An O&G doctor’s guide to Certificate of Eligibility for short-term locums in maternity care (CEL)

From February 2023, Obstetrics and Gynaecology locum doctors will need a Certificate of Eligibility (CEL) from The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) as a prerequisite before undertaking short-term middle grade locum shifts and placements in a maternity setting. 

If you are a doctor and want to learn what the Certificate of Eligibility for short-term locums is, how to get one and if you’ll need one, you’ve come to the right place.  

Why has the Certificate of Eligibility (CEL) been introduced?

There are currently widespread shortages of suitably qualified obstetricians and gynaecologists within the NHS. To maintain a level of safe staffing level, long and short-term locum doctors are required. In short-term locum assignments, doctors may have only been with the department for a day or two before facing highly complex situations within a short space of time. On occasion, this is before they have had time to get used to the team, environment, and department-specific guidelines.  

RCOG has released this guidance to better support locum doctors in maternity settings, employers in covering gaps in rotas, and permanent staff when they are covering gaps.

What has changed for Obstetrics and Gynaecology locum doctors from February 2023?

RCOG has developed new guidance on the engagement of locum doctors in maternity care in collaboration with the NHS. From February 2023, doctors undertaking short-term locum placements will be required to have a Certificate of Eligibility (CEL).  

This will be a pre-requisite for employment of short-term obs & gynae locums for tier 2nd and 3rd on-call rotas. 

What is a Certificate of Eligibility (CEL)?

The certificate identifies that a doctor has completed a series of competencies expected to work in a short-term locum post with indirect supervision at either a junior registrar level (ST3- 5) or a senior registrar level (ST6-7). This certificate is achieved through the collating of evidence submitted to the Royal College. 

Which doctors will need a Certificate of Eligibility?

For the purpose of this guidance, a locum doctor refers to a doctor who is provided by a locum agency, or locum bank, or directly engages with healthcare organisations for short-term work. In this context, short-term work is defined as placements that are two weeks or less in duration. Doctors who are working as Middle-Grade O&G locums, in positions of 2 weeks or less, and who are not on the GMC Specialist Register, will need to have a Certificate of Eligibility.  Full guidance on the engagement of short-term locums in maternity care can be found in this document from RCOG.

How do I apply for a Certificate of Eligibility?

Obstetrics and Gynaecology locum doctors will need a Certificate of Eligibility (CEL) from The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) as a prerequisite before undertaking short-term middle grade locum shifts and placements in a maternity setting. These are the five steps to getting your Certificate of Eligibility:

1. Doctors will need to complete the Certificate of Eligibility (CEL) registration form.
2. The Royal College will then review the registration and contact the doctor for payment if required
3. Upon completion of payment, RCOG will send the doctor login details to access the CEL passport platform for locum-only doctors. Trainees already using the portfolio platform will be contacted to confirm the CEL passport curriculum has been added to their existing training ePortfolio account.
4. In this area, doctors will need to collate and submit evidence to RCOG in line with the CEL curriculum which identifies they have completed the required competencies to work as an obstetrics or gynaecology registrar.
5. Doctors will request a CEL assessment through the platform to review the evidence and if successful be issued the Certificate of Eligibility.