review the curriculum with your educational supervisor and identify realistic opportunities in theatre, clinic, on-call work and multidisciplinary meetings. Agree how feedback will be obtained. Keep requests for workplace assessments specific: tell the assessor which encounter or procedure you want observed and what you hope to improve.
At review meetings, discuss both experience and performance. A logbook records exposure, but numbers alone do not describe your level of independence. Use feedback and formal assessments to identify the next supervised task or skill that needs deliberate practice.
Prepare for progression before the final deadline
The Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) reviews the evidence of your progress against the applicable training requirements. It is separate from recruitment into a higher training post. Passing an examination, obtaining an ARCP outcome and meeting a person specification are related steps, but one should not be assumed to replace another.
Keep a tracker for supervisor reports, assessments, examination plans and application documents. Review it regularly, particularly when moving between placements. If your planned examination sitting or evidence deadline does not fit the recruitment timetable, discuss the implications early and check the official rules before committing to an application.
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Your next steps
Suggested preparation checklist
- Read the core curriculum and local training expectations.
- Agree placement goals with your supervisor.
- Build an MRCS plan around your rotations.
- Check the entry route for your intended surgical specialty.
Official sources
Sources checked 26 October 2026. Follow the current guidance for your recruitment year and circumstances.
Independent educational guidance from Coursemia. Preparation suggestions are not official eligibility or ARCP requirements. Where guidance changes, the official provider’s current instructions take precedence.