Academic or Research Portfolio pathways CESR Portfolio Guide
Complete guide to the Academic or Research Portfolio pathways Portfolio Pathway: 20 evidence sections, and a 5-year currency window. Based on official GMC Specialty Specific Guidance, published by Relevant Royal College or Faculty for the specialty most closely related to the field.
SSG Version: 07 July 2025
Evidence Requirements
The SSG specifies 20 evidence sections. Each section describes what evidence to provide and how to present it.
Research governance
Evidence demonstrating expertise gained through research, day-to-day responsibility for human research, awareness of legal/ethical duties, and appropriate consent arrangements.
What to provide
- Failure or adverse reaction reports
- Research protocol information (records, secure storage, independent review, risk/benefit assessments)
How to present
Copies of reports showing compliance with protocol; assessments of risks and benefits.
Peer reviewed publications
Evidence demonstrating you are a fully trained and independent lead research worker with research published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
What to provide
- Papers published in journals, books or periodicals
- Evidence of publications on aspects of medical education
- Examples of completed projects with competitive grants
- Full copies of papers, publications and projects
How to present
Submit full copies, not just summaries or abstracts. At least 50% should name you as first or last author.
Invitations to present research
Evidence of invitations to present your work at scientific meetings.
What to provide
- Invitations to present your work
- Copies of the presentations delivered
- Feedback from presentations or meeting agendas/programmes
How to present
More weight is given to invitations from academic societies and well-known or international meetings.
Grants, funding, contract values or donations of equipment
Evidence of support received from competitive funding agencies in recognition of the significance of your research.
What to provide
- Confirmation letters of awards, grants, funding, contract values or donations
- Proof of awards (scope of awarding body, milestones, progress reports, publications arising)
How to present
Include examples such as National Clinician Scientist award, EU research grant, or investigator-initiated trial grant awards.
Review of academic or research work
Evidence that your work has been assessed by external reviewers and you have responded to feedback.
What to provide
- Reports from external reviewers (reports, emails, rewrites)
- Evidence of appraisals and assessments
- Proof of submission to reviewers (sent or confirmation emails)
How to present
Provide copies of feedback, assessments, and proof of submission.
Qualifications
Evidence of primary and specialist medical qualifications.
What to provide
- Primary medical qualification (PMQ) verification
- Specialist medical qualification(s) (e.g., MD or PhD)
- Curriculum or syllabus (if undertaken outside the UK)
- Specialist registration outside the UK
- Honours and prizes
- Other relevant qualifications and certificates
How to present
Authenticated copies of qualifications and certificates. Copy of curriculum/syllabus followed during training.
Assessments and appraisals
Evidence of ongoing evaluation of your performance.
What to provide
- Appraisals and assessments (formal appraisals, revalidation portfolio)
- RITAs, ARCPs and training assessments
- 360° and multi-source feedback
- Awards and discretionary points letters
- Personal development plans (PDP)
- Participation in assessment, appraisal and appointments process
How to present
Copies of formal records, feedback letters, and anonymised evidence of participation in assessment processes.
Logbooks, records of daily clinical practice and portfolios
Evidence demonstrating you have achieved all requirements and competencies consistent with practice as a consultant.
What to provide
- Logbooks (procedures personally involved in, age/gender, date, role, outcomes)
- Consolidation, cumulative data sheets, summary lists and annual caseload statistics
How to present
Must be anonymised for individual patient data. Summaries should be completed annually.
Medical reports and Case histories
Examples across the breadth of your practice demonstrating involvement, complexity, and handling of paperwork.
What to provide
- Medical reports following Academy of Medical Royal Colleges format
- Case histories including dates, diagnosis, involvement, and competencies
How to present
Must be anonymised for individual patient data.
Referral letters and Patient lists
Evidence of treating and seeing patients to demonstrate breadth of practice.
What to provide
- Referral letters discussing patient handling (requesting opinions, advising colleagues)
- Patient lists
How to present
Must be anonymised for individual patient data.
Departmental workload, Rotas, Courses, Portfolios
Evidence of your clinical and non-clinical duties, workload, and continuing education.
