BAPS Certification Training Scheme

In 1987 BAPS introduced a three-year training scheme in plastic surgery for overseas graduates not planning a career in Britain.

The “Certification Scheme” as it became known, was designed to provide training opportunities for junior plastic surgeons in non-European, underdeveloped nations where there was otherwise little plastic surgery available. It provided for one year of training at the senior house officer (SHO) level in a smaller unit, followed subject to satisfactory progress, by two years at the Registrar grade in a larger unit. The smaller units were normally those where there were no other more senior trainees, so the certification SHO would theoretically gain a lot of experience. The Certification Registrar would be placed in one of the larger units where there were already accredited British training Registrars and Senior Registrars. They would rotate amongst allied training units on an annual basis, just like the local trainees, being exposed to the same training opportunities. At the end of the Scheme, they were to be awarded a “Certificate of Sponsored Training” by the Royal College of Surgeons of England under whose overseas doctors training scheme was linked.  

It was anticipated that applicants should have had some exposure to plastic surgery in their own countries, some backing from sponsors and from their own national society or government. They also had to pass the PLAB examination in English language skills, as well as fulfilling the General Medical Council requirements for registration.

The National appointments committee met each March to decide appointments for commencing their initial SHO roles on the 1^st of June that year. The first seven “Certification” SHOs were appointed on 25^th March 1987, commencing that June. All seven were upgraded to Registrar posts. By 1989 the scheme was running well, and the number of trainees was increased to nine per year. By the mid 1990s however, as a result of the Calman Report, British higher surgical training changed to incorporate a “Run Through” system, and the Certification Scheme foundered.

Many of the applicants came from South Asia. Indeed 19 “graduates” were from Pakistan alone. Plastic surgery barely had a presence in that country before the Certification Scheme, and there is little doubt that it gave the specialty a kick start there. Indians also made up a large number of the Certification Trainees. A very large number of all trainees went home to develop plastic surgery in their home countries. Some are now Professors with long academic records, or otherwise influential members of the surgical profession in their home nations.