Sir,

The Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) allows the holder to work as a consultant ophthalmologist in the UK or Europe. We present data identifying the post-CCT career outcomes of the 2007–2010 cohort. Analysis includes time taken to secure post, subspecialty interest and post location.

The career outcome of CCT holders, identified from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists' database, was researched at a local, deanery, and national level.

Data were obtained from over 85% of holders over the 4 years. The number of CCTs awarded between 2007 and 2010 has remained stable, with a mean of 69 being awarded each year (Figure 1).

Figure 1
figure 1

Recommendations for CCT 2007–2010.

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Around half of the CCT holders gained a consultant post within 1 year and over three quarters were in a consultant post within 2 years. Almost all the CCT holders were in a consultant post by 3 years (Table 1).

Table 1 Percentage of CCT holders securing consultant posts
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The majority of consultant postings (90–96%) were identified as having a subspecialty interest (Figures 2 and 3). Medical retina was the most common, accounting for 25% of all posts, followed by oculoplastics (19%), vitreoretinal (14%), paediatrics and strabismus (12%), glaucoma (11%), and cornea (9%). Nine posts (4%) were identified in general ophthalmology or primary care.

Figure 2
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Consultant appointments by subspecialty 2007–2010.

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Figure 3
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Trends in consultant appointments by subspecialty 2007–2010.

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Regional trends have also remained stable (Figures 4 and 5). A mean of 51% of trainees stayed within the training deanery for their consultant post, 34% took up a position out of the region and 15% went overseas, most commonly Australia.

Figure 4
figure 4

Consultant appointments by region 2007–2010.

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Figure 5
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Trends in consultant appointments by region 2007–2010.

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Ophthalmology training in the UK continues to deliver a majority of consultant-ready ophthalmologists; however, many are undertaking an additional year(s) of subspecialty fellowship before attaining their consultancy post. It is unclear whether this is due to the fact that the majority of UK consultant posts are currently advertised with a subspecialty interest, personal choice, or a lack of advanced subspecialty training in Ophthalmic Specialist Training (OST).

One of the key messages from the Shape of Training report1 is for provision of more general doctors across all medical specialties. It remains to be seen how the implementation of Shape will affect the future of ophthalmic training.

This cohort of CCT holders started their training before the introduction of run-through OST in 2007.2 The first cohort of trainees in the new system is only just starting to emerge. In the next few years, we will have a better idea of how the new OST system has affected the outcome of CCT holders.