Illustration depicting the ARCP process and the journey of a trainee psychiatrist

Decoding the Doctor's Journey: Understanding the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP)

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Navigating the Road to Expertise: A Deep Dive into the ARCP Process and Its Impact on Trainee Psychiatrists"

The medical field is constantly evolving, with new frameworks and assessment methods emerging to ensure the highest standards of competency among healthcare professionals. One such framework is the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP), a process designed to evaluate the progress of trainee doctors. For aspiring psychiatrists, the ARCP is a pivotal element in their journey towards becoming specialists. This article delves into the ARCP, providing insights into its function, its impact on trainees, and the challenges and improvements that have shaped its evolution.

The ARCP process involves a detailed review of a trainee's achievements, skills, and knowledge acquired during the preceding year. This evaluation is conducted by a panel, which assesses the evidence of competency attainment. The ARCP is not merely an administrative task; it plays a critical role in guiding trainees, identifying areas for development, and ensuring that they meet the required standards for their specialty.

This analysis is based on a study conducted in the north of England, which surveyed psychiatry trainees over two years. The research sheds light on the trainees' perceptions of the ARCP, highlighting both the difficulties they face and the improvements observed over time. By understanding the ARCP process, we gain valuable insights into the challenges and successes of medical education and the journey of those who dedicate their lives to mental health care.

Unpacking the ARCP: A Closer Look at the Process

Illustration depicting the ARCP process and the journey of a trainee psychiatrist

The Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) is a structured process designed to evaluate a trainee's progress in their specialty. It involves a thorough examination of the evidence of competency attainment collected by the trainee throughout the preceding year. This evidence can include various assessments, such as workplace-based assessments (WPBAs), clinical evaluations, and feedback from supervisors.

The ARCP process typically involves a face-to-face meeting between the trainee and a panel of assessors. Before the meeting, the trainee submits a portfolio that includes a summary of their achievements, reports from supervisors, and any other relevant documentation. The assessors review this material to determine whether the trainee has met the required competencies for their stage of training. The 'Gold Guide' provides a detailed framework for this process.

Collection of Evidence: Trainees gather formative and summative assessments throughout the training year.
Portfolio Submission: Annually, trainees submit a portfolio to the ARCP panel.
Panel Review: The ARCP panel reviews the evidence to assess competency.
Additional Documentation: Supporting documents may be provided.
Assessment Tools: Standardized tools like mini-CEX and MSF are used.

Over the years, the ARCP has undergone significant changes, reflecting a broader shift towards competency-based assessment in medical education. These changes aim to standardize the evaluation process, provide more comprehensive feedback to trainees, and ensure that all doctors meet the required standards of practice. The evolution of the ARCP mirrors the ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and effectiveness of postgraduate medical training.

The Path Forward: Refining the ARCP Process

The ARCP process continues to evolve, with ongoing efforts to refine and improve its effectiveness. By understanding the experiences and perceptions of trainees, medical educators can identify areas for improvement. This includes providing clearer guidance, ensuring adequate training for assessors, and streamlining the assessment process. As the medical field adapts, the ARCP will continue to play a vital role in shaping the future of psychiatry, ensuring that doctors are well-equipped to provide the best possible care.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1192/pb.bp.109.028522, Alternate LINK

Title: Trainees' Perception Of The Annual Review Of Competence Progression: 2-Year Survey

Subject: Psychiatry and Mental health

Journal: The Psychiatrist

Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Authors: Akshya Vasudev, Kamini Vasudev, Pratish Thakkar

Published: 2010-09-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) and why is it important for trainee psychiatrists?

The Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) is a structured assessment process used to evaluate the progress of trainee doctors, particularly in psychiatry. It's important because it ensures that trainees are meeting the required competencies and standards needed to become specialists. The ARCP helps to guide trainees, identify areas for development, and ultimately ensures that they are well-equipped to provide high-quality mental health care. It is a critical checkpoint in their journey towards becoming qualified psychiatrists, but it does not cover certain aspects of professional development like leadership skills, or specific research competencies which are evaluated separately.

How does the ARCP process work, and what evidence do trainees need to provide?

The ARCP process involves a review of a trainee's achievements, skills, and knowledge acquired during the preceding year. Trainees must collect and submit evidence of their competency attainment, including workplace-based assessments (WPBAs), clinical evaluations, and feedback from supervisors. This evidence is compiled into a portfolio, which is then reviewed by an ARCP panel. The panel assesses whether the trainee has met the required competencies for their stage of training, as outlined in documents like the 'Gold Guide'. While the ARCP assesses a wide range of clinical competencies, it does not replace specialized assessments for certain sub-specialties or specific procedural skills.

What role does the ARCP panel play in evaluating trainee psychiatrists?

The ARCP panel plays a crucial role in evaluating trainee psychiatrists by thoroughly reviewing the evidence presented in the trainee's portfolio. The panel assesses whether the trainee has met the required competencies for their current stage of training. Their assessment determines whether the trainee can progress to the next stage, needs targeted support, or, in rare cases, requires an extension of training or a change in career path. The panel's feedback is vital for guiding the trainee's development, but does not substitute mentorship.

How has the ARCP process evolved over time, and what improvements have been made?

The Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) has undergone significant changes, reflecting a shift towards competency-based assessment in medical education. These changes aim to standardize the evaluation process and provide more comprehensive feedback to trainees. The evolution of the ARCP mirrors ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and effectiveness of postgraduate medical training. However, the fundamental structure of portfolio submission and panel review remains consistent, ensuring a baseline level of evaluation quality. Further refinements are continually being explored to address emerging challenges and improve the overall experience for both trainees and assessors.

What are some of the ongoing efforts to refine the ARCP process, and how do these efforts aim to improve the training experience for aspiring psychiatrists?

Ongoing efforts to refine the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) process focus on providing clearer guidance to trainees, ensuring adequate training for assessors, and streamlining the assessment process. By understanding the experiences and perceptions of trainees, medical educators can identify areas for improvement, such as reducing administrative burden, enhancing the quality of feedback, and ensuring fairness and consistency in evaluations. These efforts aim to create a more supportive and effective training environment, enabling aspiring psychiatrists to develop the skills and competencies necessary to provide high-quality mental health care. These improvements do not change the need for regular self-reflection and proactive engagement in one's own training.