DRE-EM ST3 2027: your next steps

Check your route

DRE-EM enters emergency medicine at specialty training year 3. The experience route requires 24 months of relevant experience, including 12 months in EM, competence evidence, GMC registration and right to work. Surgical routes need Core Surgical Training or its equivalent, at least 6 months in EM and MRCS by the offers deadline. Read the person specification for your route before applying.⁠^[1][8]

Round 2 at a glance

These are national dates, not a confirmed DRE-EM specialty timetable. All times are UK local time.⁠^[4][10]

1. Next listed: 19 November 2026, 10amApplications open
2. 10 December 2026, 4pmApplications close
3. 15 December 2026, 5pmInitial prioritisation review deadline
4. 11 January–9 April 2027National interview window
5. 13 April 2027, 5pmInitial offers deadline
6. 21 April 2027, 1pmHold deadline
7. 22 April 2027, 4pmUpgrade deadline
8. August–December 2027National start period

DRE-EM evidence upload, validation, appeal, interview and exact start dates are unconfirmed in the readable sources. MSRA use is also unconfirmed: the national list names ACCS EM CT/ST1, not DRE-EM ST3.⁠^[4][5][9]

Apply once, check twice

Keep one Oriel account and use one session at a time. Choose Medical and Public Health Specialties, then find the DRE-EM ST3 vacancy. ST3 ACCS has a separate application; applications cannot be transferred.⁠^[2][3][8]

Before you submit:⁠^[1][2][6]

• Prepare qualifications and examination results.
• Record employment history and gaps.
• Gather GMC and right-to-work details.
• Arrange three referees who supervised clinical training within the last two years.
• Attach required eligibility documents.
• Have current ALS or equivalent evidence ready at submission.⁠^[13]
• Check Messages regularly.
• Confirm the status changes from In progress to Applied.

Oriel account and document checklist

• Register if you need an account.⁠^[2]
• Check the confirmation email and junk folder; contact the recruitment office if nothing arrives within 60 minutes.⁠^[2]
• Read the advert, person specification and applicant guidance before opening the form.
• Record all clinical employment in Pakistan and elsewhere.
• Gather publication, presentation, research and audit dates and titles.
• Complete self-assessment answers.
• Check every entry before submitting.⁠^[1][2][5]

Self-assessment: 12 domains, 36 maximum

2026 preparation guidance, not a confirmed 2027 score sheet. Each domain allows one response and up to three points. The 36-point total is calculated from those maxima; assessors may change scores after checking evidence.⁠^[5]

Gather evidence now; national guidance requires it to exist when you apply. Upload later when invited, to the specified system and domain. Translate non-English documents and remove patient identifiers.⁠^[9]

Scoring traps:

• Closed-loop audit earns the highest audit score.⁠^[5]
• Monthly teaching needs both a timetable and teaching plan.⁠^[5]
• Competence assessments need at least 10 workplace assessments, plus multisource/360 feedback and supervisor reports.⁠^[5]
• Letters to editors, abstracts and case reports are excluded.⁠^[5]
• Rota coordination does not count as leadership.⁠^[5]

All score options and required evidence (2026)

1. Additional degrees

3

standalone master's or higher degree with research thesis, unrelated to the primary medical qualification.

2

additional degree with first-class honours.

1

other undergraduate or postgraduate degree/diploma.

0

none.

Evidence Degree certificate. For non-UK master's/higher degrees, also an awarding-body statement confirming UK MSc-or-higher equivalence and the research topic. Teaching degrees belong in domain 6; MRCEM belongs in domain 8.

2. Academic awards

3

national undergraduate or postgraduate academic award.

2

local postgraduate academic award.

1

local undergraduate academic award, such as merit or distinction.

0

none.

Evidence Award certificate or letter confirming achievement.

3. Presentations/publications

3

national/international oral presentation OR first-author peer-reviewed journal article.

2

regional oral presentation OR co-author peer-reviewed article.

1

regional, national or international poster.

0

none.

Letters to editors, abstracts and case reports are excluded.

Evidence Presentation plus meeting programme, or publication, clearly showing your role.

4. Audit/quality improvement

3

designed and led a completed project with the loop closed.

2

designed and led a project.

1

team involvement OR involvement in an RCEM audit.

0

none.

Evidence Project summary, second-cycle evidence where applicable, and supervisor confirmation of your role.

5. Teaching delivery

3

principal organiser of a relevant course.

2

faculty member on a relevant course.

1

formal planned teaching at least monthly.

0

none.

Evidence Letter confirming organiser/faculty involvement. For monthly teaching, both a timetable showing frequency and a teaching plan.

6. Teaching qualifications

3

master's in medical education.

2

postgraduate diploma in medical education.

1

postgraduate certificate in medical education OR university-accredited educational supervision course OR “Train the Trainers” educational supervision course.

0

none.

Evidence Qualification or course attendance certificate.

7. Other ACCS experience

3

three or more other specialties.

2

two.

1

one.

0

no substantive post.

Each must be a post-Foundation continuous placement of at least three months, achieved by application. The question lists acute medicine, anaesthetics, intensive care and paediatric EM, excluding EM experience.

