Information for trainees
STP Completion 2026 – guidance and key dates
We hope that you have been enjoying your training and are now starting to look to your future healthcare science careers. As you are reaching the later stages of the STP we want to provide a reminder of some important dates and some hints and tips to prepare for completion of your programme.
At this point most of you will be submitting or have already submitted your MSc research project; you will be preparing for your Final Year Assessment (FYA) or IACC and you will have identified how you will achieve the completion of your e-portfolio.
We have a mixed group of trainees completing this year, some on the new curriculum, some on the older version of the curriculum. This means that the completion requirements may be slightly different for different groups, so it is important that you understand which applies to you.
For all trainees who commenced training in 2023 your completion requirements are:
- 100% completion of the e-portfolio, OneFile
- A pass in the MSc in Clinical Science
- A pass in the FYA
Read more about the completion requirements for 2023 starters
Clinical Microbiology trainees commencing in 2022 and all trainees commencing from 2021 or earlier will continue to be subject to the Independent Assessment of Clinical Competence (IACC).
For trainees who commenced training in 2021 or earlier, your completion requirements are:
- A pass in the MSc in Clinical Science
- A pass in the IACC
- Completion of the e-portfolio as outlined in the completion requirements for your original cohort
View the completion requirements for 2021 starters
View the completion requirements for 2020 starters
Key dates for completion of the STP – not including those with extensions or interruptions already approved who may be subject to different timelines
- Last date to submit an EEC application for extension of training with deferral of the FYA or IACC – Wednesday 20 May 2026
- Summer IACC critical reflection submission deadline (2021 entrants or earlier and 2022 Clinical Microbiology trainees) – Wednesday 10 June 2026 at 12pm
- Summer IACC interviews – Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 June 2026
- Summer FYA interviews – Monday 6 July to Friday 24 July 2026
- Raise concerns /queries regarding sign-off of the e-portfolio to the school – June/August 2026
- Last date to submit an EEC application for extension of training to adjust completion deadline – Wednesday 19 August 2026
- Complete the data audit – August/September 2026
- STP completion deadline (excluding those with approved extensions or interruptions) – Monday 21 September 2026 at 5pm
If you have an approved extension or interruption of training, then your timeline will be subject to those set out in your approval letter or confirmation email.
If you have any questions regarding completion of your programme, please review the guidance available on the website and discuss with your Training Officer. If you are still unsure, drop us an email and we will be happy to advise you england.nshcs@nhs.net
Introducing reflective practice guidance to the STP curriculum
Since the introduction of the NSHCS work-based assessment standards, trainees and trainers have frequently asked the school for more guidance about reflective practice. In response to those requests, we are pleased to announce the launch of reflective practice guidance that we are publishing within the Curriculum Library.
For each entrustable training activity (ETA) and each developmental training activity (DTA) in the Curriculum Library, you can now view a set of reflective practice guidance. The reflective practice guidance is structured using the 4-dimensional model of reflection that the school has been advocating and sharing in our reflective practice resources and webinars. This model invites trainees to think about reflection before, in, on and beyond action.
Trainees may find this helpful when approaching their reflections. The guidance is provided as a set of suggestions only. Trainees can select the questions or prompts that are most appropriate. A comprehensive response to every prompt is NOT required and other approaches to reflection can still be used if preferred.
To include the reflective practice guidance in the curricula we have had to change the Curriculum Library urls for training activities and modules, so if you had these saved you will need to update your links.
Further advice and guidance about reflective practice can be found in the following modules with the Learning Hub:
Supporting trainees with developing evidence for specialist training activities
Supporting trainees with the S-C1 Professional Foundations module
Sign up for our trainees reflective practice guidance webinar
Reflective practice guidance for the STP curriculum – A trainee introduction
Thursday 16 April 2026 – 10:30am to 11:30am
View further details and register for this webinar
Do you need support with S-C4 Individual Professional Development?
We are offering the following online session to help you with the core module S-C4 Individual Professional Development.
Developing evidence for S-C4 Individual Professional Development
Thursday 30 April 2026 – 10am to 11:30am
This session is for STP trainees. The main aims are to:
- Explore strategies to support you with navigating your own professional development.
- Identify evidence that can be generated for each of the training activities in S-C4.
- Share resources which can be used for the module.
- Explore effective reflective practice in relation to the module S-C4.
View further details and register for this webinar
New animations to help you understand work-based assessments
The school has published a series of 3 animations about the various types of work-based assessment, to help trainees, their trainers and assessors to swiftly understand the purpose of each type of assessment and how they should be completed.
The series comprises animations about:
- training activities
- observed assessments
- case-based discussions
Watch the animations about work-based assessments
Information for Training Officers
STP curricula for 2026
The STP curricula for 2026 are now available in the Curriculum Library. The curricula incorporate the changes from the curriculum rolling review process, which was applied for the first time this year. These changes will be applied to the curricula for the 2026 cohort of trainees. Trainees already on the STP will continue to follow the curriculum for the year they started the programme.
