Calling all second degree trainees! Join us for this webinar and Q&A addressing the upcoming changes to ST recruitment, lead by mr. Sharp, mr. Ananth, and mr. Fowell.

OMFS Speciality Training Recruitment is changing

From October 2025 onwards, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery speciality training recruitment will be starting a phased shift in recruitment to run-through entry only.

To help our members understand these changes, and address any concerns our members may have, the JTG have arranged a webinar on 23rd October 2025 at 19:30. The webinar will be held with Mr Sharp, Mr Anath, and Mr Fowell, who have been working with the Speciality Advisory Committee (SAC) for OMFS and have been instrumental in delivering these changes. They have kindly agreed to take questions from our members to alleviate any concerns, and explain how the changes will be rolled out.

These changes are being led and implemented by the SAC. However, as the JTG, we felt that it was important that our members are informed of changes that will have significant impact on their career progression. Thus, we have approached those who are involved in these changes to outline how this will look and how it may affect those wishing to pursue a career in OMFS.

Summary of changes:

The current OMFS pathway is outlined in Figure 1 below. After dual qualification, and successful completion of medical foundation training, the current pathway involves either;

-          Application to OMFS ST1 run-through training

-          Application to CST, followed by application to OMFS ST3

Figure 1 - Existing Pathway

Where previously, the majority of posts have been ST3 entry, these new changes will ultimately look to move OMFS recruitment to ST1 only. This streamlines the OMFS application process, removes the need for the MSRA examination required for the CST route, and ensures more geographical stability for trainees.

This change will be undertaken in a phased manner, with an initial aim to phase in over a 2-year period. The eventual aim is that trainees will apply to OMFS run-through training, and on the basis of their portfolio and assessments, be placed at the appropriate point within training.

For example, for a dental-first trainee with significant OMFS experience but little overall surgical experience, their ST1 year may comprise various surgical rotations.

Similarly, for a medical-first trainee with significant surgical experience but little overall OMFS experience, their ST1 year may comprise more dentoalveolar experience.

For those with considerable experience in both (for example, a dual qualified individual with both OMFS and overall surgical experience), this may result in the candidate being placed directly at ST3 level.

A diagram demonstrating the possible proposed new pathway is seen at figure 2 below;

Figure 2 - Proposed new pathway

Aims of the webinar

-          To clarify and explain the proposed changes

-          To address any questions JTG members may have

-          To prevent the spread of misinformation regarding how the proposed new pathway and it’s rollout would work

-          To help answer any questions our members may have, from reliable sources

Event Information

Date: 23/10/25

Time: 19:30

MS Teams Link: OMFS recruitment changes webinar | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams

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