Trainees in Extension
Your ARCP didn't go quite to plan. That's okay. Extensions exist for a reason — and this page will help you use every week of yours wisely.
A hand-picked mix of official guidance and real-world GP training resources. Because sometimes the best pearls are not hiding in the official documents.
⚡ Quick Summary — If You Only Read One Thing
- You still have to do everything a normal trainee does — WPBA, OOH, log entries, PDPs — IN ADDITION to what the panel specified.
- Two things matter most: (1) Evidence for your deficient capabilities, and (2) Evidence of continued learning at the expected rate.
- Work out your four key dates immediately: last working day → ARCP date → ES meeting date → CSR date. Put all of them in your diary today.
- Contact your ES now. Don't leave it a few weeks. They need time to write an ESR and you may need a new MSF or PSQ.
- Never leave MSF and PSQ to the last minute — if people haven't replied in time, the panel will not wait for you. This has ended extensions badly for many trainees.
- Write a genuine end-of-extension reflection — not a defensive one. The panel wants to see that you have learned, not that you have excuses.
- Ask your GP School to fast-track your CCT notification so you can apply for jobs on time after qualifying.
- Study leave funding is not normally approved during an extension — check with your GP School.
- Struggling emotionally? An extension can feel bruising. That is completely normal. Scroll to the Wellbeing section — please read it.
An extension to GP training is an additional period of supervised training, granted by the ARCP panel when a trainee has not yet met all the requirements for progression or completion. In GP training, this is formally known as an ARCP Outcome 3.
Being given an extension is not being asked to leave training. It is not a disciplinary action. It is extra time — supervised, structured extra time — to meet the standard. The distinction matters, both for your wellbeing and for how you approach the next few months.
🔑 The Two Most Common Reasons Trainees Get Extensions
Reason 1 — Exam failure
The trainee has passed all WPBA requirements but failed the AKT or SCA (or both). Extension gives them additional time to attempt the exam(s) again.
Important: You MUST still maintain your WPBA and ePortfolio even if the exam is the only thing outstanding. The panel will still check.
Reason 2 — WPBA / capability deficiency
The trainee has one or more of the 13 Professional Capabilities rated as insufficient, or has not completed enough WPBA evidence by the expected standard.
This is the more complex type of extension. It requires specific, targeted evidence for the deficient capabilities.
Everything in an extension runs backwards from the ARCP panel date. Work these out immediately and put all four in your calendar today. Email a summary of all four dates to both your Clinical Supervisor and Educational Supervisor.
Last Working Day
Contact your GP School or GP Training Scheme Administrator to confirm exactly how many months your extension covers and what your official last working day is. This is your starting anchor — everything else is calculated from here.
ARCP Panel Date
Your ARCP panel will typically fall approximately two weeks before your last working day. Confirm this with your GP School or GP Training Scheme Administrator.
Educational Supervisor (ES) Meeting
Arrange your ES meeting for approximately one week before your ARCP panel date. Contact your ES now — do not wait. They need adequate preparation time and you need to have your ePortfolio in good shape before this meeting.
- Send your ES a link to this page
- Prepare your self-assessment of all 13 Professional Capabilities before the meeting
- For capabilities marked as "Competent for Licensing" previously — you can refer back to previous evidence
- For capabilities marked as anything less — provide new, fuller evidence incorporating newer WPBA acquired during the extension
Clinical Supervisor's Report (CSR) Date
Your Clinical Supervisor needs to complete a CSR before your ES meeting. Work backwards and agree this date with your Clinical Supervisor now. The CSR feeds directly into the ES meeting and must be completed and uploaded to your FourteenFish ePortfolio before the ES can write their report.
Day 1
Throughout
~3–4 wks before ARCP
~1 wk before ARCP
~2 wks before last day
Last working day
Evidence for Deficient Capabilities
Targeted new evidence specifically addressing the capabilities the ARCP panel identified as deficient or insufficient. This is what the panel specified when they gave you the extension.
🔎 See detailed steps below.
