The Foundation programme (FP) is a two-year generic training programme which bridges the gap between medical school and specialty/general practice training.
FP is UK wide with a national FP curriculum with specific competences and outcomes to achieve and evidence in an ePortfolio.
FP training is overseen by the UK Foundation Programme Office whose website is a useful resource, including for all national FP documentation.
There is a specific curriculum based generic skills training programme and designated protected time to attend.
In addition there are other educational teaching and training sessions within each clinical placement and the academic centre to meet the requirements of the FP curriculum.
Foundation year one
Foundation year 1 (F1) enables medical graduates to consolidate the skills they have learned at medical school and begin to take supervised responsibility for patient care.
Satisfactory completion of F1 enables full registration with the GMC.
Foundation year two
Foundation year 2 (F2) doctors remain under clinical supervision while making progress towards independent practice.
Satisfactory completion of F2 will lead to the award of a Foundation programme Certificate of Completion (FPCC) which enables the foundation doctor to progress to a core, specialty or general practice training programme.