The Ultimate Timeline For Your F3 Year
There are so many amazing work options for F3 doctors and sometimes the wealth of options and opportunities can be overwhelming. Being aware of your options, knowing who to reach out to, and being decisive and proactive are all important when planning your F3 Year.
However, underpinning all of this is a timeline for decision making and applications that you will need to stick to if you are going to get the jobs and opportunities that you want.
To ensure that you don’t miss out, we created this two-year timeline to help you make decisions and meet key deadlines. Our timeline starts at the beginning of F2 and ends and the end of F3 but if you choose to continue your non-training career into F4 and beyond, you can simply keep cycling through the timeline for as long as you like.
For ease of use, we have split the timeline into two parts. The first part covers your F2 Year and the planning stage for your F3 Year, and this second part covers the duration of your F3 Year and your transition to working overseas, staying in the UK for an F4, or returning to training.
You can bookmark this page to regularly check in on the timeline and check your progress every month or two. It is also worth looking at our Webinar Calendar where we publish information, updates, and registration links for our webinars.
Note: Please be aware that this article only lays out key deadlines for ST applications for an August start date. It does not include deadlines for Jan/Feb starts. It also does not include the timeline for an August (F4) start in Australia. For information on how to apply for a job Down Under that starts in August - please follow the Australia timeline in the first part of this Ultimate Timeline Series.
📆 August to September (1-2 months into F3)
Congratulations! You have now started your F3 Year! Whether you’ve jumped into work right away or decided to take some time off to recuperate or travel, try to spend the first few months of your F3 enjoying this new adventure.
❓Questions to answer
What are my goals for my F3 year?
Many F3 doctors leave training because they needed a break. While an F3 Year can certainly give you the freedom and flexibility to earn more and work less, there are still some requirements that you need to meet during your time out of training.
This is why we highly recommend taking some time at the start of your F3 Year to reflect on your personal and professional goals, and to consider how you plan to meet these over the course of the year.
We designed our F3 Goal Setting webinar to help guide you though this process. Using our F3 Goal Setting workbook, we go through a series of prompts and exercises to take stock of our current mindset, and set SMART goals for the coming 12 months.
If you have just started a Clinical Fellowship or Trust Grade position, and you have been allocated a supervisor and a study budget then attending our goal setting webinar will help you decide on your goals for the year and start thinking about how to spend your study budget.
You can also subscribe to Messly’s F3 Stories Podcast to hear from previous and existing F3 doctors about their life-changing experiences, key challenges, and top tips for your F3 Year.
🦘Do I want to work overseas?
At the start of F3, you should ask yourself whether or not you are interested in working overseas in Australia or New Zealand. Their medical calendar starts in February which is out of sync with our UK medical calendar (which starts in August).
If you want to work overseas then consider applying for a February start date. This will generally mean that you are committing to an F4 Year as the contracts Down Under are typically 12 months long.
If you’d rather return to a UK training programme at the end of your F3 year then this option might not be for you. It is, however, possible to find roles in Australia that start in August, which means you can to return to the UK in time to start a training post after your F3 Year ends.
To help you decide whether a job in Australia or New Zealand might be right for you, we have an F3 in Australia Panel Discussion which explores the varied experiences of a number of current and previous F3 doctors who went to Australia.
🌐 Webinars
F3 Goal Setting Webinar (August) Using our F3 Goal Setting workbook and A-E assessment, set yourself goals for the year ahead.
F3 in Australia Panel Discussion (September) Find out more about roles in Australia and New Zealand and how to apply for a February start.
👉 Action List
General: Subscribe to Messly’s F3 Stories Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Portfolio: Download P45 and P60 form off ESR and save to your Portfolio
Portfolio: Ensure that a copy of Foundation Programme Certificate of Completion (FPCC) has been sent to you by foundation deanery. Save a copy to your Portfolio.
Portfolio: Write an F3 PDP
Portfolio: Consider how you will use your study budget (if applicable)
Australia + New Zealand: Update your CV with references and a cover letter for your application Down Under.
Australia + New Zealand: Apply for jobs in Australia or New Zealand.
Australia + New Zealand: Join the F3 in Australia and New Zealand Facebook Group.
📚 Reading List
The secret reason PDPs are great for locum doctors Find out how PDPs can benefit your F3 Year.
The Ultimate Guide to your Medical Portfolio A summary of all our portfolio and appraisal articles for F3 and other non-training doctors.
Do I need an appraisal as an F3 or locum doctor Get a definitive answer as to whether or not you will be expected to do an appraisal this year, and find out what you need to do to ‘pass’.
Your Locum FAQs Answered Answers to the most common locum questions.
