Medical Training Initiative (MTI), UK : Is it good or bad?

The Medical Training Initiative (MTI) scheme allows international (non-EU) junior and middle-grade doctors to train and work in the UK for up to 2 years, whilst enabling NHS Boards and Trusts to fill rota gaps with high quality staff.

Photo by Maria Ionova on Unsplash

Which specialties have MTI posts available?

Almost all specialties have MTI posts available these days . You can find about such posts on the Royal College websites of the specific specialties.

Duration of posts

Placements are for a minimum of 6 months up to 2 years, the exact duration depends on the particular placement.

Who is eligible?

You must meet the following criteria:

• Postgraduate qualifications ( in your home country or MRCS/MRCS or equivalent ) which will be considered in context of your other skills and experience
• An overall IELTS Academic test result of at least 7.5, with at least 7.0 in all components or an OET result at grade ‘B’ or above achieved in each component for the profession ‘MEDICINE’; IELTS or OET results must have been achieved in a single sitting of the test within the past 2 years
• Worked in a clinical practice setting for 3 of the past 5 years, including continuously in the last 12 months
• Your primary medical qualification should be independently verified by the ECFMG

Cost

A. Application fee : £100

B. Administration fee

• High-income economies : £500
• Upper-middle-income economies : £300
• Lower-middle-income economies : No fee
• Low-income economies : No fee

C. GMC registration fee

D. Fee for the ECFMG check

E. Visa application fee

F. Costs for travelling to the UK

Photo by Ed Robertson on Unsplash

How to apply?

If you meet all our essential criteria , search for available MTI posts on Google and send them an email about your interest. They will require you to send your:

• Your full academic CV
• A copy of your IELTS test results
• A cover email clearly stating your nationality, preferred specialty, the duration of post you prefer and when you would be available to start work

Are there any deadlines?

There is no application deadline as recruitments are open all year round.

Recruitment process

1. After your application , if the recruiting body identifies a suitable post, they will send you the job description.

(Please be very careful to whether the post fulfills your desired training criteria or not )

2. If you agree to be put forward for consideration , your CV is sent to the recruiting consultant.

3. You must then submit a formal application and the application fee before an interview is arranged. Further guidance on the formal application will be provided and will require a satisfactory health & probity declaration, references and copies of degree certificates. It is important that you remain in clinical practice throughout the application process.

4. Interviews will be conducted remotely via WebEx.

5. If a job offer is made following interview, then you start your online application for GMC registration and send your reference number to the recruiting body who will then submit a Certificate of Professional Sponsorship to the GMC. The GMC also requires a satisfactory Certificate of Good Standing from you, obtained within the last 3 months.

6. Following confirmation of GMC registration, the recruiting body will arrange a visa Certificate of Sponsorship for you to submit with your online visa application.

7. Once you get your visa approved, you must liaise directly with the NHS hospital to agree start dates, contracts and arrange occupational health and safeguarding checks.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Time taken

Whole recruitment process can take 6–12 months.

Advantages

1. You get easy GMC registration.
2. Upon completion, trainees receive a certificate from the College confirming that they have undertaken an International Training Fellowship in the specialty and a letter outlining the competencies they have gained experience in.
3. As an MTI trainee you will receive specialty training supervised by a qualified NHS consultant. In most instances the training plan is tailored to suit your educational objectives and the work you wish to undertake on returning home.
4. You will receive the same salary as a UK doctor
5. Your visa will be sponsored so that you can working as a doctor in the UK

Disadvantages

1. You are employed on a Tier 5 visa . The visa duration does not count towards ILR (indefinite leave to remain).
2. Many hospitals employing MTI fellows offer poor training opportunities
3. MTI fellows usually fill rota gaps and do junior grade jobs

My views on MTI scheme

I personally feel that PLAB or MRCP/MRCS route is the better one as :

1. You are employed on a Tier 2 visa which counts in the duration leading to an ILR.
2. It is easy to get into the conventional training schemes in the U.K. via this pathway, which leads to a consultant job later on in the career.

Final thoughts

Please research about the post you are planning to join in, if you are coming via the MTI route. Many small hospitals are not well equipped in the UK which can starve you off good training opportunities .

Photo by David Dibert on Unsplash