On the school website you can view the changes that have been made, and the reasons for making them. This now includes confirmation of the major changes for INIR, Radiation Safety and Diagnostic Radiology and Radiotherapy Physics.
The curriculum rolling review process will continue to run every year and you can submit feedback to inform the review through the Curriculum Library.
View the STP curricula for 2026 in the Curriculum Library
Introducing reflective practice guidance to the STP curriculum
Since the introduction of the NSHCS work-based assessment standards, trainees and trainers have frequently asked the school for more guidance about reflective practice. In response to those requests, we are pleased to announce the launch of reflective practice guidance that we are publishing within the Curriculum Library.
For each entrustable training activity (ETA) and each developmental training activity (DTA) in the Curriculum Library, you can now view a set of reflective practice guidance. The reflective practice guidance is structured using the 4-dimensional model of reflection that the school has been advocating and sharing in our reflective practice resources and webinars. This model invites trainees to reflect on completing the training activity before, in, on and beyond action.
Trainees may find this helpful when approaching their reflections. The guidance is provided as a set of suggestions only. Trainees can select the questions or prompts that are most appropriate. A comprehensive response to every prompt is NOT required and other approaches to reflection can still be used if preferred.
This is the only change to curricula in delivery that has been made. Trainees will otherwise still complete the same programme they started. To include the reflective practice guidance in the curricula we have had to change the Curriculum Library urls for training activities and modules, so if you had these saved you will need to update your links.
Further advice and guidance about reflective practice can be found in the following modules with the Learning Hub:
Supporting trainees with developing evidence for specialist training activities
Supporting trainees with the S-C1 Professional Foundations module
Sign up for our trainers reflective practice guidance webinar
Reflective practice guidance for the STP curriculum – A trainer introduction
Wednesday 15 April 2026 – 11am to 12pm
View further details and register for this webinar
Do you need help with supporting your trainees with S-C4 Individual Professional Development?
We are offering the following online session to help you to support your trainee with the core module S-C4 Individual Professional Development.
Supporting trainees with S-C4 Individual Professional Development
Tuesday 28 April 2026 – 11am to 12:30pm
This session is for STP trainers and assessors. The main aims are to:
- Explore strategies to support trainees with navigating their own professional development.
- Identify evidence that can be generated by trainees for each of the training activities in S-C4.
- Share resources which can be used by trainees for the module.
- Explore effective reflective practice in relation to the module S-C4.
View further details and register for this webinar
Sign up for our trainers’ webinars series
Join our series of webinars focused on different aspects of effective training practice.
The role of the Training Officer as a personal tutor, coach and mentor
Thursday 7 May 2026 – 10:30am to 12pm
This session is best suited to STP and ETP Training Officers but is open to anyone who is interested. The main aims of the session are:
- To explore the multifaceted role of the Training Officer.
- To examine and share different techniques and skills used to develop the trainer: trainee relationship.
View further details and register for this webinar
Strategies to develop independent learning in work-based training
Wednesday 20 May 2026 – 10:30am to 12pm
This session is best suited to STP and ETP Training Officers but is open to anyone who is interested. The main aims of the session are:
- To explore strategies to support the development of independent learners in work-based training.
- To examine the role of feedback, target setting and action planning in developing autonomy.
View further details and register for this webinar
Designing effective workplace training: Differentiated approaches and training methods
Tuesday 9 June 2026 – 11am to 12:30pm
This session is best suited to STP and ETP Training Officers but is open to anyone who is interested. The main aims of the session are:
- To explore what makes good practice in planning for learning and training.
- To examine and apply the principles of differentiated and adaptive practice to the work-based training environment.
View further details and register for this webinar
Developing a motivating training environment
Friday 26 June 2026 – 10am to 11:30am
This session is best suited to STP and ETP Training Officers but is open to anyone who is interested. The main aims of the session are:
- To explore approaches to motivation and learning.
- To identify and examine strategies to create a motivational training environment.
View further details and register for this webinar
Bring your questions to an STP trainers drop-in session
If you’re involved in training for the Scientist Training Programme (STP) we have planned drop-in events throughout the year. You can drop in any time during these sessions to speak to us.
View further details and dates of the drop-in sessions
What do you know about the NHS educator workforce?
Educators are the backbone of healthcare education and training. They guide, support, and shape the future of the healthcare workforce ensuring they can deliver excellent care to patients and communities.
The Educator Workforce Programme aims to value, develop and support the diverse NHS educator workforce across all professions and employers. We’re building cultures where educators have protected time, resources and recognition in workforce planning.
To find out more about NHS educators and get involved, visit NHS Educator Workforce Programme webpage.
New animations to help you understand work-based assessments
The school has published a series of 3 animations about the various types of work-based assessment, to help trainees, their trainers and assessors to swiftly understand the purpose of each type of assessment and how they should be completed.
The series comprises animations about:
- training activities
- observed assessments
- case-based discussions
Watch the animations about work-based assessments
Missed a previous edition of the STP Monthly Memo?
You will find previous copies of the STP Monthly Memo on our website.