A structured credentialling pathway for early-career and developing cosmetic surgeons at the British College of Cosmetic Surgery.
18-Month Fellowship Prpgramme
Part Assessment Framework
GMC Registered Surgeons
About this Pathway
The British College of Cosmetic Surgery (BCCS) provides structured professional assessment, education, and credentialling for doctors who are beginning to develop skills and experience in cosmetic surgery.
All applicants must be medical practitioners in good standing and remain individually accountable to the General Medical Council (GMC) and to the healthcare organisations in which they practise.
This pathway is designed for doctors and surgeons who are in the early stages of their cosmetic surgery careers and wish to develop their knowledge, technical skills, and professional standards under a recognised framework. The programme supports progressive development through education, supervised experience, and formal assessment. Candidates must undertake a formal 18-month fellowship training programme. During this period, they are required to collect structured evidence under the supervision of an Approved Educational Supervisor.
Participation in this pathway enables surgeons to build competence and demonstrate commitment to safe cosmetic practice while working toward higher levels of professional recognition within the College.
The College recognises that formal surgical specialty training leading to entry on the GMC Specialist Register represents the established pathway within UK surgical training. The BCCS credentialling framework does not replace or replicate formal specialty training pathways and does not confer specialist status. The College believes that patient safety and public confidence are best supported through transparent standards, measurable competence, appropriate supervision, and ongoing clinical governance.
Practicing Surgeon Pathways
In order to pass the fellowship, candidates will be required to hold the following before the fellowship is granted.
Full registration with the General Medical Council with a licence to practise.
Evidence of appropriate professional indemnity or medical malpractice insurance.
Declaration of any current or previous regulatory investigations, sanctions, or restrictions on practice.
Completion of Core Surgical Training with membership of one of the Surgical Royal Colleges.
A verified clinical logbook demonstrating recent cosmetic surgery practice, including procedure types and case volumes.
Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to cosmetic surgery.
Completion of annual appraisal in accordance with current professional and regulatory standards.
The purpose of the BCCS Fellowship framework is to ensure that surgeons demonstrate appropriate standards of clinical competence, patient safety, professional governance, ethical practice, and ongoing professional development.
- BCCS Fellowship Assessment Framework
Credentialling Requirements
Applicants to the Trainee Surgeon Pathway must satisfy each component of the BCCS assessment framework. Each area is designed to evidence competence, safety, and professional standards.
Requirement Area
Evidence / Exit Requirement
Full GMC registration with licence to practise; confirmation of revalidation status; disclosure of regulatory investigations, sanctions, or restrictions.
Evidence of appropriate professional indemnity cover for cosmetic surgical practice.
Candidates must submit a logbook documenting procedures undertaken in the relevant module(s). Verified logbook demonstrating recent cosmetic surgical practice meeting BCCS minimum case numbers. The logbook must be countersigned by a Senior Clinician (Educational Supervisor) or Medical Director.
For cases included in the logbook, candidates must provide evidence of the full patient care pathway. Candidates must submit:
- 10 Case-Based Discussions (CBD)
- 10 Clinical Evaluation Exercises (CEX) including consent CEX (CEXC)
These must relate to patients documented in the submitted logbook.
Completion of a BCCS-approved Professional Behaviours Course.
Participation in audits; personal audit of complication and revision rates; outcomes monitoring. This documentation must be countersigned by the Educational Supervisor.
Written MCQ examination; structured viva; observed clinical practice assessment by BCCS examiner.
Submission of three reflective case reviews from cosmetic surgery practice.
Evidence of ongoing CPD related to cosmetic surgery practice.
Participation in morbidity & mortality meetings, clinical audit programmes, and peer review meetings.
Submit a formal report from their Educational Supervisor. Provide two references from experienced surgeons familiar with their clinical practice.
Confirmation of adherence to GMC guidance, ethical advertising, patient communication standards, and safe cosmetic surgery practice.
Credentialling Requirements
Applicants to the Trainee Surgeon Pathway must satisfy each component of the BCCS assessment framework. Each area is designed to evidence competence, safety, and professional standards.
Requirement Area:
Evidence / Exit Requirement:
Full GMC registration with licence to practise; confirmation of revalidation status; disclosure of regulatory investigations, sanctions, or restrictions.
Requirement Area:
Evidence / Exit Requirement:
Evidence of appropriate professional indemnity cover for cosmetic surgical practice.
Requirement Area:
Evidence / Exit Requirement:
Candidates must submit a logbook documenting procedures undertaken in the relevant module(s). Verified logbook demonstrating recent cosmetic surgical practice meeting BCCS minimum case numbers. The logbook must be countersigned by a Senior Clinician (Educational Supervisor) or Medical Director.
Requirement Area:
Evidence / Exit Requirement:
For cases included in the logbook, candidates must provide evidence of the full patient care pathway. Candidates must submit:
- 10 Case-Based Discussions (CBD)
- 10 Clinical Evaluation Exercises (CEX) including consent CEX (CEXC)
These must relate to patients documented in the submitted logbook.
Requirement Area:
Evidence / Exit Requirement:
Completion of a BCCS-approved Professional Behaviours Course.
Requirement Area:
Evidence / Exit Requirement:
Participation in audits; personal audit of complication and revision rates; outcomes monitoring. This documentation must be countersigned by the Educational Supervisor.
Requirement Area:
Evidence / Exit Requirement:
Written MCQ examination; structured viva; observed clinical practice assessment by BCCS examiner.
Requirement Area:
Evidence / Exit Requirement:
Submission of three reflective case reviews from cosmetic surgery practice.
Requirement Area:
Evidence / Exit Requirement:
Evidence of ongoing CPD related to cosmetic surgery practice.
Requirement Area:
Evidence / Exit Requirement:
Participation in morbidity & mortality meetings, clinical audit programmes, and peer review meetings.
Requirement Area:
Evidence / Exit Requirement:
Submit a formal report from their Educational Supervisor. Provide two references from experienced surgeons familiar with their clinical practice.
Requirement Area:
Evidence / Exit Requirement:
Confirmation of adherence to GMC guidance, ethical advertising, patient communication standards, and safe cosmetic surgery practice.