Evidence Training: ARCP documents or ACCS completion certificate. Non-training: employment contract or supervisor/HR/Medical Staffing letter on hospital headed paper. A hospital-address email is also allowed.

8. Examinations

3

full MRCEM OR all parts of FRCEM Intermediate.

2

FRCEM/MRCEM Primary plus one intermediate component, which may be MRCEM OSCE or SBA.

1

FRCEM/MRCEM Primary OR full MRCS.

0

no relevant postgraduate exams.

Evidence Examination certificate or results letters.

9. Resuscitation competence

3

three or more life-support courses OR evidence covering sick adults, children and trauma.

2

two courses OR adults and children/adults and trauma.

1

adult life support or adult resuscitation competence only.

0

none.

Evidence In-date course certificate or supervisor statement confirming local training and assessment in those skills.

10. Additional EM courses

3

three or more completed additional relevant courses.

2

two.

1

one.

0

none.

Evidence Completion certificates.

11. Competence assessments

3

workplace assessments, multisource/360 feedback and supervisor reports all excellent.

2

all generally good.

1

all satisfactory.

0

none of these combinations.

All three evidence types are required.

Evidence At least 10 workplace-based assessments, multisource/360 feedback and supervisor reports.

12. Leadership

3

national role, such as national BMA committee membership.

2

postgraduate role, such as trainee representative or junior doctors' forum chair.

1

undergraduate role, such as student union head or committee chair.

0

none.

Rota coordination does not count.

Evidence Appointment letter or supervisor letter confirming the position.

The 2026 rules allow one evidence document per question, exclude the alternative competence certificate as scoring evidence, and give a 72-hour appeal window using only originally submitted evidence. Recheck for 2027.⁠^[5]

Alternative Certificate: check the signatory

For the experience route outside GMC-approved EM/ACCS posts, the certificate confirms capabilities equivalent to ACCS EM year 1. The official page accepts 2026 or 2027 certificates for 2027 recruitment.⁠^[1][6]

Who signs

EM consultant only; no relative or partner

Supervision

At least 3 continuous months whole-time equivalent

Recency

Within 3½ years before the advertised start

Signatory's NHS work

At least 6 months within 5 years before signing

Capabilities

Every capability confirmed by application

Submission

Complete certificate attached as one document

The consultant must know the expected curriculum. Overseas signatories need current regulator evidence and a certified translation if necessary; historic GMC registration is insufficient. A senior trainee may supply evidence, but cannot be the signatory.⁠^[6][7]

Certificate capabilities and declarations

• Download the 2027 form from the official instructions and read the actual declarations.⁠^[6][7]
• It covers professional behaviour, communication, stable adult care, decisions, resuscitation, injuries, procedures, challenging situations, teaching, research and quality improvement.⁠^[6][7]
• Learning outcomes 2, 3 and 6 require level 2a: a supervisor on the clinical floor monitoring regularly.⁠^[7]
• Outcomes 1 and 4 require 2b: a supervisor in the hospital able to help promptly.⁠^[7]
• Procedures have their own levels.⁠^[7]
• Supporting evidence can come from a senior trainee at least ST5.⁠^[6][7]
• Complete all declarations and signatory details.⁠^[6][7]
• Scan the complete form as one document before submission.⁠^[6][7]

Interview: practise three areas

RCEM describes three 10-minute sections for ST3/ST4, with structured scoring. This is not confirmed as the 2027 format; follow your invitation.⁠^[8]

• Prioritisation: time management, leadership and safe work under pressure.
• Ethical/clinical: safe decisions and reflection.
• Communication: clear messages and teamwork.⁠^[1][8]

Interview preparation checklist

• Discuss assessed areas with an EM consultant or clinical tutor.
• Show realistic insight into EM.
• Follow specialty instructions.
• Arrange leave and prepare photo identification.⁠^[1][9]
• National guidance says interviews are digital.⁠^[8][9]
• Test the joining link, webcam and microphone on your intended device.⁠^[8][9]
• Follow the specialty invitation.⁠^[8][9]

Quick questions

Does the certificate earn scoring points?

The 2026 guidance excludes it as scoring evidence. Recheck the 2027 rules.⁠^[5]

Is there an official application webinar?

None was verified. RCEM's portfolio login video covers access, not recruitment or scoring.⁠^[11][12]

Built with UK doctors, for UK doctors. Spot an error? Tell us and we will check it against the official source.

Official sources

Checked 26 October 2026. Unreadable specialty guidance and provisional scoring are identified above.

1. 2027 EM ST3 person specification.
2. NHS England: applying through Oriel.
3. Oriel.
4. National recruitment timelines.
5. 2026 ST3 ACCS/DRE-EM self-assessment guidance, readable version.
6. DRE-EM certificate instructions and download.
7. 2027 certificate, official DOCX.
8. RCEM recruitment guidance.
9. NHS England: evidence and interviews.
10. 2027 prioritisation guidance.
11. RCEM ePortfolio guidance.
12. RCEM's portfolio login video.
13. Oriel DRE-EM ST3 questions and evidence (2026 form).