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What are Clinical Competencies and the Annual Review of Competence Progression.
During your protected academic time, you will not be required to complete any听workplace based assessments related to clinical competencies such as DOPs, CEX听etc. However, for any clinical time that occurs within that training year, you need to听complete the appropriate number of assessments. For example, for an ACF if you听are taking a 9-month research block (i.e. 75% of the year), you will need to complete听25% of the workplace-based assessments for that year and a separate trainer鈥檚 report听for your clinical placement. You will need to complete an ARCP (Annual Review of听Competence Progression) each year.
The ARCP should, for the clinical academic trainee, involve review of both clinical听and academic progress and therefore be undertaken by clinical and academic听staff together. Although progress on both clinical and academic fronts should be听documented, and future training needs for both identified; a single outcome should听be determined, with patient safety a dominant consideration.听HEE will send you details of this. You should read these carefully as the requirements听will differ for ACF/CL trainees from clinical trainees. For further details please see the trainee resources on the .
It is also important to consider relevant Royal College examinations such as MRCP.听In general, it is advisable to get these exams out of the way as soon as practicable听before starting your research as studying for exams and starting up a research project听at the same time will be challenging. Normally, an ACF will not be allowed to proceed听into ST3 without completing MRCP in a medical specialty, and there are similar听requirements in many other specialties. Plan ahead as much as possible and make听sure you are aware of the requirements for your specialty.
CL postholders will generally already be established in specialty training, but it is听important to consider any specialty-specific exit exams and discuss the timing of听these (if relevant) with your clinical and academic supervisors. A CL post is generally听only tenable, up to CCT (unless a NIHR CL extension is granted), so you need to听take this into account in planning your career progression.
Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP)
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As an ACF/CL your ARCP will involve reviews of both your clinical听and academic progression.听 Any outcome given at the ARCP will reflect听听both components and therefore be undertaken by clinical and academic staff together.听听Although progress on both clinical and academic fronts should be听documented, and future training needs for both identified; a single outcome should听be determined, with patient safety a dominant consideration.
The ARCP form should be completed by the academic trainee in consultation with their听academic supervisor and if applicable, other academics who have been involved with the trainee during the period being reviewed. For further guidance and to see a copy of the Academic Progress Report Form, please visit