Internal Medicine Training : All that you need to know

By Karolina Grabowska

What is IMT?

Internal Medicine Training (IMT) forms the first stage of specialty training for most doctors training in physicianly specialties and will prepare trainees for participating in the acute medical take at a senior level and managing patients with acute and chronic medical problems in outpatient and inpatient settings (according to Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board )

It is similar to pursuing M.D. in India.

What is the duration of IMT?

Duration of IMT depends on the type of specialty training you want to pursue later on in your career.

Group 1 Specialties : These support acute hospital care and you need 3 years of IMT for these.

1. Acute Internal Medicine
2. Cardiology
3. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
4. Endocrinology & Diabetes Mellitus
5. Gastroenterology
6. Genitourinary Medicine
7. Geriatric Medicine
8. Infectious Diseases (except when dual with Medical Microbiology or Virology)
9. Neurology
10. Palliative Medicine
11. Renal Medicine
12. Respiratory Medicine
13. Rheumatology and Tropical Medicine (except when dual with Medical Microbiology or Virology)

Group 2 Specialties : These support non-acute, primarily outpatient-based services and you need 2 years of IMT for these.

1. Allergy
2. Audiovestibular Medicine
3. Aviation & Space Medicine
4. Clinical Genetics
5. Clinical Neurophysiology
6. Dermatology
7. Haematology
8. Immunology
9. Infectious Diseases (when dual with Medical Microbiology or Virology)
10. Medical Oncology
11. Medical Ophthalmology
12. Nuclear Medicine
13. Paediatric Cardiology
14. Pharmaceutical Medicine
15. Rehabilitation Medicine
16. Sport and Exercise Medicine
17. Tropical Medicine (when dual with Medical Microbiology or Virology)
18. Chemical Pathology
19. Clinical Oncology
20. Medical Microbiology
21. Medical Virology
22. Occupational Medicine

By Anna Shvets

Requirements when you apply for IMT

You need the following for application into IMT:

• MBBS qualification AND
• Current employment in a UKFPO-affiliated foundation program, OR
• 12 months medical experience after full GMC registration (or equivalent post licensing experience), and evidence to commence specialty training in the form of a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training (2021)

It is advisable to work in a non-training medical job in the NHS before going for a training post as it helps you get a better idea of the system.

When should you apply for IMT 2021 post?

There are two rounds of application .

Round 1

The post opens on Thursday 5 November 2020 (10.00am, UK time) and will close on Tuesday 1 December 2020 (4pm, UK time).

Round 2

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, it is currently being determined whether round 2 will go ahead this year and if so when it will be.

If you wish to be considered for an IMT post starting in 2021, you are advised to apply in round 1 as it cannot be guaranteed if round 2 will go ahead, and there are always substantially fewer programmes available in this round, so you will have a much greater chance if you apply in round 1.

By Dominika Gregušová