Evidence of Continued Learning
Evidence that you are still functioning as a normal GP trainee — doing WPBA at the expected rate, engaging in OOH, writing log entries, and maintaining your PDPs. This is in addition to Prong 1.
📊 Minimum requirements table below.
Follow these steps in order. Do not skip any of them.
These are minimum expectations. They apply to every trainee in extension, regardless of the reason for your extension. They are what any ordinary GP trainee would be expected to do in the same period.
| WPBA Activity | Full-Time Rate | Part-Time Rate (pro-rata) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| COTs / Mini-CEXs | 1 per month | 1 per 2 months | Round decimals up. E.g. 1.5 COTs for a part-time 3-month extension = 2 COTs. |
| CbDs (Case-based Discussions) | 1 per month | 1 per 2 months | Focus CbDs on the deficient capabilities where possible. |
| PDPs (Personal Development Plans) | 2 per 3-month period | 1 per 3-month period | PDPs should directly target the identified deficient areas. |
| Learning Log Entries | ~6 per month | ~3 per month | Balance clinical and non-clinical entries. Quality and depth matter — not just numbers. |
| OOH (Out-of-Hours) Sessions | 1 per month | 1 per 2 months | Depends on whether OOH capabilities are still deficient. See the OOH section below. |
| MSF (Multi-Source Feedback) | If required by panel or <3 months since last one — initiate immediately | ⚠️ Do NOT leave this late. See warning box below. | |
| PSQ (Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire) | If required by panel — initiate immediately | ⚠️ Do NOT leave this late. See warning box below. | |
| ES Workbook | Upload an updated ES Workbook covering the whole of the last ST year including the extension | Add new evidence to the existing workbook. Do not start a new one. | |
| Form R | Upload an updated Form R before the panel | Detail any new complaints or incidents. Ensure it is signed and dated. | |
| End-of-Extension Log Entry | A final learning log entry pulling all evidence together | Especially important for deficient capabilities. See Prong 1 above. | |
OOH requirements do not disappear during an extension. Whether and how many OOH sessions you need depends on whether any of the 6 OOH competencies are still deficient. However, your total OOH commitment is governed by a simple formula:
(across the entire training period — including all extensions)
An ST3 trainee has done 18 months of FTE GP training. They were given a 3-month full-time extension in ST2, and now in ST3 they have been given a further 3-month extension (but as part-time 50%, lasting 6 calendar months).
FTE months = 18 (main training) + 3 (ST2 extension, full-time) + 3 (ST3 extension, 50% × 6 months = 3 FTE months)
Total OOH sessions required = 24
Each OOH session must be supported by a learning log entry clearly documenting what was learned and which of the 6 OOH competencies were demonstrated. Log entries not marked as "shared" in FourteenFish are invisible to the panel — check this carefully.
Abstract guidance is helpful. Seeing it applied to a real scenario is better. The following examples show exactly how the two-pronged approach works for specific extension scenarios.
📖 Example 1: John — Fitness to Practise Extension (3 months, full-time)
An ARCP panel gave John a 3-month full-time extension because he failed the Professional Capability Fitness to Practise. The panel wrote that he needed further development because of the following concerns:
Attitudinally:
- He did not respond appropriately to a recent complaint in a timely way. His attitude showed a lack of regard for the patient and did not consider their perspective.
- He documented personal/professional life pressures repeatedly in his ePortfolio but failed to explain how he planned to address these.
- He did not reflect on his own ability to work as a safe doctor — he came in visibly unwell to do a surgery, which others found commendable but which the panel viewed as a concern about self-awareness and fitness.
- Some colleagues expressed concerns in a recent MSF.
Organisationally:
- Not engaging with the FourteenFish ePortfolio in a timely way despite repeated reminders.
- Delay in responding to the complaint despite being instructed to do so.
- Not organising OOH sessions in a timely way — all last minute.
- Needing repeated reminders for basic administrative tasks.
- Getting behind with results, referrals, and letters as noted by the Clinical Supervisor.
What evidence does John need to provide?
📖 Example 2: Sara — SCA exam failure extension (3 months, full-time)
Sara completed all her WPBA requirements to a good standard in ST3 but failed the SCA at her second attempt. The ARCP panel granted a 3-month extension to allow her to sit again.
