Become an FSRH Registered Trainer

Why Become a FSRH Registered Trainer?

We are pleased that you are interested in submitting an FRT application. We are keen to receive applications from doctors and nurses interested in delivering training for the FSRH Diploma and Letters of Competence.

Becoming an FSRH Registered Trainer (FRT) is an excellent way to maintain and develop your educational and SRH skills and knowledge. FRTs are central to the delivery of the Diploma and Letters of Competence, ensuring the provision of safe and effective sexual and reproductive health care in community, primary and secondary care settings.

"Over the years the FSRH has recognized the role nurses could play and has been highly supportive of nurse development. Nurses now have the opportunity to impart their knowledge to those new to the field and we should embrace this opportunity." Read our blog by Caroline Gumbley, a nurse who is a Faculty Registered Trainer for FSRH.

There are many routes to become a faculty registered trainer, as outlined below.

We recognise that our Medical Education Course, previously run in partnership with universities, has been the preferred route for some applicants. Currently there are no planned dates for the this course as it is under review. We will announce details of any courses in our newsletter in the future.

However, to support you in meeting the requirements in the meantime, we have listed some courses that FRT applicants have completed recently in order to meet the medical/clinical/healthcare education requirements. You will find a list of these at the end of the 'Eligibility Requirements' section below.

Eligibility Requirements

We are keen to receive applications from doctors and nurses interested in training other healthcare professionals for the FSRH Diploma and Letters of Competence.

You can find further information about all the requirements needed to become an FRT in our How to become an FRT document.

You must hold the following:

A current NMC or GMC registration with a licence to practice.
You hold a DFSRH, MFSRH or FFSRH.
Your membership is current and you are up to date with recertification.

As well as confirming:

You have at least 12 months current experience in SRH.

You must hold relevant qualification or accreditation in medical education. We accept any of the following:

Postgraduate course in Medical Education for Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (University of Keele or Worcester) within the last 5 years.
Current GMC approved GP Trainer
Current GMC Recognised Trainer
Successful completion within the last 5 years of a university accredited postgraduate course in medical/clinical/healthcare teaching or education, with a minimum of 15 credits at Levels 6 or 7.
Successful completion of Academy of Medical Educators (AoME) accredited courses (within the last 5 years). We do not accept all AoME accredited courses and therefore may request additional information to support your application.
Current Member or Fellow of the AoME. (Associate and Student membership not applicable.)
Successful completion of a Advance Higher Education (Advance HE) (formerly known as the Higher Education Academy (HEA)) accredited course (within the last 5 years). We may request additional information to support your application.
Current Fellow, Senior Fellow or Principal Fellow of the HEA.

FRT applicants have recently submitted the courses below as a way to meeting the medical/clinical/healthcare education requirements to become an FRT. Please note that we are NOT recommending these courses as all applicants' needs are different. We are just providing them as examples of courses that have met our requirements, but you will need to check the content yourself carefully if you decide to take them as institutions change modules, level, and credit value from time to time.

Teaching and Learning in Health Professions Education module from University College London Medical School. On completion of this course, you will need to attach your full course transcript showing your marks for the module with your FRT application form.

Clinical Educator Programme from Edinburgh University. You will need to complete this course at Level 3, which includes the Reflective Portfolio Assignment. It is only open to people who teach Edinburgh University medical undergraduates but the site also includes helpful resources for people who want to become medical educators.

Postgraduate Module in Medical Education from Keele University. On completion of this online course, you will need to attach your full course transcript showing your marks for the module with your FRT application form.

Many of you will be planning to undertake a course that is not listed above. If you would like to check whether it would meet our requirements, please get in touch with the full details of the course, including the level, number of credits, module descriptor including learning outcomes, and details of how the course is assessed. We will then review the course content and let you know whether it would be valid as part of your FRT application.

How to apply

To apply please complete the application form and submit any requested evidence.

Before sending your FRT application to us, you will need to find a General Training Programme Director (GTPD) who will need to sign off your application. This GTPD is who you intend to train under. To find your closest Training Programme, please use our 'Find a Trainer' map.

If the GTPD does not already know you, it is likely that they will want to arrange a meeting with you to discuss your application. We have provided some guidance for GTPDs about what to cover in the discussion with you. The form contains information for GTPDs about interviewing potential applicants who wish to become FRTs. This may help you to prepare for your meeting with the GTPD.

Please return your completed application to Education by submitting a ticket.

Fee

There is no fee for an application for FSRH Registered Trainer status. Course fees vary according to the provider (see Eligibility Requirements for the list).

