Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) operates a wide range of specialty training programmes for you to choose from, with access to simulation resources. Because we know it takes commitment on both sides to produce the best results, NHS Wales continues to invest in technology to create world-class educational facilities up and down the country.
In Wales, our training programmes provide you with access to all the education and training requirements and opportunities you need to hit your training targets and grow into a skilled placements, we are rolling our a Generic Curriculum programme which will provide training in core generic skills, aligned to the GMCs Capabilities in Practice. And outside hospitals, we have a huge variety of training practices in beautiful rural settings to cosmopolitan cities.
“Wales provides opportunities for a very supportive and flexible GP training programme, which provides me with good work life balance. Commutes are much more manageable than other parts of the UK.”
Hooria, GP Trainee
Development options in Wales include opportunities to train on the highly regarded Welsh Clinical Academic Track (WCAT) Fellowship or Welsh Clinical Leadership Training Fellowship. By completing an Academic Fellowship, you’ll be ideally placed to build and lead translational research from bench to bedside or improvements in the delivery of healthcare in Wales. The leadership opportunities will prepare you for leadership and management roles in the future.
Building on the success of our Single Lead Employer model for GP trainees, we have rolled this out for all our trainees, which means wherever you train in Wales, you will have one employer for the duration of your training programme. The main advantages of this model include: you’ll only need to sign one contract for your training programme and you’ll experience a more seamless transition between posts; you’ll get your queries answered quickly and consistently; mortgage applications should be more straightforward; less complication with the Tax & NI you pay and associated benefits (maternity, paternity etc.); plus you’ll be able to take advantage of the NHS Salary Sacrifice scheme and other Employee Benefits packages available to other NHS Wales employees.
Find our why so many choose to train, work and live in Wales. View our external resources here to find out more information.
This section will provide information about our Speciality Training programmes and the key information you need
GP training in Wales consistently receives excellent feedback in annual General Medical Council (GMC) trainee surveys in terms of overall satisfaction with training and the quality of clinical and educational supervision.
The Wales higher specialist training programme in acute medicine has sixteen places. There are separate rotations in north and south Wales such that trainees will be able to expect to remain in one of these areas for the whole of the four-year training scheme.
The School of Psychiatry is committed to ensuring that Wales offers a high quality, curriculum driven, sustainable training programme with the aim of producing psychiatrists of the highest calibre who will deliver the best possible care for their patients.
A career in Wales gives you the chance to work at the cutting edge of medicine, in a variety of environments. From creating artificial limbs with 3D printing to working as a rural GP; taking part in pioneering university research to joining a Mountain Medicine team. There’s plenty to get excited about whatever your preferred direction.
NHS Wales is fully committed to helping you shape your career the way you want. So whether it’s a comprehensive choice of CPD courses, structured appraisal from senior doctors, flexible working options or the chance to experience a range of exciting environments, there’s almost unlimited potential for you to explore the things that interest you the most and discover a rewarding career in a way that suits your lifestyle.
Wales offers comprehensive relocation packages, and if you’re a year 1 foundation doctor, you’re entitled to free accommodation whatever part of Wales you choose. We also offer lots of family-friendly benefits, including childcare voucher schemes, worklife balance policies and on-site crèche facilities.
By joining the NHS in Wales, you’ll discover a culture where we never stop learning, where skills and knowledge are shared openly, and where your personal development is a high priority – after all, we understand that true fulfilment comes from the bigger picture.
'As a doctor in Wales, you’ll get the chance to continue the traditions of the NHS in the country of its birth and influence future models.'
Find our why so many choose to train, work and live in Wales. View our external resources here to find out more information.
Whether you have NHS experience or not, the NHS GP International Induction Programme (IIP) and Return to Practice (RtP) programmes are designed to be a safe, supported and direct route for qualified GPs to join or return to NHS General Practice.
A website made by GPs, for GPs. This website offers information on locum working, highlighting permanent jobs and benefits.
A once for Wales platform for sharing innovative and unique models of primary and community care provision, showcasing integrated multi-professional working to support commissioning of new services to meet local population needs.
Fast emerging as one of Europe’s most energetic capitals, Cardiff offers world-class shopping, stylish dining, beautifully kept parks and all the other advantages you’d expect from modern urban living. Newport is a city rejuvenated by investment, Swansea appeals with its beach suburbs and the market town of Wrexham offers historical buildings and is the gateway to North Wales.
From the world-renowned Gower coast in the south, to the beautiful Llyˆn Peninsula on the edge of Snowdonia National Park in the north, Wales is home to many of the UK’s best beaches – all accessible along a continuous 870-mile coastal path that reveals coves, headlands and bays overflowing with wildlife.
There are three National Parks in Wales. But wherever you go, nature is all around you. From luscious mountains to dramatic river valleys, deserted beaches to rugged cliff tops, the natural landscape offers a stunning backdrop whether you’re in the mood for adventure, looking to unwind or simply following your daily routine.
Castles define the Welsh landscape just as much as our hills and valleys. There are 641 in total – imposing, fairy-tale and tumbledown – each offering a glimpse into the past and the chance for you to explore the legends within their walls. Going back even further, there are also dozens of pre-historic sites to see, including some of the best-preserved Neolithic wonders in the UK.
“Living in Wales is the icing on the cake. Being based in Bridgend, I’m only half an hour away from the buzz of Cardiff, or from beautiful countryside and beaches.”
Huw, Consultant Psychiatrist
For more inspiration, browse our dedicated Live page to see why in Wales, we don’t just offer a career, we offer a way of life.
Live pageReal life stories
“I would really recommend coming to Wales if you are anything like me and enjoy a peaceful life, filled with nature and a welcoming community.”
Real life stories
“I have really enjoyed the flexible working opportunities which have allowed me to continue my training and raise my family.”
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience, please accept these so we can deliver a more reliable service.
To find out more, read our privacy statement and cookie policy.