What Sara needs to do:
- Book her next SCA sitting at the earliest available date — she should not delay.
- Continue doing COTs, CbDs, PDPs, and log entries at the full-time minimum rate (1 COT/month, 1 CbD/month, 2 PDPs per 3 months, ~6 log entries/month).
- Continue OOH engagement if any OOH competencies remain outstanding.
- Upload an updated ES Workbook and Form R before her ES meeting.
- Write an end-of-extension log entry — even for an exam-only extension — to demonstrate ongoing engagement with learning and how she has prepared differently this time.
- Request her CSR from her Clinical Supervisor 3–4 weeks before her ES meeting.
The approach the ES takes depends on one key question: How long has it been since the trainee's last ESR?
✅ Use the "Light Touch Approach"
- Concentrate only on the areas marked as deficient in the ePortfolio, WPBA, and 13 Professional Capabilities
- Prioritise your analysis on areas assessed as below standard that required new WPBA evidence
- Specifically reference the most recent CSR, COTs, CbDs, MSF, PSQ or other recent WPBA — especially where these were borderline previously
- For areas of no concern — write "refer to previous ESR" and move on
📝 Full ESR Required
- A new, detailed ESR covering all 13 Professional Capabilities is required
- You may quote previous evidence for areas deemed satisfactory
- Pay extra attention to previously borderline or unsatisfactory areas — use the new evidence specifically
- New COTs and CbDs should be marked as "competent overall" for an ST3 trainee moving to CCT — otherwise the panel may question continuing evidence of competence
These are the patterns that trainers and TPDs see time and again. Read them carefully and make sure none of them happen to you.
❌ "I only need to focus on my deficient capability — the rest can wait"
This is the most common and most damaging mistake. Normal WPBA must continue throughout the extension — it is not paused or reduced. The panel will review both your targeted evidence and your overall training activity. A perfect end-of-extension reflection on Fitness to Practise will not compensate for two months of no log entries.
❌ "I'll sort out the MSF and PSQ in the last few weeks"
MSF requires colleagues to complete assessments online — and they are busy people. PSQ requires patients. Both take three to six weeks to gather enough responses to be statistically meaningful and useful. If you start these two weeks before your panel and responses are still pending, the panel will not extend your time to collect them. They have seen this many times and they are not sympathetic. Start immediately.
❌ "My end-of-extension reflection explains why things went wrong"
Defensive reflections — ones that focus on justifying past behaviour or explaining mitigating circumstances — are a red flag for ARCP panels. The panel is not interested in why things went wrong (they already know — that is why they gave you an extension). They are interested in what you have learned and how you have changed. A genuine, insightful, forward-looking reflection is far more powerful than a well-evidenced defensive one.
❌ "I passed my exams so I must be fine now"
Passing the AKT and/or SCA during an extension is necessary but not sufficient for CCT. The WPBA must also be complete and current. Trainees who pass their exams and then relax their portfolio work in the final weeks of the extension have been caught out. The panel checks everything.
❌ "I contacted my ES — once, at the beginning"
Your ES is a key partner in your extension. They should be actively involved throughout — reviewing your WPBA as it is completed, helping you understand the deficient capabilities, and checking in on your progress. An ES who is only contacted at the beginning and at the end of an extension cannot write a meaningful report. Keep them updated regularly throughout the extension period.
❌ "My log entries are just records of clinical cases"
Log entries need to demonstrate reflection and learning — not just describe what happened clinically. Panel members are specifically looking for depth of reflection: what did you think about, what values or attitudes were tested, what would you do differently, what does this tell you about your development as a GP? Clinical summaries without any reflective dimension do not contribute meaningfully to a capability assessment. Quality matters far more than quantity.
❌ "I haven't asked the GP School about fast-tracking my CCT"
If you successfully complete your extension and receive your CCT recommendation from the panel, there can be administrative delays in receiving the actual CCT certificate — which you need to apply for jobs as a qualified GP. Asking your GP School to notify the RCGP Certification Unit that your CCT needs a fast-turnaround action means this is flagged in advance and can significantly reduce delays. Do this early — not at the end of your extension.
