National Emergency Medicine Training Programme

Emergency Medicine (EM) in Ireland is supervised by the Irish Committee for Emergency Medicine Training (ICEMT) and delivered through the National Emergency Medicine Training Programme.

EM Training Programme Components

Core (Basic) Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine (CSTEM)
Advanced (Higher) Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine (ASTEM)

Since 2014, this is a 7-year training scheme comprising 3 years CSTEM and 4 years ASTEM training. Trainees may progress from CSTEM to ASTEM provided that they satisfactorily complete all elements of CSTEM, succeed at all required examinations via the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) and are deemed suitable for advanced training after a formal Assessment of Suitability for Advanced Training (ASAT) process. Although the ASAT process is offered to CSTEM Trainees it is important to note that this is a competitive process. Training post numbers are determined via NDTP on an annual basis. A progression guide is available to CSTEM Trainees via EMNow.

On satisfactory completion of the National Emergency Medicine Training Programme, doctors will receive a Certificate of Successful Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) and be eligible for inclusion in the Specialist Division of the Register of the Medical Council of Ireland.

Further information on EM training in Ireland is available via the RCSI website and guides for current trainees are available on EMNow.

Core Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine (CSTEM)

Information: Entry to CSTEM is competitive and doctors are eligible to apply during or after satisfactory completion of their intern year. Application and entry criteria will be available on the RCSI website each year.

Recruitment to CSTEM occurs in spring each year and the programme is advertised in the autumn of the previous year. Doctors are eligible to apply for entry to CSTEM during or after satisfactory completion of their intern year

CSTEM is a three year programme during which trainees spend time training in the following posts.

Where possible, training occurs in a single hospital site.

Specialty	Duration
Emergency Medicine	18 months
Acute Medicine or Trauma & Orthopaedic/Plastic Surgery	6 months
Acute Paediatrics or Paediatric Emergency Medicine	6 months
Anaesthesia/Intensive Care Medicine	6 months

Assessment of Suitability for Advanced Training

This competitive assessment takes the form of a multiple station evaluation covering domains including academic development, trainer feedback, communication, teaching and clinical problem solving.

Advanced Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine (ASTEM)

Eligibility criteria for entry to ASTEM are CSTEM (or equivalent) and the required RCEM examinations.

ASTEM was formerly a 5-year programme during which the advanced trainee would rotate through accredited adult and paediatric Emergency Departments. From July 2017, the duration of ASTEM has been four years.

To successfully complete the programme, trainees are required to pass the Fellowship of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (FRCEM) examinations.

Visit RCEM: Fellowship of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine examination

Less than Full Time Training

Flexible training is available to trainees on the National Emergency Medicine Training Programme. Trainees wishing to pursue less than full time training must apply via NDTP and are advised to discuss their application with the ASTEM Programme Director.

Job share positions are also available to trainees on the National Emergency Medicine Training Programme, please discuss with the EM training administration team. Information on this is also available via EMNow.