> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.theplasticsfella.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Eligibility for ST3 and Portfolio Scoring - URL: https://www.theplasticsfella.com/eligibility-for-st3-and-portfolio-scoring/ - Published: 2026-10-14T08:16:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-14T08:26:06.000Z - Description: A practical guide to building your portfolio, securing an interview, and preparing for Plastic Surgery ST3. - Author: PlasticsFella - Tags: Guides, Interview, Resources #### Summary Card [****Understand the Three Stages**](#understand-the-three-stages) Understand eligibility, shortlisting, and final selection for ST3 Plastic Surgery. [****Know Where the Portfolio Points Are**](#know-where-the-portfolio-points-are) Explore the scoring domains and evidence requirements for your ST3 portfolio. ****Authored by:** Carissa Jacobs ****Verified by thePlasticsFella ✅** **Recruitment update:* This guide draws on published 2026 recruitment guidance and a recruitment-led webinar detailing portfolio guidance for 2026-2027\. This information should be checked against the final handbook for your application year. The next cycle’s exact content is not confirmed here. (*[*Official recruitment hub*](https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/surgery/higher-surgery/plastic-surgery?ref=theplasticsfella.com)) --- ## Understand the Three Stages Understand eligibility, shortlisting, and final selection for ST3 Plastic Surgery. Before thinking about individual portfolio points, separate the application process into three stages. - **Eligibility:** Do you meet the essential entry requirements? - **Shortlisting:** Is your verified portfolio score high enough for an interview invitation? - **Final selection:** Does your overall performance secure an offer? Being eligible does not guarantee an interview. Similarly, being appointable does not necessarily guarantee a training number. ([Recruitment overview](https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/surgery/higher-surgery/plastic-surgery/overview-of-plastic-surgery/overview-of-plastic-surgery?ref=theplasticsfella.com)) **Check Your Eligibility First** Read the current person specification and application guidance before doing anything else. Check: - Qualifications - GMC registration requirements - MRCS requirements - Previous surgical experience - Core surgical competences - Any required competency forms - Application and evidence deadlines For the 2026 recruitment process, the published guidance required candidates to have completed full MRCS by the offer date. ([Medical Specialty Recruitment](https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/?ref=theplasticsfella.com)) Candidates who had completed UK Core Surgical Training provided their CT2 ARCP Outcome 6\. Applicants applying through the alternative competence route required a completed CREHST at application. ([Competence and application requirements](https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/surgery/higher-surgery/plastic-surgery/overview-of-plastic-surgery/self-assessment-and-verification?ref=theplasticsfella.com)) These requirements may change, so use the current year's person specification rather than relying on previous recruitment cycles. 💡 If you need competence documentation signed, speak to your supervisor early. Give them enough time to review your evidence and address anything that is still outstanding. ### **How Much Does the Portfolio Matter?** In the published 2026 process, your verified portfolio score was used to shortlist candidates for interview. Once shortlisted, the portfolio contributed **20% of the final ranking**, with the interview accounting for the remaining **80%**. | Assessment component | Contribution to final ranking | | -------------------- | ----------------------------- | | Portfolio | 20% | | Clinical scenarios | 25% | | Structured interview | 25% | | Communication / OSCE | 30% | | Interview subtotal | 80% | | Overall total | 100% | The portfolio therefore, serves two roles: 1. It helps determine whether you receive an interview. 2. It continues to contribute to your final ranking after shortlisting. --- ## Know Where the Portfolio Points Are Explore the scoring domains and evidence requirements for your ST3 portfolio. The published 2026 scoring overview included the following domains: | Domain | Maximum points listed | | -------------------------------------------------- | --------------------- | | Years in practice | 3 | | Surgical competence: hand trauma | 4 | | Surgical competence: burns | 4 | | Surgical competence: skin cancer | 4 | | Higher qualifications directly related to medicine | 4 | | Audit | 3\* | | Publications | 5 | | Presentations and posters | 4 | | Collaborative research | 1 | | Principal investigator | 1 | | Portfolio presentation, assessed by reviewers | 2\* | | Published overall total | 35 | *Some points are assessor-awarded rather than automatically claimed. (*[Official scoring overview](https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/surgery/higher-surgery/plastic-surgery/overview-of-plastic-surgery/self-assessment-and-verification?ref=theplasticsfella.com)) ### Years in Practice The recruitment webinar described the following scoring: | Years after graduation shown in webinar | Points | | --------------------------------------- | ------ | | Less than 5 years | 3 | | 5–7 years | 2 | | 7–10 years | 1 | | More than 10 years | 0 | Adjustments were described for circumstances including maternity leave, national army service, and supported less-than-full-time training. Check the current guidance for how these apply. ### Surgical Competence For procedural competence, the updated guidance requires appropriate ISCP procedural workplace-based assessments such as PBAs or DOPS at **Level III or IV**, signed by a consultant meeting the required criteria and supported by a signed or validated