What to provide
- Departmental (or trust) workload statistics and annual caseload statistics
- Rotas, timetables and job plans
- Courses relevant to specialty
- Portfolios (electronic or revalidation)
How to present
Do not submit whole portfolio; separate evidence under correct headings.
Details of posts and duties
Information confirming your employment history and responsibilities.
What to provide
- Employment letters and contracts of employment
- Job descriptions
- Job plans
How to present
Information must match your CV.
CPD and CME
Evidence of continuing professional development and maintenance of skills.
What to provide
- CPD record certificates, certificates of attendance
- CPD registration points from UK Medical Royal College
- Membership of professional bodies and organisations
How to present
Provide details of events attended describing content, supported by documentary evidence.
Teaching and training
Evidence of your involvement in teaching and training others.
What to provide
- Teaching timetables
- Lectures (posters, timetables, letters)
- Feedback or evaluation forms from those taught
- Letters from colleagues
- Attendance at teaching or appraisal courses
- Participation in assessment or appraisal and appointments processes
How to present
Must be anonymised for individual patient data.
Participation in audit, service improvement
Evidence of involvement in the five stages of the audit process and clinical governance.
What to provide
- Audits undertaken by applicant (audit reports, publications, presentations, guidelines)
- Reflective diaries
- Service Improvement and clinical governance meetings (invitations, minutes)
How to present
Must be anonymised for individual patient data. Reflective diaries must be supported/triangulated by other evidence.
Safety
Evidence supporting awareness and following of Health and Safety requirements.
What to provide
- Declaration of health on application form
- Attendance at appropriate course
- Involvement in infection control
- Logbook information on infections
- Audit on infections
How to present
Copies of certificates, logbook extracts, and audit reports.
Communication
Evidence supporting communication with colleagues and patients.
What to provide
- Letters from colleagues
- Letters of correspondence demonstrating collaboration
- Copies of appraisals or references written for colleagues
- Thank you letters and cards from patients
- Complaints and responses to complaints
- 360° feedback
How to present
Must be anonymised for individual patient and colleague data.
Partnership and teamwork
Evidence of working in multidisciplinary teams and leadership.
What to provide
- Working in multidisciplinary teams (invitations, minutes, job plans)
- Management and leadership experience
- Chairing meetings and leading projects
How to present
Must be anonymised for individual patient data.
Acting with honesty and integrity
Evidence of probity, equality awareness, and data protection compliance.
What to provide
- Declarations on application form
- Statements from referees
- Certificate of Good Standing
- Evidence of attendance at equality/diversity and data protection courses
- Feedback from patients and colleagues
How to present
Appropriately anonymised evidence.
Relationships with patients
Evidence of positive interactions and handling of patient relationships.
What to provide
- Testimonials and letters from colleagues
- Thank you letters, cards from colleagues and patients
- Complaints and responses to complaints
How to present
Must be anonymised for individual patient data.
Knowledge Requirements
Primary Path
Relevant postgraduate degree such as an MD or PhD.
Primary medical qualification must be independently verified by ECFMG if not holding full registration.
Volume and Assessment Targets
The SSG specifies minimum volume and assessment targets for this specialty.
Publications naming applicant as first or last author
Publications
Currency Window & Evidence Volume
Currency Window
Years
Evidence that is more than five years old will be given less weight than more recent evidence. Logbooks may need to go back further than 5 years to cover the full range of competencies.
Evidence Volume
Not specified
Additional Notes
Do not submit original documents.
All copies, other than qualifications you're getting authenticated, must be accompanied by a proforma signed by your verifier.
Submit translations of any documents that are not in English.
If you have a piece of evidence relevant to more than one domain, do not include multiple copies. Include one copy and list it in your evidence list under each relevant area.
Provide a copy of an up to date CV.
Anonymise your evidence before you submit it. Remove names, addresses, contact details, NHS numbers, other individual patient numbers, and GMC numbers. Gender and Date of birth do not need to be anonymised.
As a guide to the standards you will need to meet, you should use the clinical competencies detailed for your narrow specialty in the most closely related CCT curricula.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Academic or Research Portfolio pathways CESR portfolio?
How many framework units does Academic or Research Portfolio pathways require?
What evidence is required for Academic or Research Portfolio pathways specialist registration?
How long is the currency window for Academic or Research Portfolio pathways?
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