To Aus or not to Aus Figure out whether a move to Australia is right for you.
Common Questions on moving to Australia The most commonly asked questions from UK doctors who are weighing up a move Down Under.
Key dates for your move to Australia The timeline for applications and interviews for jobs in Australia.
The ultimate guide to working in Australia Our hub for all of our Australia articles.
Your F3 Year in New Zealand An overview of what working in NZ as an F3 is like.
📆 October to November (3-4 months into F3)
❓Questions to answer
Should I apply for training?
Many doctors take an F3 Year to get experience in a particular specialty before commiting to that specialty forever. However, because applications are so early in the medical year, you might not have yet had enough time to make a definitive decision yet and therefore are uncertain about applying for training.
The deadline for most training applications is November / December (or even earlier for academic and research training posts) so spend some time deciding whether or not you want to apply for a training programme or whether you want to wait to get more experience. You can always apply and change your mind later on, but if you don’t apply you are committing to an F4 Year.
If you are applying for a job in Australia or New Zealand for a February start, then you will likely be committing to an F4 Year as most contracts out there are 12 months long. You should think about what you’d want to do if your application for a job Down Under is unsuccessful. Would you prefer to take an F4 or go into training?
Am I happy with my locum routine?
After a couple months of being an F3, you may be now be settling into a pattern of work. Whether it’s one day a week or five, or one month on and one month off, hopefully you have found your rhythm that fulfils you. Consider attending our Locum Finances Webinar where we decode your locum payslip, explain the changes to your pension and tax banding, and give you tips around savings and mortgages.
If you aren’t happy with the work you are getting, or are unhappy with your pay then speak to your Locum Agent, or get in touch with us at support@messly.co.uk for help and advice.
🦘What are the next steps in my Australia application process?
If you applied for a job in Australia or New Zealand then your interview will likely fall in this period. If your application is successful, you’ll want to planning your move. You’ll need to get a provisional license to practise, have your documents certified, and organise your visa, travel and accommodation.
🌐 Webinars
F3 Locum Finances Webinar (November) Decode your locum payslip, understand your pension and tax codes, and get tips on savings and mortgages for locum doctors.
👉 Action List
Australia + New Zealand: Research and apply for overseas posts in Australia or New Zealand
Australia + New Zealand: Interview for overseas posts.
Australia + New Zealand: Apply for visas and book flights if your application overseas is successful.
Training: Research and apply for training posts
📚 Reading List
The Locum Hub has all of our top articles on locuming.
What to do if locum work dries up Find out your options if you aren’t getting the locum work you really want.
Tips to increase your locum pay Our top tips to help you earn the best rates possible for your grade, specialty, and region when working as a locum doctor
What happens after my Australia Interview The next steps after you receive an offer of work in Australia.
Provisional and General Registration in Australia How to get your license to practise in Australia.
How to Get Your Licence to Practise Medicine in New Zealand.
How to get your documents certified for your move to Australia.
📆 December to February (5-7 months into F3)
❓Questions to answer
Am I on track to meet my F3 goals?
As you pass the halfway-through-F3 mark, you should revisit the goals that you set at the start of you F3 Year and assess whether you are on track to achieve your desired outcomes by the end of the year. You can do this alongside us in our F3 Pulse Check Webinar using our F3 Pulse Check Workbook.
You (and your supervisor if you have one) may have settled into a routine that neglects your learning needs and appraisal requirements, so this is a great time to review what you have achieved and address any roadblocks that are preventing you from reaching your goals.
What are my F4 options?
If you haven’t applied for training then you should be starting to make plans for F4. Even if you are contented to continue what you are presently doing, you may find it useful to attend our F3 Options Panel Discussion to learn more about the most common work options for non-training doctors from previous and current F3s. If you are thinking about going to Australia in August of your F4 Year, then you may find our F3 in Australia Panel Discussion interesting and informative.
🦘Do I have my travel documents in order?
If you are heading overseas, you’ll want to make sure that your visas, travel documents, and accommodation is sorted.
🌐Webinars
F3 Pulse Check Webinar (February) Review your progress towards your intiia F3 goals by working through the prompts and exercises in our F3 Pulse Check Workbook
F3 Options Panel Discussion (February) Explore your F3 options in more detail by hearing from previous and existing F3 doctors.
F3 in Australia Panel Discussion (February) Find out more about roles in Australia and New Zealand and how to apply for an August start.
👉 Action List
General: Research higher education applications deadlines
Portfolio: Approach any potential referees from the first half of your F3 Year.
Portfolio: Update your CV with information about your F3 work to date.
Portfolio: Review CPD progress against appraisal requirements.
Training: Do exams and interviews for training posts
Australia + New Zealand: Search for overseas accommodation.