logbook. When reviewing your evidence, check: - Relevant operation - Does the procedure actually meet the descriptor? - Pay attention to anatomical or technical exclusions. - Assessment level - Make sure the overall recorded WBA level satisfies the requirement. - Assessor - Check that the person signing the assessment meets the stated assessor requirements. - Supporting category - Where the scoring system requires evidence of the preceding level of experience, make sure this is also provided. - Logbook - Include a validated summary and make the relevant procedures easy to identify. ### Procedural Assessment Levels The webinar described the levels as: - 3a: Performed with minimal guidance or intervention; occasional help needed. - 3b: Performed competently without guidance or intervention, but lacked confidence. - 4a: Performed confidently to a high standard without guidance or intervention. - 4b: As for 4a, with the ability to anticipate, avoid or manage common problems. A Level III or IV WBA describes your assessed performance. It does not mean performing unfamiliar surgery independently without appropriate supervision. ### Hand Trauma The described progression is: | Procedure band and points | Hand trauma | | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | A = 0 | Nail-bed repair | | B = 1 | Extensor tendon repair in zones I–VII | | C = 2 | Hand fracture fixation | | D = 3 | Flexor tendon repair in zones I–III (previously only zone II included – this must be verified with published guidance from Oriel in the application cycle) | | E = 4 | Mixed-nerve repair | *The updated guidance specifically notes that the flexor tendon descriptor should be checked against the final published guidance for the application cycle.* Definitions matter. For example, the draft specifies that fracture fixation includes fixation using a K-wire, screw, or plate and excludes distal phalanx fixation. A logbook entry simply stating "finger fracture" may not provide enough information for the assessor to determine whether it qualifies. 💡 Review missing procedural evidence with your supervisor early. If appropriate supervised opportunities arise, complete the relevant assessments while the case and your contribution are still fresh. ### Burns For burns, the operative percentage relates to the area you personally excised/debrided and covered, rather than simply the patient's total burn size. | Procedure band and points | Burns | | ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | | A = 0 | No experience | | B = 1 | Excise/debride and graft a burn involving less than 5% BSA | | C = 2 | Excise/debride and graft a burn involving 5–19% BSA | | D = 3 | Excise/debride and graft a burn involving 20–49% BSA | | E = 4 | Excise/debride and graft a burn involving more than 50% BSA | Covering may include a **skin graft, biodegradable temporising matrix (BTM), or another appropriate wound covering**, subject to the current recruitment scoring criteria. For example, operating on a patient with a 30% TBSA burn does not automatically demonstrate that you personally excised and covered 30%. Your evidence should clearly show the area treated and your own contribution. ### Skin Cancer | Procedure band and points | Skin cancer | | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | A = 0 | No experience | | B = 1 | Excise skin malignancy and close directly | | C = 2 | Excise skin malignancy and FTSG or SSG | | D = 3 | Excise skin malignancy and flap closure | | E = 4 | Sentinel lymph node biopsy (this is for skin malignancy only and does not include breast SLNB) | The sentinel lymph node biopsy category applies to skin malignancy and does not include breast SLNB. ### Audit The audit section rewards more than simply having taken part in an audit. The proposed scoring considers whether: - The audit is plastics-related - You were the primary author - You presented the work - You completed the audit and re-audit - The project resulted in significant improvement or had significant merit The additional merit point is discretionary. For each audit, make sure you can clearly show: 1. **What standard did you assess?** 2. **What did the first measurement show?** 3. **What change did you help introduce?** 4. **What did the re-audit show?** 5. **What was your personal contribution?** | Points in proposed webinar scheme | Audit requirement | | --------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 0 | No audit activity | | 1 | Plastics-related audit as primary author, presented at an audit meeting, without a completed full cycle | | 2 | Full-cycle plastics-related audit: applicant is primary author for the audit and re-audit and presents the work; Assessment of Audit WBA ideally included | | Additional 1 | Assessor-awarded credit for significant improvement in patient care or significant merit | Keep evidence of your presentation, results, and role. 💡 Calling an audit "closed loop" without showing the intervention and subsequent measurement. If possible, plan the re-audit date when you start the project. ### Publications The draft guidance allows candidates to submit up to four papers. The publication scoring described in the recruitment webinar considers factors including: - Authorship - Journal impact factor - Article type - Publication status - Whether the paper meets the relevant PubMed and journal requirements For every paper you intend to claim, prepare: - Publication: Full citation and PubMed record - Authorship: Your author position and any shared-authorship designation - Journal metric: Impact factor from the list specified for the cycle - Article type: Original article, case report, technical tip, or research letter - Status: Evidence that the publication meets the deadline and status rules | Publication contribution described in the webinar | Score per paper | Cap | | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- | | First author of a qualifying full paper | 100% of journal