Emergency medicine
The National Emergency Medicine Training Programme is a seven-year programme that takes doctors from internship (or later) through to Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) in Emergency Medicine.
The aim of the programme is to ensure the highest standards of emergency medicine practice in Ireland by delivering high-quality accredited training across the spectrum of the specialty.
Training programme
The programme has two elements – three years of Core Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine (CSTEM) and four years of Advanced Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine (ASTEM).
Your journey
Applicants for the Core Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine (CSTEM) programme receive marks for performance at interview for knowledge and dedication to emergency medicine, approach to a clinical problem, and general suitability for a career in emergency medicine.
SelectionYour three years of CSTEM begins with a one-day induction session. You will receive an intensive overview of your training journey, indicating milestones, mandatory curriculum and essential requirements for eligibility for ASTEM progression.
InductionYour first 12 months will consist of six months emergency medicine and six months trauma and orthopaedics, plastic surgery or acute medicine all under the supervision of approved consultant trainers.
Year 1Year 2 of the programme will see you rotate through six months of emergency medicine and six months of paediatric emergency medicine. Again, all under the supervision of approved consultant trainers.
Year 2Your final 12 months will consist of six months emergency medicine and six months anaesthesia/critical care.
Year 3During CSTEM, you will be expected to take and successfully pass both the Fellowship Examination of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (FRCEM) Primary and FRCEM Intermediate. You need to pass these exams to receive a Certificate of Completion and progress to Advanced Emergency Medicine Training (ASTEM).
ExamsDuring ASTEM, which takes four years to complete, you will spend time working in a minimum of three emergency departments (EDs). The focus of the balance of the rotation is between adult-only, paediatric-only and mixed EDs; urban and rural; and Dublin and outside Dublin units.
ASTEMYou must take and successfully pass the final parts of the FRCEM to receive your Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST). You will be eligible to take this exam from year 3 of ASTEM.
ExamsYou will be awarded a CCST once you have completed all four years of ASTEM training and passed your exams.
Certification
