Public health leadership

WHO Health and Climate Conference, WHO Headquarters.

Specialty Registrar (StR) in Public Health

Public health is not only an academic discipline but a postgraduate medical specialty. Following the two-year Foundation programme, or significant senior-level experience in public health for those without a medical degree, you can apply through national recruitment to become a Specialty Registrar (StR) in Public Health. Training lasts for five years full-time and leads to a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Public Health and inclusion on the GMC specialist register or the UK Public Health Register. 

CCT holders are eligible to apply for Consultant posts in public health, such as within a Local Authority, Public Health England, or increasingly within the NHS, health think tanks and policy organisations such as The Kings’ Fund or Health Foundation.

It is entirely possible to train part time in public health, and academic experience is encouraged during training, either within the programme — for example through a placement with a research group — or through taking time out to complete a PhD. 

The MPhil in PHS forms the academic foundation for professional training in public health in the East of England. If you are accepted onto the training programme and do not already hold a relevant Masters degree then the training programme will help you to apply for a place on the MPhil. At the time of writing, MPhil fees are covered by the training programme and public health registrars are paid a salary throughout training. 

Recruitment to public health training is nationally co-ordinated and opens in November each year. Find out more here.