The Internal Medicine Curriculum

The first intake into Stage 1 of IMT is on schedule to start in August 2019. Those in Group 2 specialties will enter into Stage 2 of training in 2021 and those specialties in Group 1 will enter into Stage 2 in 2022.

Group 1 specialties will dual accredit in internal medicine and their chosen specialty. They will complete three years of medical training prior to entering into Stage 2 for a further four years.

Group 2 specialties will single accredit in their chosen specialty and exit IMT after two years (as long as the entry requirements for their chosen specialty are met, including completion of MRCP).

Yes, you will be able to complete all three years of IMT and then apply for a Group 2 specialty if you wish to.

Yes, if you need to undertake an IMT Stage 1 Year 3 year then this will be allowed and the majority of deaneries have said they intend to try and accommodate those individuals in the same place as they did IMT Years 1 and 2.

Yes, the deaneries have pledged that they will accommodate their trainees who transition from CMT to IMT or have completed CMT within three years and need to do an IMT Stage 1 Year 3 year to qualify to apply for Stage 2 to undertake that third year in the same deanery.

Yes, you will have to transition over to IMT and if you want to pursue a Group 1 specialty will be expected to do IMT Stage 1 Year 3. However, this will not change your overall training time as it remains a seven year training programme, you will simply apply for Stage 2 and commence a year later.

The entry requirements for Group 1 specialties from 2022 will require completion of full IMT or equivalent. Trainees who have completed CMT or ACCS-AM will require IMT Year 3 training and this will be arranged in the HEE local office/deanery in which CMT/ACCS was completed. There will not be a competitive recruitment process for this group of trainees. CMT/ACCS-AM trainees who are currently training less than full time and will not complete their training before 2021 will be eligible for IMT Year 3 training in the same deanery.

The transitioning plan is still being confirmed, but the current intention is that trainees will continue in CMT rotations until their end of year ARCP and then transition into IMT posts in the August at completion of the rotation they are in for that ARCP. In transitioning into IMT, the requirements for completion of IMT will be made on an individual basis, taking into account rotation and experience from CMT. You will not have to repeat CMT under the heading of IMT as existing rotations and competencies will be transferred across. The number of clinics already done and requirements for specific rotations, e.g. geriatrics, will also be assessed and the requirements determined on an individual basis.

This will have to be discussed at local level and may be able to be arranged, however there is no guarantee that that job placement will be retained. However, this is not a change from the current CMT process currently where no placement is guaranteed if time out for any reason is undertaken.

From 2022, academic trainees in Group 1 specialties will need to complete IMT. Trainees who do not complete CMT and move into higher training by 2021 will require IMT Year 3 training and this will be arranged by the HEE local office/deanery.

JRCPTB have been working with NHS Employers to ensure that trainees will not be financially affected by the transition to IMT. Within IMT the pay scale will reflect current CMT pay for Years 1 and 2. IMT Stage 1 Year 3 pay will reflect current ST3 pay.