These insights come from patterns seen across GP trainee blogs, educational research interviews with trainees in difficulty, UK GP training scheme guidance, and direct trainee accounts. They do not appear in official RCGP documents — but they are exactly the kind of thing that makes the difference between an extension that works and one that doesn't.
Research and deanery data consistently show the same clusters of reasons. Understanding which category applies to you helps you target your energy more precisely.
The ARCP panel reviews your ePortfolio without you being present. Understanding what they look at — and in what order — helps you prepare it effectively. This is synthesised from deanery guidance, FourteenFish training materials, and educational supervisor accounts.
One of the most consistently reported trainee insights is that reflection is misunderstood. Many trainees write descriptions and mistake them for reflections. The panel does not. Here is what the difference looks like in practice.
| ❌ Poor Reflection (Description-Heavy) | ✅ Good Reflection (Learning-Heavy) |
|---|---|
| Describes the clinical case in detail. Lists what investigations were ordered and what treatment was given. Notes what the patient's diagnosis was. | Briefly contextualises the case. Focuses immediately on what was uncertain, difficult, or emotionally significant about it for the trainee. |
| Uses mostly third person ("the patient was…", "the examination showed…"). Reads like a clinical summary. | Uses first person throughout ("I felt…", "I was uncertain because…", "I realised…"). Panel specifically looks for "I". |
| No mention of how the case felt. No uncertainty expressed. No mistakes acknowledged. | Acknowledges emotions (e.g., feeling uncertain, anxious, satisfied, frustrated). Recognises these as valid and normal. |
| Long description section, very short "learning" section. Top-heavy structure. | Brief description, substantial reflection and learning sections. Bottom-heavy structure — the learning is the point. |
| "I will look into this topic further." — vague action plan with no specifics. | "I identified a specific gap in my understanding of X. I have addressed this by reading the NICE guideline on Y. I will apply this in the next similar consultation by doing Z." |
| Could have been written by anyone. No personal voice. Does not show growth. | Reveals thinking, values, and development over time. Panel members feel as though they were present with the trainee. |
| Links to one capability. Chosen because it seems obvious, not because the case genuinely tested that capability. | Links to 2–3 capabilities deliberately — and explains in the text why each one was relevant to this specific situation. |
These patterns emerge repeatedly across GP trainee discussions and educational research. None of them are in the official RCGP handbook. All of them are real.
Trainees often spend time seeking out rare, impressive cases for their log entries. This is a mistake. Panels want to see reflection depth, not case rarity. A common consultation about headache, reflected on deeply and honestly, is worth more than a fascinating neurological rarity described superficially. You see the ordinary cases every day — use them.
FourteenFish shows you exactly where your curriculum gaps are. Many trainees never use this screen. During an extension, checking it weekly helps you plan which cases to log and which capabilities to target. Areas like ENT, ophthalmology, and genetics routinely fall through the cracks — check yours now.
The most effective trainees write and share entries throughout the extension, not in a last-minute burst before the panel. Your supervisor can then give you feedback on your reflection quality early enough to act on it. Do not expect your supervisor to review ten entries in the week before your ES meeting — they are busy people, and the quality of feedback will suffer.
A quick note about a consultation during the break between patients is far better than a full reconstruction attempted three weeks later. The FourteenFish app works on mobile. The habit of writing brief notes immediately after a consultation — even just key learning points — and completing the reflection later transforms both the quality and the quantity of entries without destroying your personal time.
If you receive a WPBA with developmental feedback — even feedback you disagree with — the best response is to write a learning log reflecting on it. This shows insight and professionalism. Panels see the totality of evidence: a genuinely reflective response to critical feedback often impresses panels more than a collection of "competent" WPBAs with no evidence of deeper self-awareness.
PDPs should be SMART and manageable. A PDP with fifteen goals looks like box-ticking. A PDP with three focused, specific, achievable goals — linked directly to your deficient capabilities — and evidence showing you have closed the learning loop demonstrates much more purposeful development. Quality over quantity here too.
