27/05/2025
RCEM is in the process of updating the 2021 Curriculum and are working with the General Medical Council to have the proposed changes approved and implemented in August 2025.
The changes follow consultation with various groups, including resident doctors in training and trainers. The aim of these changes is for resident doctors in training, and their supervisors, to have greater clarity of expectations and improved options for learning and assessment.
Full guidance will be published following approval from the GMC. Changes to assessment requirements will not be applied retrospectively.
The changes consist of corrections, updates and re-arrangements, plus some broadening of options within the Programmes of Learning and Assessment and changes in emphasis on certain elements.
The underlying clinical syllabus and overall curriculum structure remain unaltered as does the structure of training in Emergency Medicine.
Below you will find some more information about the changes and full transition
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this with a member of the College’s Training Team please email – training@rcem.ac.uk
Please read for further details on the transition and summary of changes.
+ TransitionAcute Care Common Stem (ACCS)
All doctors currently in ACCS training will transition to the updated curriculum in August 2025.
Intermediate and Higher
Most doctors currently in Intermediate and Higher training will transition to the updated curriculum in August 2025.
The only group not expected to move to the updated curriculum is those who, at the implementation date of August 2025 have less than or equal to six months (whole time equivalent) training time remaining before they achieve their Certificate of Completion of Training.
Consideration will also be given to doctors in training who are out of programme or who are on leave at the point of implementation and to retrospective recognition of experience.
Full transition guidance will be published following approval from the GMC and changes to assessment requirements will not be applied retrospectively.
ACCS
LO5 & LO7 – Sedation
Intermediate and Higher
SLO5 – Adolescent Care Inclusion
SLO5 – Paediatric Resuscitation Consistency
SLO6 – Clarification of Adult Sedation Requirements
SLO6 – Supporting Assessment of Practical Skills
SLO11 – Revised Quality Improvement Assessment Tool (QIAT)
SLO12 – Refining Leadership & Management Terminology
SLO12 – Strengthening Leadership Focus in Training
SLO12 – Management activities
SLO12 – Leadership Assessment Tool (LAT)
Generic SLOs – Guidance
Generic SLOs – Entrustment Rating Requirements
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this with a member of the College’s Training Team please email – training@rcem.ac.uk
The General Medical Council (GMC), in its 2017 report ‘Excellence by Design’ has stated that the curricula for all medical specialties must be revised by 2021. The revised curricula must:
We have received final approval from the GMC for the submitted curriculum for 2021. The Curriculum Sub-Committee would like to thank all those in the wider EM community who fed in to the development by answering surveys, asking questions of the team, and providing feedback. The 2021 Curriculum is available in an interactive format via the bespoke RCEMCurriculum website.
A PDF version of the 2021 EM Curriculum is also now available for download.
See also the RCEM 2021 Curriculum Ultrasound Education & Training.