Information for International Candidates

National Breast Imaging Academy Clinical Fellow – International Sponsorship Requirements

We welcome applications from international candidates. Applicants must have equivalent qualifications and be eligible to work in the UK.

There are a number of routes available:

• Medical Training Initiative – Tier 5 Visa with GMC sponsorship by Royal College of Radiologists and visa sponsorship by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (please see further information below)
• Tier 2 visa – this route is suitable for candidates who either have:
  • Full FRCR   https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/before-you-apply/acceptable-postgraduate-qualifications
  • PLAB  https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/plab/a-guide-to-the-plab-test

Candidates from outside the EU who wish to apply for a National Breast Imaging Academy (NBIA) Clinical Fellow post may be able to do so via the Medical Training Initiative (MTI) scheme. The MTI scheme is a national initiative to allow a small number of doctors to enter the UK from overseas for a maximum of 24 months, so that they can benefit from training and development in NHS services before returning to their home countries.

The NBIA fellowship programme offers sponsorship for full GMC medical registration via the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) MTI scheme.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges is a National Sponsor of the scheme and is responsible for issuing the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for the Tier 5 visa.

Eligibility criteria

• An acceptable medical qualification.
• Completion of at least one year in an internship/House Doctor post.
• Completion of at least three years of full-time equivalent postgraduate training, including one year’s internship and at least one year in the specialty in which the doctor intends to work.
• Engagement in medical practice for a minimum of three years from the last five years, including the 12 months immediately preceding the date of your application for GMC registration (you should also remain in active clinical practice throughout the application process). Please note that observerships are not recognised as medical practice by the GMC and so you would need to ensure you have been in active medical practice for at least 12 months from the date of any observerships before submitting an application.
• A letter of good standing from the local medical regulatory authority from no older than three months.
• Evidence of proficiency in English by meeting the GMC’s requirements in the IELTS or OET exam.
• Attendance at an identity check in person on arrival in the UK (registration not confirmed until this is completed).

RCR minimum requirements for sponsorship under the MTI

• Evidence of having met all GMC requirements as set out above.
• Evidence of having completed at least 30 months of clinical radiology training outside the UK/EEA.
• Evidence of the offer of a suitable post in the UK for no more than two years and no less than 6 months.

The RCR will not offer sponsorship

• If the applicant is currently living in the UK or EEA, or is a national or citizen of an EEA country or Switzerland.
• If the applicant has completed less than thirty months of clinical radiology training outside the UK/EEA.
• If the applicant has failed any part of the PLAB test without a subsequent pass in that part.
• If the applicant has completed an observership within the last 12 months.
• If the applicants has their full FRCR examination.

Tier 5 visa
Applicants must also check that they can meet all the requirements for a Tier 5 visa. The applicant must be in their home country to apply for the visa. The applicant should allow up to three weeks for a decision on the visa and the process may require the applicant to temporarily relinquish their passport. The rules governing the Tier 5 visa means that following its expiry, there may be restrictions on granting future visas. Please refer to Tier 5 overview and application.