Australia + New Zealand: Join the Fellowship Life Transplant Services group on Facebook for doctors relocating to Australia or New Zealand.
Australia + New Zealand: (Prepare to) move overseas to start in your new role!
📚 Reading List
Portfolio Companion Our master resource for everything you need to know about a medical portfolio and how it can support you in your medical appraisal
Ultimate guide to your medical portfolio Our hub for all of our portfolio and appraisal articles
What evidence do I need to prepare for my appraisal Discover the GMC requirements for appraisal and revalidation
Getting learning opportunities as a locum doctor Find out how you can continue to grow your knowledge and skills outside of a training programme.
How to get CPD points as a locum doctor Our list of free, paid, digital, and face-to-face CPD for locums.
March to April (8-9 months into F3)
❓Questions to answer
Do I want to do a fellowship on my F4 Year?
If you are considering a fellowship for your F4 Year, then you should now start looking for roles and reaching out to departments to get the job you want.
If you aren’t sure whether a fellowship is a good fit for you, you may want to attend the repeat of our F3 Planning Webinar, to help you identify which roles might suit you and your career goals best. Or, consider working through the F3 Workbook on your own.
How can I maximize my chance of getting the fellowship I want?
Many doctors aren’t aware that with passion and persistence they can create their own fellowship. You can learn more about how to do this in our F3 Fellowship Panel Discussion.
Updating your CV specifically for the fellowship you want and collecting excellent references can help you get a competitive fellowship, or convince a Trust board to spend the extra money to create a new fellowship just for you. Learn how to boost your portfolio using our Portfolio Companion.
Do I want to pursue a higher education qualification on my F4 Year?
Many non-training doctors choose to pursue some kind of higher education qualification. In particular, Post Graduate Certifications in Medical Education or Public Health are popular. If you want to apply for a higher education degree or diploma, you will need to get this in before the deadline (usually late spring but it varies depending on the University/Course).
Do I need to submit a tax self-assessment as a freelancer?
If you have been working as a freelancer then you will need to consider how you will be paying your taxes this year. You can learn more about tax codes and self-assessments, savings, and pay issues in our F3 Locum Finances Webinar.
🌐 Webinars
F3 Planning Webinar - Repeat (March) Identify which F4 options might be best for you using our F3 Workbook.
F3 Fellowships Panel Discussion (April) Learn more about F3 fellowships and discover our secret to securing the perfect fellowship for you.
F3 Locum Finances Webinar (April) As part of our F3 locum finances series, in this webinar you can learn about tax codes and submitting a tax return or self assessment if you have been working as a freelancer for the last few months.
👉 Action List
Portfolio: Check out our Portfolio Companion
Portfolio: Find out who is responsible for conducting your appraisal
Portfolio: Book in appraisal dates with your appraiser
Portfolio: Start putting together your appraisal evidence
General: Apply for higher education degrees or certificates
Fellowships: Find and apply for clinical fellowship roles on NHS Jobs or through Medical Staffing departments.
Fellowships: Research and apply for competitive clinical fellowship roles
Locum: Enrol with Messly’s locum finding service.
Locum: Start registering with locum agencies.
📚 Reading List
Portfolio Companion Our master resource for everything you need to know about a medical portfolio and how it can support you in your medical appraisal
Ultimate guide to your medical portfolio Our hub for all of our portfolio and appraisal articles
What evidence do I need to prepare for my appraisal Discover the GMC requirements for appraisal and revalidation
Do I need an appraisal as an F3 or locum doctor Find out who is responsible for conducting your appraisal and whether or not you will need to pay for this service.
The Locum Hub has all of our top articles on locuming.
📆 May to July (10-12 months into F3)
❓Questions to answer
Am I ready for my medical appraisal?
By now, you should be aware of who is responsible for your appraisal and hopefully you have your appraisal dates booked in. If you had to submit all of your appraisal documents and evidence today, would it be enough? If the answer is no, then spend the next few weeks getting together the neccessary evidence that you need to 'pass' your appraisal. If you aren't sure what your appraisal requirements are then you should look at our Portfolio Companion.
Do I want the security of a contract or the freedom of freelancing?
If you’re not going into training or starting a fellowship in August, the key decision to make right now is whether you want a contracted role or not.
If you want the security of a contract and regular work, then you should use this time to secure a Trust Grade role. These jobs can be found either on NHS Jobs or by speaking to Medical HR or the rota coordinator managing the department you want to work in. If they know of an upcoming vacant rota line, they will usually try to fill this with a Trust Grade doctor over a locum as it costs the Trust less money.
Would I like to start locuming in F4?
