Does the early bird catch the worm? Tick box culture and precocious teaching qualifications for aspiring specialty trainees

Abstract

Progression up the dental career ladder into dental specialty training is notoriously tough, with rising numbers of applicants and the introduction of national recruitment creating fierce competition for training places. This paper explores the emerging tick-box culture surrounding specialty recruitment applications and the issues accompanying precocious portfolio point-seeking, with a particular focus on recognised postgraduate teaching courses.