impact factor | 10 | | Other qualifying authorship, excluding collaborative authorship | 50% of journal impact factor | 5 | | First-author research letter, technical tip, or single case report | Webinar describes up to 25%; classification and exceptions require the final handbook | 2.5 | | Combined score for four papers | Portfolio points shown in the webinar | | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------- | | 0 | 0 | | 0.01–2.50 | 1 | | 2.51–7.50 | 2 | | 7.51–12.50 | 3 | | 12.51–17.50 | 4 | | More than 17.51 | 5 | The scoring described in the webinar used **100% of the impact factor for first authorship**, capped at 10 per qualifying paper, and **50% for other qualifying authorship**, capped at 5. These figures are used to calculate an intermediate publication score before it is converted into portfolio points. They are not portfolio points themselves. ### Presentations & Posters The updated guidance allows up to four qualifying first-author posters or presentations that you personally presented at eligible national or international meetings. For each claim, keep: - Abstract acceptance - Evidence of authorship - Evidence that you personally presented it - Evidence that the meeting satisfies the recruitment definition Do not assume that a meeting qualifies simply because it uses "national" or "international" in its title. 💡 Keep your acceptance email, abstract, programme entry, & presentation certificate together rather than trying to find them when applications open. ### Higher Qualifications The higher qualification section considers: - Type of qualification - Duration of research - Whether the research is ongoing, being written up, or completed - Whether the qualification has been awarded | Band | Qualification or stage listed | | ---- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | A | None | | B | Master’s with less than one year of research in progress; full-time master’s with 1–2 years of research in its research phase; postgraduate certificate of education | | C | Master’s with less than one year of research awarded; full-time master’s with 1–2 years of research being written up or submitted after completion of the research phase; MD with more than two years of full-time research or PhD in its research phase; BDS or MRCP or equivalent | | D | Full-time master’s with 1–2 years of research awarded; MD with more than two years of full-time research or PhD being written up or submitted after completion of the research phase; FDS or equivalent | | E | MD with more than two years of research awarded, or PhD awarded | The updated guidance states that intercalated degrees do not qualify, and some part-time programmes may be treated as less than one year of research. Check the exact descriptor before assuming that an additional qualification gives you points. ### Collaborative Research & Investigator Roles These are separate portfolio claims. The proposed guidance describes: | Research domain | Qualifying evidence | Points | | ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | | Collaborative research | Two or more qualifying contributions; applicant named in collaborator list\* | 1 | | Investigator role | Certificate confirming the specified associate/principal investigator role in a formal NIHR trial; check the complete current descriptor | 1 | For collaborative research, the draft specifically notes that one qualifying contribution does not produce half a point. Make sure your evidence demonstrates the role you are actually claiming. ### Organise the Portfolio for the Reviewer A good achievement is only useful if the assessor can verify it. Keep your evidence: - Clear - Readable - Properly labelled - Easy to match to the scoring descriptor Before submitting, ask a colleague to find the evidence supporting one of your claims. If they cannot establish it quickly, make the organisation clearer. ### Work Out What to Do Next A simple gap analysis can stop portfolio preparation from becoming overwhelming. | Domain | Evidence already secured | Gap | Next action | | ------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | | Clinical competence | Relevant logbook entries | Required WBAs incomplete | Arrange supervisor review and suitable assessments | | Audit | Initial cycle presented | Intervention and re-audit outstanding | Implement the change and set a repeat measurement date | | Publications | Qualifying paper published | Metric or authorship evidence missing | Assemble the required records | | Presentations | Abstract accepted | Presentation not yet delivered or documented | Complete the presentation and retain confirmation | Prioritise work you can realistically complete **and evidence** by the application deadline. There is no universal portfolio score that guarantees an interview. 💡 ****Key Take-Away Points** 1\. Check eligibility before worrying about your score. 2\. Read the current recruitment guidance rather than relying on previous years. 3\. Match every portfolio claim to the exact descriptor. 4\. Make your own contribution clear. 5\. Do not leave WBAs, re-audits, or evidence gathering until the application opens. 6\. Make your portfolio easy for the assessor to review. --- **Next:** [*ST3 Interview: Format, What to Expect, & Preparation*](https://www.theplasticsfella.com/st3-interview-format-what-to-expect-preparation/) #### Plastic Surgery ST3 Guide 1. [****Eligibility & Portfolio Scoring**](https://www.theplasticsfella.com/eligibility-for-st3-and-portfolio-scoring/)****:** Eligibility, evidence, and portfolio scoring. 2. [****Interview Format & Preparation**](https://www.theplasticsfella.com/st3-interview-format-what-to-expect-preparation/)****:** How the interview works and what is expected. 3. [****Clinical Scenarios & Communication**](https://www.theplasticsfella.com/st3-interview-communication-clinical-structured-interview/)****:** Clinical reasoning, prioritisation, consent, and calling a senior.