Naeem's excellent and informative article (Psychiatric Bulletin, November 2004, 28, 421-424) provided useful tips and advice for trainees aiming for higher specialist training as specialist registrars. However, we would like to point out certain factual inaccuracies which require further clarification.

First, the College's Higher Specialist Training Handbook (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1998) clearly states that higher specialist trainees in lecturer posts who do five or six clinical sessions become eligible for a single certificate of completion of training (CCT) (formerly CCST) after 3 years. It is only when they do 4 clinical sessions that the single CCST is after 4 years.

Second, overseas doctors who are non-European Economic Area nationals and do not have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, are also eligible to apply in open competition for type I specialist registrar training programmes leading to CCT (Department of Health, 1998). If appointed, they are provided with a visiting national training number (VNTN). They can then also apply to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) of the Home Office for permit-free training leave to remain in the UK. This can be further extended by up to 3 years at a time depending on the training needs of the individual and satisfactory progress (UK Visas, 2004). The VNTN automatically becomes a NTN once the doctor gains indefinite right to remain in the UK. Overseas doctors without UK indefinite residence leave therefore are not limited to taking up fixed-term training appointment (FTTA) or type 2 posts, which do not lead to award of CCT, and conversely FTTAs are not limited to overseas doctors without residency rights.