If you have not yet worked as a locum during your time out of training (perhaps you have been working in private industry, or doing a fellowship or trust grade role) then the freedom and flexibility of locuming may be what you are now looking for.
Start looking into your locum options, and learning how to optimise your chances of getting highly paid and regular locum work. We address the most common locum FAQ’s in our F3 Locum Questions Answered Webinar.
If you are already employed by a Trust on a contract, it is worth registering with the Trust’s Staff Bank to get some additional locum experience that will give you a competitive edge. It is much easier to get this experience in a Trust that you are familiar with than one that is new to you.
Make sure that you collect references that can vouch for all of your locum and shadowing experience as some Trusts and Agencies won’t accept unreferenced experience.
If you are going into locuming for the first time, think about how much you want to work, how you want to get paid, whether you have plans to travel, and whether you want to buy a house.
The majority of the information on Messly’s blog is about locuming. We cover topics from how to secure work and how to get a higher rate of pay, to exploring locum wellbeing and your rights as a locum doctor. You can find quick and succinct answers to all of your locum related questions on our Locum Academy, or read the in-depth articles on our blog.
🌐 Webinars
Portfolios and Appraisals Webinar (May) A guided tour of our Portfolio Companion and England’s Medical Appraisal Guide (MAG) form.
Your F3 Locum Questions Answered Webinar (May) Get the answers to the most commonly asked locum questions including how to find work, how much you can earn, and the rules on appraisals for non-training locum doctors.
👉 Action List
General: Plan end-of-F3 celebration with friends
Portfolio: Do your appraisal
Portfolio: Download and print your Appraisal Outcome to save in your Portfolio.
Portfolio: Download any payslips off ESR (if applicable) and save to your Portfolio.
Portfolio: Approach any potential referees from the 2nd half of your F3 Year.
Portfolio: Update your CV with information about the 2nd half of your F3 Year.
Locum: Register with your current hospital Staff Bank
Locum: Get work experience in key departments to bolster your locum CV
Locum: Contact rota-coordinators for internal locum shifts open in August
Trust Grade: Look for Trust Grade roles on NHS Jobs, through rota-coordinators, Medical HR, and Medical Staffing Departments.
📚 Reading List
The Locum Hub has all of our top articles on locuming.
Getting Started as a Locum Doctor We understand that getting started as a locum doctor can feel daunting. That's why we wrote this guide to give you a summary on the key points to help get you started.
Bank vs Agency A breakdown of how each works, and their pros and cons, covering registration, pay, and access to shifts.
Locum Rates: What Can I Expect? A guide to help you know what to expect to be paid as a locum, including a general overview of the UK pay rates, as well as an explanation of the pan-London rates.
Should You Locum Through a Limited Company? Here we explain what it means to locum through a limited company, discuss the pros and cons of doing so, and answer the key questions you’ll need to be thinking about when deciding if it's the right approach for you to take.
How to Make a Living as a Full-Time Locum Doctor Exploring how much you might expect to earn from locum work as an F3, highlighting key financial and work-related considerations you should be making, and providing advice to help manage your finances.
How to Negotiate a Better Locum Rate A detailed guide to help you becoming better at negotiating with prospective employers, to help you maximise the amount you can earn while locuming.
Tips to Increase Your Locum Pay Our top tips to help you earn the best rates possible for your grade, specialty, and region when working as a locum doctor
The Biggest Mistakes I Made In My First Month As a New Locum Doctor Join Ryan, our very own Health Tech Fellow and A&E Locum Doctor, as he shares with you some of the mistakes he made in his first month when he first started locuming.
Tips for Your First Day as a Locum Doctor in a New Hospital Tips to help you prepare for, and successfully navigate, your first day at a new hospital when working as a locum. This will also hopefully give you the opportunity of being invited back for more shifts in the near future.
Tips for Settling into a Long-Term Locum Position This article will help you get settled into a long-term locum position, provide advice for making a positive impact when joining a new team or working in an unfamiliar hospital, discuss how to make the most of your time there, and what to do if any issues arise.
Is Medical Indemnity Necessary? We’ve partnered up with the MDDUS, one of the UK’s leading Indemnity providers for medical professionals, to bring you this in-depth guide. Covering the different types of legal issues you may face as a locum doctor, as well as answering questions about the different types of indemnity available.
Congratulations, you have reached the end of your F3 Year. If you are staying out of training, you can continue to cycle through this timeline (and the previous one about planning your F3 Year and applying for jobs in Australia with an August start date) over and over, creating an interesting and ever-changing career for yourself!
Please let us know what you end up doing for your F3 Year, and whether this timeline has been helpful to you (or can be improved in any way) by contacting us at support@messly.co.uk
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