FRT Policies

Personal beliefs guidance: to have read the 6 principles of care as outlined in the “Guidance for those undertaking or recertifying FSRH qualifications whose personal beliefs conflict with the provision of abortion or any method of contraception” and agree to abide by them in practice.
All FSRH related practical training must be conducted in suitably approved clinical premises that meet Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards, local health and safety and Trust provisions.
All clinicians, teachers and assessors are expected to work within their professional standards and guidelines. You are referred to the statements on probity and teaching and training, appraising and assessing in the ‘Good Medical Practice’ document published by the General Medical Council the standards for mentors, practice teachers and teachers in the ‘Standards to support learning and assessment in practice’ published by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (2008)
FSRH Privacy Policy; the FSRH is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy sets out how we collect, use, store and protect any information that you give us, in compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Laws which are the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679 and the UK Data Protection Act 2018.
Intellectual Property Rights; all intellectual property rights for any FSRH course including documents, materials and content belonging to and produced by the FSRH should not be used for purposes other than FSRH training. Should you wish to use any of the IPR for purposes other than FSRH training you must seek the FSRH’s approval in writing with your request via our copyright request form. We aim to respond to submissions of this nature within one working week.
Compliments and Complaints; if you have any feedback about the FRT application process, please visit our compliments and complaints webpage.

FRT recertification

As a Faculty Registered Trainer (FRT), we require you to recertify your FRT status every five years.

This enables you to:

Maintain and develop your educational and SRH skills and knowledge.
Continue to be an integral part in the delivery of the Diploma and Letters of Competence.
Maintain the provision of safe and effective sexual and reproductive health care in community, primary and secondary care settings.

How do I apply for my FRT recertification?

You can apply for recertification by completing the relevant form to you, online.

Before filling in the online form, please have all the relevant information to hand before starting it, you will not be able to save it and then revisit it later, it must be completed in one sitting.

You will also need a stable internet connection while completing the online forms.

We recommend that you prepare your answers in a word document and then copy and paste your evidence into the relevant sections rather than writing directly into the online form.

If you applied to become an FRT via the GMC GP trainer/recognised trainer route, please complete this form.

If you applied to become an FRT via any other FRT approved route, please complete this form.

Useful resources for recertification - RCGP's Women's Health Library

Bringing together national guidance, resources produced and accredited by the RCGP, and resources from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), the Women's Health Library is a resource relevant to GPs and other primary healthcare professionals.

The Library is divided into four sections for ease of use with the free resources clearly marked:

Maternal Health
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Pre-Menopause
Peri/Post Menopause

Access the library here.

What evidence do I need to recertify my FRT status?

If you applied for your FRT status via the GMC GP trainer/recognised trainer route, you will need:

To hold a current license to practice from GMC/NMC.
Each yearly subscription paid when due.
Recertification of DFSRH/MFSRH/FFSRH is up to date.
50 credits in core SRH (in this total you may count the credits used to recertify your FFSRH/MFSRH/FSRH Diploma qualification).

If you applied for your FRT status via any other FRT approved route, you will need:

To hold a current license to practice from GMC/NMC.
Each yearly subscription paid when due.
Recertification of primary qualification is up to date.
50 credits in core SRH (in this total you may count the credits used to recertify your primary qualification).
10 credits for participation in approved training in adult educational techniques including those approved by other Colleges (RCOG/RCP/RCGP/RCN).
Evidence of at least 15 teaching activities over 5 years

You can find a calendar of CPD courses, meetings and events on our website.

When can I recertify?

Recertification is due every five years. Your recertification due date will be shared with you once you have achieved your FRT status. You can also login to your MyFSRH and see your recertification.

You will also receive an email reminder 6 months before your recertification is due. Please do make sure your email address is up to date and current with FSRH.

Is there a charge to recertify my FRT status?

There is no charge to recertify as this is a benefit included in your annual membership fee. However, you must have paid your membership fee continuously for the five years leading up to recertifying.

If you have not kept your membership current, and wish to recertify, please contact us to discuss your options. You will need to pay your backdated membership fees – at current subscription levels.

I’m late applying for recertification, what do I need to do?

If you do not apply for recertification within six weeks of the date due, your qualification is deemed to have lapsed. You must cease training until your FRT status has been recertified.

If you apply to be recertified more than 12 months after your recertification date, the General Training Committee has the discretion to approve your application, under two conditions:

1. You have met all the CPD requirements
2. You provide a letter from your General Training Programme Director supporting your application.

Intellectual Property Rights

All intellectual property rights for any FSRH qualification including documents, materials and content belonging to and produced by the FSRH should not be used for purposes other than FSRH training. Should you wish to use any of the IPR for purposes other than FSRH training you must seek the FSRH’s approval in writing with your request via our copyright request form. We aim to respond to submissions of this nature within one working week.