Research shows that around 80% of international medical graduates have no experience of reflective writing before UK GP training. If this is you, do not try to imitate what you think the panel wants to read. Write honestly, in your own words, about what you actually thought and felt and learned. Authentic personal insight, even simply expressed, is more valued than polished prose that says nothing real. Ask your ES to show you one or two examples of strong reflections that they have found helpful in the past.
Some trainees — particularly IMGs — worry that honest reflections about mistakes or uncertainty could be used against them legally. This concern is understandable but should not prevent genuine reflection. Reflective writing in a portfolio is a protected educational activity. However, avoid identifying patients, avoid naming colleagues critically, and focus on your own learning rather than attributing blame to others. If you have genuine concerns, discuss them with your ES or TPD.
Research on GP trainees in difficulty consistently identifies one factor above all others as predicting whether an extension succeeds: the quality of the relationship between trainee and trainer — and the trainee's ability to move from a defensive posture to a genuinely reflective one. This is not just educational theory. Trainees who succeeded in their extensions consistently described this shift.
- • "This extension is unfair"
- • "I'll just collect the minimum evidence"
- • "I'll explain why I had mitigating circumstances"
- • Avoids engaging deeply with the deficient capability
- • Writes reflections that justify rather than explore
- • Views ES meetings as assessments to pass
- • Isolates from peers and supervisors
- • "What does the panel need me to demonstrate?"
- • "How do I understand this capability better?"
- • "What did I actually learn from this experience?"
- • Actively engages with deficient capability descriptor
- • Uses reflection to explore and grow, not to defend
- • Views ES meetings as genuine learning conversations
- • Uses peer and supervisor support actively
📱 Use the FourteenFish mobile app between patients
The FourteenFish app (available on iOS and Android) works offline — you can record the basics of a learning log between consultations and fill in the reflection later when you have more time. This is the single most effective habit change that trainees report when they start producing consistent portfolio evidence. Instead of trying to reconstruct five consultations from memory at the weekend, you note the key learning point immediately after it happens.
You do not need to write a full entry on the app. A brief note — which patient situation, what was uncertain, what you want to reflect on — is enough to trigger a quality reflection when you sit down to complete it properly.
🔍 Check the Curriculum Coverage screen regularly — not just before reviews
FourteenFish's Curriculum Coverage section shows you at a glance where you have strong evidence and where you have gaps. During an extension, checking this weekly (not just before your ES meeting) lets you direct your log entries strategically — planning which cases to write about to fill the persistent gaps.
The areas that most commonly fall short are ENT, ophthalmology, genetics, sexual health, and skin conditions. If these are blank in your coverage, you do not need to seek out a specialist clinic — you can reflect on community referrals, incidental encounters, or tutorial discussions. Any genuine learning on the topic counts.
🔗 Link capabilities as you go — not just at review time
In FourteenFish, you can link log entries to Professional Capabilities as you write them. Many trainees leave this until the ESR, then find themselves frantically trying to link dozens of entries to capabilities they cannot quite remember. Linking as you go (or at least weekly) means you always know where your capability coverage stands — and allows your ES and trainer to validate the links more accurately.
Note: Trainees link to Curriculum Headings; trainers/supervisors link to Professional Capabilities. Make sure both of you know who does what, and discuss the linking in your regular check-ins.
✅ Mark entries as "shared" — or they are invisible to the panel
This cannot be overstated: log entries that are not marked as "shared" in FourteenFish are not visible to the ARCP panel. It does not matter how well-written they are. The panel uses the administrator login view, which only shows shared content. Check every entry is shared. Do this now, not on the day before your panel.
Also: once an entry is marked as "read" by your trainer, it is locked and cannot be edited. If you need to add something, contact your ES to discuss it — or add a new supplementary entry that cross-references the locked one.
📊 Use the Progress Dashboard to track your status honestly
FourteenFish's progress dashboard gives you a visual overview of where you are against WPBA requirements and capability coverage. During an extension, use this as your weekly self-audit tool. Ask yourself: Am I on track for the required number of COTs, CbDs, and log entries? Are the capabilities I need to demonstrate actually improving in coverage? Is my reflection quality improving, or am I still writing descriptions?
