All about IMT

Core medical training (CMT) is now being replaced by "Internal medicine training" from 2019.
Here are some official websites:

https://www.jrcptb.org.uk/new-internal-medicine-curriculum
https://www.imtrecruitment.org.uk/
The main differences between these 2 programs are:

DURATION
CMT was for 2 years. However the recruitment team did introduce some 3 year core medical training programs (CT1, CT2 and CT3).
If core medical trainees working in a 2 year ( CT1 and CT2) program were unable to get a good outcome in their ARCP or did not complete their MRCP, they could possibly extend their training program to CT3 (But not beyond it).

IMT is for 3 years if you are working in the following specialties:
Known as GROUP 1 specialties
Acute Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Endocrinology & Diabetes Mellitus, Gastroenterology, Genitourinary Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Infectious Diseases (except when dual with Medical Microbiology or Virology), Neurology, Palliative Medicine, Renal Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Rheumatology and Tropical Medicine.

IMT is for 2 years if you are working in the following specialties:
Known as GROUP 2 specialties
Allergy, Audiovestibular Medicine, Aviation & Space Medicine, Clinical Genetics, Clinical Neurophysiology, Dermatology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases (when dual with Medical Microbiology or Virology), Medical Ophthalmology, Nuclear Medicine, Paediatric Cardiology, Pharmaceutical Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine and Sport and Exercise Medicine.

This is mentioned here:
https://www.jrcptb.org.uk/new-internal-medicine-curriculum

LEVEL OF WORK EXPECTED
A CMT1 and CMT2 doctor are SHOs. Unless they agree to carry the registrar bleep ( usually under supervision OR their trust has a designated RMO bleep for them OR they personally volunteer to cover locum shifts and the consultant on call is aware ), they do not work as a registrar till they have applied for ST3.
In IMT, if you are in a group 1 specialty ( ie 3 years training program), you will be allowed to work as a registrar on call in your third year REGARDLESS of whether you have passed your MRCP or not. However you will be only allowed to do this IF your educational supervisor is happy for you to work as a registrar.
( A registrar on call is the acute medical registrar - (s)he takes GP referrals, runs the acute medical unit in some trusts, manages the acute take ie admitting patients, seeing sick medical patients in ED and on the wards)

You will still need to complete PACES to work as a specialty registrar.

LEVEL OF REGISTRAR TRAINING ON COMPLETION OF  CMT/IMT
After completing CMT, doctors enter their specialty training by applying for ST3 posts.
When IMT goes live, they will apply for ST4 posts (unless they are working in group 2 specialties in which case they will apply for ST3 posts on completion of IMT2 if they pass PACES and meet the requirements for that particular ST3 post).

SIMILARITIES:
TOTAL DURATION OF TRAINING TILL YOU BECOME A CONSULTANT
The total duration of training till you become a consultant remains the same.
CMT: CT1-2, ST3-7 and then consultant
IMT GROUP 1: IMT1-3, ST4-7 and then consultant
IMT GROUP 2 : IMT1-2, ST3-7, then consultant


SUPERVISORS
Their role remains the same however in IMT2, they will have more strict assessments to ensure that the doctors at that level can work as a successful registrar.

REASONS BEHIND THIS CHANGE:
1. To cover rota gaps. With IMT, there will always be a group of doctors ( in IMT 3) who can work either as a SHO or a registrar.
2. To ensure more smooth transition into specialty registrar training. A core medical trainee is a SHO on the 31st of July and becomes a registrar on the 1st of August which can be quite overwhelming.
3. IMT will allow enough time ( ie the third year - IMT 3) for the trainee to work towards becoming a registrar.

MAIN CONCERNS:
INVOLVEMENT OF SUPERVISORS:
Most educational and clinical supervisors are amazing however not everyone is as dedicated and this can be an issue - especially when they are the main people to decide whether an IMT 2 trainee is ready to work as a registrar in their IMT 3 year.


FAQs:
I am an international medical graduate. Will I be able to apply to IMT?
You can apply for IMT in round 1 as explained here:
https://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2019/10/how-to-get-training-post-in-uk.htmlFollow the IMT recruitment page here for dates and openings:
https://www.imtrecruitment.org.uk/

Is the application process different?

I am an international medical graduate and I am currently working as a non trainee SHO. Should I apply to IMT?
If you have just started working in the NHS, then it is a good idea to apply for this as you will be working in a training program, you will get dedicated teaching and can focus on your career progression rather than provide a service.

But isn't CMT service provision too?
I feel that I learnt a lot as a CMT trainee compared to my non training SHO job.

What are the advantages for IMT for international medical graduates?
1. More time before specialty training - 3 years ( as opposed to 2 years of CMT) unless you plan to specialize in the group 2 specialty.
2. More time to clear your MRCP exams
3. More supervisor led training to prepare you to work as a registrar. 

 I am working in a training program and I wish to contact the IMT team regarding some additional feedback and concerns I have
You can contact your head of school, college tutor and TPD if you have any useful ideas. 
 

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