Time out of programme (OOP) will not normally be agreed until a trainee has been in a training programme for at least one year of training.

Trainees in their final year of training will not usually be granted OOP either, unless applying to act up as a Consultant (AUC).

Occasions where OOP is granted to core trainees are likely to be highly exceptional given the short length and the nature of core training.

It is important to remember that time out of programme is a privilege and is granted on an individual basis at the discretion of the Training Programme Director, Head of School and HEE.

OOPT / OOPR         

Trainees applying for OOPT or OOPR may apply for this period (or part of the period) to count towards training. A supporting letter or email from the Royal College or Faculty / JRCPTB / JCST must be submitted with these applications.

Any applications for time to count must be made in good time (with 6 months notice where possible and no less than 3 months prior to the OOP start date). After receipt of the OOP application and supporting College letter, LETB admin must then apply for prospective approval from the GMC if the OOP location is not a GMC approved setting.

Important note: Any applications for time to count in a setting not approved by the GMC MUST be submitted to the GMC for approval (by LETB staff) prospectively. HEE takes no responsibility for applications that are submitted by trainees in retrospect and subsequently rejected by the GMC.

Please note, as stated in the Gold Guide:The period of recognition may be reduced if the training placement did not provide the expected competencies.

AUC                         

Trainees may be able to take time out of programme to act up as a consultant (AUC) and may be able to credit this time towards a CCT or CESR(CP). If this kind of post is formally included in the approved specialty curriculum, additional prospective approval is not required from the GMC. Trainees acting up as consultants will need to have appropriate supervision in place, and approval will only be considered if the acting up placement is relevant to gaining the competences, knowledge, skills and behaviours required by the curriculum. In these circumstances, AUC will normally be for a fixed-term period of three months for both full-time and LTFT trainees.

It is sometimes possible to act up as a Consultant outside of the current training programme, but this is rare. If trainees are planning on AUC outside of their current curriculum or in a different country they must provide a letter of support from the Royal College, Faculty, JRCPTB or JCST with their OOP application. The HEE local team must then apply for prospective approval from the GMC.

OOPE / OOPC

Time taken out of programme for experience or a career break will not count towards training and the trainees CCT date will be adjusted accordingly

For any trainee requesting OOPT or OOPR with time to count towards training, Royal College / SAC approval is required in the form of a letter. It is the trainee's responsibility to obtain this approval letter in good time and submit it to HEE along with their OOP application form. Once HEE is in receipt of this approval letter and the fully completed OOP application form, an application to the GMC will be made on the trainee's behalf (see GMC FAQs below).

Please note: The Joint Royal College of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) and Faculty of Public Health will only provide supporting approval of time to count towards training for placements that are not already included on the list of GMC approved settings. If you are unsure whether your placement is already on this list, either contact the GMC or alternatively the HEE, EoE OOP team will be able to check this for you. 

If OOPT / OOPR is not counting towards training Royal College / SAC approval is not required. Nor is it required for OOPE and OOPC applications.

The GMC cannot accept applications from individual trainees, Royal Colleges, Speciality Advisory Committees or Faculties.

If GMC approval is required, this must be sought by HEE local team staff on behalf of the trainee. This will only be possible once all required documentation has been received from the trainee (fully completed OOP application form, supporting statement, job description or research proposal and College support letter).

A clarification on matters raised by a recent query via DNUK regarding pensions whilst undertaking OOPR has been circulated by the BMA. Guidance on a number of LETB websites was indicating that doctors would have to pay both their own and their employers pension contributions whilst out of programme. 

In essence, however, the situation is more complicated than the advice on websites implies and depends on the status of the trainee in the university whilst they undertake their research. It is the BMA's understanding that in most cases they are employed by the university. This should mean that the advice on the websites is not correct. The Pensions Department have, therefore, advised as follows:

- If the trainee becomes employed by a University, they may be able to maintain NHS pension scheme membership under a direction arrangement. The University can pay pension contributions under the direction arrangements to the NHS pension scheme. 

- If the period is part of their training programme and the doctor still has an NHS contract of employment and is paid by the NHS then they can remain a member of the NHS pension scheme.

- If the period of research is neither of these, and the employer classes it just as a career break, if the trainee wants the period to be pensionable they will have to pay the contributions in accordance with the NHS Pensions Career Breaks policy.

It seems that the assumption was being made that all those undertaking OOPR are taking a career break which was not the understanding of the BMA.  

As stated in the Gold Guide:

- OOPT will normally be for a period of up to one year.

- OOPE will normally be for a period of up to one year.

- OOPR Time taken out for research purposes is normally for a higher degree (e.g. a PhD, MD or Master’s degree) and will not normally exceed three years.OOPR exceeding three years will only be granted in highly exceptional circumstances and requires specific prospective approval from the Postgraduate Dean.

- OOPC The duration of OOPC will normally be a period of up to one year. A second year of OOPC can be considered but is at the discretion of the Postgraduate Dean, who may take into account prior OOP periods for other reasons. Any further extension beyond a two-year period out of training may only be granted in exceptional circumstances with the agreement of the Dean.

HEE are your Tier 2 Lead Sponsor whilst you are in a training programme. Please ensure you check your eligibility for OOP and any impact this may have on your Visa status, before you apply, via england.tier2@nhs.net