The best trainees treat their FourteenFish dashboard like a clinical audit — checking it regularly, identifying deviations from target, and acting on them promptly.
Research on trainees in difficulty consistently shows that peer support is one of the most protective factors. Trainees who connect with others — even just one or two peers they can be honest with — report better emotional resilience, better motivation, and better portfolio quality. This does not have to be a formal arrangement. A weekly coffee with another trainee who understands what you're going through, or a small peer learning log group where you share reflections with each other, can make a significant difference to the quality of your work and to your wellbeing during the extension.
💙 Wellbeing — This Bit Matters Too
Being given an extension can feel like a blow — and it is fair to say it often does feel that way, even when trainees know rationally that it is not the end of the world. You may feel embarrassed in front of colleagues. You may worry about what it means for your career. You may feel behind others who have moved on. You may be exhausted. All of these feelings are completely normal.
What matters most is that you do not white-knuckle through the next few months alone. Speak to someone — your trainer, your Educational Supervisor, your TPD, or one of the services below. Trainees who engage support and work constructively through their extension almost always emerge stronger. Those who isolate and just put their heads down often struggle.
You are not the only trainee who has received an extension. Not even close. And most of them went on to become excellent GPs.
Common blind spots when supporting trainees in extension:
Tick these off as you complete them. Share a copy with your ES so you are both working to the same list.
📅 Dates & Admin
- Confirmed last working day with Administrator
- Confirmed ARCP panel date
- Arranged ES meeting (~1 week before ARCP)
- Arranged CSR date with Clinical Supervisor
- All four dates in my diary
- Emailed both supervisors a summary of all dates
- Asked GP School to fast-track CCT notification
📋 Evidence — Deficient Capabilities
- Read ARCP panel report and last ESR
- Listed deficient capabilities and panel concerns
- Spoken to ES / Trainer to understand the deficiencies
- Made a specific evidence plan for each capability
- Included any evidence specified by the panel
- Written end-of-extension reflection (genuine, not defensive)
- All evidence uploaded and "shared" in FourteenFish
📊 Continued WPBA
- COTs / Mini-CEXs at correct rate (FT: 1/month)
- CbDs at correct rate (FT: 1/month)
- PDPs written and current
- Log entries at correct rate (FT: ~6/month)
- OOH sessions engaged and logged
- MSF started (if required) — immediately
- PSQ started (if required) — immediately
📁 Before ES Meeting
- Updated ES Workbook uploaded to FourteenFish
- Updated Form R uploaded (new complaints detailed)
- Self-assessment of all 13 Capabilities completed
- Final learning log entry pulling all evidence together
- CSR completed and uploaded
- All log entries marked as "shared"
- MSF and PSQ results available (if required)
Will I get study leave funding during my extension?
Study leave funding is not normally approved during extension periods. You should check with your GP School about local policy, but as a general rule, funding for courses and conferences is not available during an extension. This is worth confirming early so you can plan accordingly.
What if I'm less-than-full-time (LTFT) — how does this affect my extension?
If you are LTFT and were given an extension due to inadequate progress, the extension period will be on a pro-rata basis. All WPBA requirements (COTs, CbDs, log entries, OOH) are also pro-rated. The formulas in this page show the part-time rates. For OOH, the total sessions required are calculated on full-time equivalent months (see OOH section). Always clarify the exact details with your GP School.
Can I appeal against my Outcome 3?
Yes. The Gold Guide sets out the appeals process for adverse ARCP outcomes. You should discuss an appeal with your TPD or ES in the first instance. Be aware that appeals need to be based on procedural grounds (e.g. the panel did not follow correct process) rather than simply disagreeing with the panel's clinical judgement of your ePortfolio. If you believe there are mitigating circumstances the panel did not consider, these should be submitted as part of the formal appeal process within the timescales specified.
What happens if I don't complete all the requirements in my extension?
