Pathway to Public Health: A Guide to the UK Recruitment Process

Before dedicating time to the application, your first step must be to thoroughly examine the Person Specification for the current ST1 intake. This official document defines the mandatory criteria candidates must satisfy. You are strongly advised to verify your compliance with all requirements, as stipulated on the official site.

Once eligibility is confirmed, the application is submitted through the electronic recruitment platform. You can register your personal details there even before the official application window opens. 

After the system validates your information, you will be directed to a selection page where you specify the specialty and the relevant recruitment cycle and year.

All applicants entering via the medical route must submit documentary proof of having attained Foundation Competences. Applications are screened against these criteria, and only suitable candidates are then invited to the Assessment Centre stage

The PHAC is a critical, computer-based session comprising three separate and timed exams, taken in a single sitting and delivered via Pearson VUE testing centres across the UK and globally. 

The three papers are:

Throughout the testing, an on-screen countdown timer displays the time remaining for each paper.

Candidates must achieve a designated minimum benchmark score in the critical reasoning, numerical reasoning, and situational judgement tests. Those who meet this standard will be ranked based on their overall PHAC scores. Failure to reach the minimum required score will result in immediate notification that the application cannot progress further.

Successful candidates advance to a virtual Selection Centre, conducted as a digital interview. The entire session, including a candidate briefing, is designed to last approximately 60 minutes. You'll be evaluated by a diverse panel of assessors to ensure your abilities are assessed from varied perspectives, thereby providing a balanced view of your potential. 

The interview consists of six questions, each with a strict 6-minute time limit. Once the time limit is reached (or you complete your answer), the next question will appear immediately. Each question is designed to assess specific essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification. 

Meeting a minimum overall score for the Selection Centre is mandatory. Both the PHAC and Selection Centre requirements must be satisfied to be eligible for consideration for an offer of training.

Throughout the process, you will rank your preferred training programmes and locations. This ranking is crucial as it dictates the sequence in which you are considered for positions when offers are released. 

The candidate with the highest overall rank will receive the first offer for their top-preference choice. However, not all successful candidates will secure their first preference; you may receive an offer for a lower preference, depending on your final rank and the availability of posts across the various programmes.