RCP has been commissioned by NHS England to develop a range of professional certificates (credentials) for clinicians working in adult gender identity healthcare services.
Three professional certificates to meet Gender Identity Clinics (GIC) workforce credentialing needs
Three RCP professional certificate awards are available, to meet the credentialing requirements for statutorily regulated healthcare professionals (HCPs) working with gender diverse adults in GICs, and potentially in other adult service settings, such as primary care:
- Professional Certificate in Core Capabilities in Clinical Practice for Adult Gender Identity Healthcare (Certificate 1)
- Professional Certificate in Advanced Capabilities in Clinical Practice for Adult Gender Identity Healthcare (Certificate 2)
- Professional Certificate in Prescribing Capabilities in Clinical Practice for Adult Gender Identity Healthcare (Certificate 3).
Cost for May 2023
- Certificate 1: £2,000
- Certificate 2: £1,800 (will be available post September 2023)
- Certificate 3: £900 (will be available post September 2023).
How long will the Certificates take to complete?
Learners can complete each certificate in a minimum of three months and a maximum of 12 months, and there are three cohorts/entry points per year, sequenced in parallel with three portfolio submission points. Learners will have the opportunity to submit their portfolio of evidence in time to progress to the next level Certificate level entry point.
This provides flexibility for each learner to progress through the Certificate levels at their own pace, and facilitates learning across the range of employment patterns in gender identity healthcare settings.
January
- Learners start certificate
- Portfolio submission point.
May
- Learners start certificate
- Portfolio submission point.
September
- Learners start certificate
- Portfolio submission point.
Who are these certificates for?
Professional Certificate 1:
- designed for all statutorily regulated HCPs who work in the ‘Named Professional’ role described in NHS (England) Service Specifications for Specialist Adult Gender Services and other services intended specifically for transgender diverse (TGD) adults, such as Sexual Health, Urology or Obstetrics & Gynaecology Services for TGD people
- Certificate 1 may also be suitable for HCPs in other settings seeking to improve the experience of TGD adults using services intended for the whole population
- Certificate 1 is a prerequisite for certificates 2 and 3.
Professional Certificate 2:
- is for all HCPs who work in the ‘Lead Clinician’ role described in NHS (England) Service Specifications for Specialist Adult Gender Services and for ‘Specialist Gender Service Clinical Leads’
- Clinicians must complete certificate 1 before progressing to certificate 2
- Certificate 2 is NOT available on a standalone basis.
Professional Certificate 3:
- is for all HCPs who prescribe or who make specific prescribing recommendations to prescribers, such as GPs, for the treatment of gender incongruence in Specialist Adult Gender Services (currently medical practitioners and non-medical prescribers, such as nurses and pharmacists)
- Clinicians must complete certificate 1 before progressing to certificate 3
- Certificate 3 is NOT available on a standalone basis.
What are the key aims of the certificates?
Professional Certificate 1:
Learners who complete this certificate will be able to take a history, provide basic information and describe the care process. They will learn to facilitate and monitor an individual’s progress whilst working effectively with a multidisciplinary team (MDT). They will cover professional standards, good governance, and relevant legislation.
Professional Certificate 2:
Learners who complete this certificate will be able to assess and agree diagnostic coding, create a comprehensive treatment plan and manage individuals with more complex needs. They will explore collaboration, referrals and good clinical leadership.
Professional Certificate 3:
Learners who complete this certificate will be able to act upon an endorsement for endocrine intervention for gender incongruence, complete an assessment relevant to prescribing and provide information on the full range of options available to the individual. They will cover prescribing safely, monitoring and good prescribing governance.
The certificates will centre on workplace-based learning and assessment:
How will learners study?
- Learners will be supported to learn in their workplace by a suite of e-learning resources that are hosted on the RCP’s dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
- Learners will be able to access and engage with these e-learning resources at their own pace, in the order that best supports their workplace-based learning
- Learners will also have opportunities to engage with other learners via online discussion forums; sharing their experiences of learning and creating networking opportunities
- Learners will attend an online induction day using our virtual classroom which will work through how to use the resources and complete their portfolio.
How will learners be assessed?
- Learners will meet the capabilities in practice (CiPs) of the relevant professional certificate. These CiPs describe the professional tasks or work within the scope of the relevant professional certificate that have been deemed essential attributes for clinicians working in adult gender identity services.
- Learners will submit a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate the CiPs:
- this includes evidence of workplace-based assessments, evidence-based reflective entries and feedback from patients and colleagues
- to do this they will need to identify a supervisor to support them
- the evidence needs to be gathered whilst working in an approved centre or network.
Dates for May 2023 Certificate 1 entry
First 2023 Entry Point Certificate 1 only (as Certificates 1 is a prerequisite of certificates 2 and 3).
22 May 2023: Successful applicants will be sent access to the online course log-on details.
24 May 2023: Online Induction Day 10am to 4pm. Learners will be expected to attend this day as an essential part of the programme and should book study leave at point of application.
Application details
NHS England funded places
There are a number of funded places for those working as statutorily regulated HCPs who work in the ‘Named Professional’ role described in NHS (England) Service Specifications for Specialist Adult Gender Services and other services intended specifically for transgender diverse (TGD) adults, such as Sexual Health, Urology or Obstetrics & Gynaecology Services for TGD people.
The directors at these approved clinics have already been approached and asked to submit details of potential learners to NHSE and RCP. If you are interested in a funded place you should approach your line manager in the clinic in the first instance, and if you need any help or further information please email credential@rcp.ac.uk.
There will be a screening process to ensure an even spread across the GIH clinics in England. The places will then be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis after being assessed for eligibility from the application form data.
Due to the expected popularity of these certificates, it may be that the module is fully booked when your application is received. We will include your details on a waiting list and allocate you a place on the next available intake.
Apply by completing the application form, also linked at the bottom of this webpage.
Self-funded places
If you are interested in a self-funded place you will need to demonstrate the following criteria can be met in your application to the programme:
- you have the support of a suitably qualified work-based supervisor
- you have access within your role to clinical cases in an approved centre.
More information can be found in the 'Supervisor and Site' document linked in the ‘How will learners be assessed?’ section above. You can also email us at credential@rcp.ac.uk for more information. You can pay course fees by card or we can issue an invoice to your employer following receipt of a Purchase Order (PO) number.
Apply by completing the application form, also linked at the bottom of this webpage.
If you have prior experience
If you have any previous experience or training which may be relevant, or if you have already completed some of the previous programme’s modules please get in touch via credential@rcp.ac.uk listing clearly what you have already studied, and/or your prior experience.
We will develop and publish a method of accrediting prior learning and/or experience to reduce the portfolio requirement. This will be ready in September 2023.
The closing date for applications is Monday 17 April, apply now.