If you do not meet the requirements set by the ARCP panel in your extension period, the panel has limited options. It is highly unlikely they will grant a further extension. Depending on the severity of remaining deficiencies, you may receive another Outcome 3 (in exceptional circumstances), an Outcome 4 (released from training), or be referred to a central/senior panel. The safest assumption is that you will not be given another chance — treat this extension as your one opportunity to put things right.
What if my extension is only to allow me to sit the SCA or AKT — do I still need to do all the WPBA?
Yes. Even if the only reason for your extension is to allow you to sit an exam again, you must still continue all normal WPBA activities at the expected rate. Passing the exam without maintaining your ePortfolio means you still will not receive your CCT. The panel reviews both at your extension ARCP.
Do I need to attend my ARCP panel in person?
ARCP panels in GP training are usually ePortfolio reviews — the panel reviews your FourteenFish ePortfolio without you being present. However, some panels may wish to speak with you, especially if the deficiencies are complex or if there are concerns about your progression. If you are asked to attend, you will be notified in advance. Check with your GP Training Scheme Administrator for local arrangements.
My ES is hard to get hold of — what should I do?
Contact your TPD. It is the ES's professional responsibility to be available for supervision, and an extension period is not the time for supervision to become patchy. Your TPD can facilitate contact or, if necessary, arrange for a different ES to cover your extension. Do not allow a disengaged ES to derail your extension — escalate early if communication is repeatedly unsuccessful.
What happens if I am off sick during my extension?
Sickness absence during an extension is treated the same way as during any other period of GP training — it follows normal NHS employment procedures. Importantly, you do not need to "make up" any sickness absence time by extending your extension further. If you are sick during your extension, the extension end date does not automatically move. If your sickness is significant and affects your ability to complete the required evidence, discuss the situation with your TPD or GP School — they can advise on whether additional time or support is warranted in your specific circumstances. Maintain your sick leave records as normal and ensure any periods of absence are recorded on your Form R.
Once I complete my extension successfully, how do I actually get my CCT?
Once your final ARCP panel has given you a satisfactory outcome (Outcome 6), the process works as follows. Your ARCP outcome is recorded on FourteenFish. An "Apply for CCT" button will then appear within your FourteenFish portfolio — you must click this to initiate the application. Your application is sent to the RCGP's GP Specialist Applications team for verification. Once approved by the RCGP, they notify the GMC, who will add your name to the GP Register. You then apply to the GMC separately for inclusion on the register. You cannot practise independently as a GP until your name is on the GMC's GP Register.
This process can take several weeks — which is why asking your GP School to request a fast-turnaround CCT notification at the start of your extension (not at the end) can make a significant difference to your job-application timeline.
My extension involves FourteenFish — where do I upload the ES Workbook?
Upload the ES Workbook as a learning log entry in FourteenFish, titled "The ES Workbook", under the "Professional Conversation" section. Make sure it is marked as "shared" so your ES and the ARCP panel can see it. The ES Workbook should cover the whole of the last ST year including the extension period — it is an updated version of the previous workbook, not a new one.
🎯 Final Take-Home Points
- An extension is extra time, not a verdict. Use it with purpose and you will come through it.
- Work out your four key dates immediately — last working day, ARCP, ES meeting, CSR. Put them all in your diary today and email your supervisors.
- The two-pronged approach is mandatory: targeted evidence for your deficient capabilities, and continued WPBA at the normal trainee rate. Both. Not one or the other.
- MSF and PSQ take weeks to gather responses. If you need them — start them today, not next week.
- Your end-of-extension reflection is one of the most powerful things you will write. Make it genuine, insightful, and forward-looking — not defensive.
- Contact your ES early and stay in contact throughout the extension. Regular communication, not just a meeting at the beginning and end.
- Passing your exams alone is not enough. WPBA must be current and complete at your ARCP panel regardless of the reason for your extension.
- All log entries must be marked as "shared" in FourteenFish. Items not marked shared are invisible to the panel.
- Ask your GP School to notify the RCGP Certification Unit for fast-track CCT processing. It makes a real difference to your job application timeline.
- Look after yourself. Reach out if you are struggling. This is genuinely hard — and you do not have to do it alone.
🔗 Related Bradford VTS Pages