Changes to the number of CCTs will have a positive impact on training

I read with interest the eLetter from the President and the Dean of the College about the proposed changes to the number of certificates of completion of training (CCTs) in psychiatry (http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/chnagesMay06E.pdf). No doubt these changes will have a significant impact on the future of psychiatric training at a time when postgraduate training is undergoing a radical overhaul with the anticipated introduction of Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) in August 2007.

I believe that reducing the number of CCTs from the current six to two will be beneficial to trainees for a number of reasons. First, it will bring psychiatric training in the UK in line with the rest of Europe, where psychiatrists gain accreditation in either adult or child psychiatry. A major reason for the introduction of MMC was to streamline postgraudate training in the UK, which was considered too lengthy compared with the rest of the world. Second, as reported by Day et al (2002), many of the issues facing UK trainees are common to psychiatrists in training across Europe.

We have certainly taken the lead in establishing a structured system of training, but we need to continue strengthening the ties already formed through organisations such as the European Forum for Psychiatric Trainees. In today’s climate of a vast increase in mobility of the global medical workforce we would do well to pay heed to the needs of our prospective employers.