Most UK doctors take a Teach the Teacher course for one practical reason: to earn portfolio and application points for IMT, Core Training or ST3. The right choice comes down to three things — the price, whether your specialty needs a live component to score the point, and whether you actually want to become a better teacher or just tick a box. This guide compares the main UK providers honestly, with every price and points claim checked against the providers’ own pages and the official scoring criteria in June 2026.
The short version: if you only want the cheapest online-only certificate, you can pay less than £150 elsewhere. If you want a course that includes a live component — the part most specialties require for the application point — Erudical at £199 is the cheapest option, because that single price bundles a full-day live course and a self-paced course that rivals sell separately.
What is a Teach the Teacher course (and why doctors take one)?
A Teach the Teacher course trains clinicians in how to teach — adult learning theory, planning a session, choosing a delivery method, handling difficult learners, and giving effective feedback. “Teach the Teacher” and “Train the Trainer” describe the same thing; non-medical providers tend to use the latter label. On completion you receive a CPD-accredited certificate that serves as portfolio evidence and, for many training pathways, scores you application points.
Doctors take one because teaching is both a core clinical skill and one of the easier domains to score in a competitive application. A one-day or self-paced course is a far quicker win than chasing another publication or a second QI cycle.
How Teach the Teacher courses score application points (IMT, ST3, CST)
This is the question behind most searches, and it has two parts that are easy to confuse.
CPD points are not application points. “12 CPD points” is a measure of accredited learning hours for appraisal and revalidation. Application points are awarded by each recruitment process under its own scoring matrix. A course can carry 12 CPD points and still be worth only a single application point — or none, depending on the specialty.
For Internal Medicine Training (IMT), the official IMT application scoring guidance sets out the “Training in Teaching” domain clearly: 1 point for training in teaching methods below PGCert level, which must be additional to your primary medical qualification and delivered with “at least six hours (i.e. a one-day course) of synchronous (live) teaching time“; and 3 points for a university-accredited PGCert or PGDip (graduate-only, worth at least 60 credits). [Verified: imtrecruitment.org.uk, June 2026]
The load-bearing detail: for the IMT point, a purely on-demand/asynchronous course does not qualify on its own — you need the live component. This is exactly where the cheap online-only courses fall short for IMT applicants, and why bundling matters.
Other pathways score differently. Based on providers’ published, dated summaries cross-checked against official portals, a 2-day Teach the Teacher course typically maps to: ACCS (CT1) and other Physician Higher Specialty entry points 1 point; Clinical Radiology ST1 a “Category C” qualification; Core Surgical Training an “Indicator D”; Ophthalmology ST1 around 0.5; with several ST3/ST4 pathways listing teaching training as “essential” or “desirable” rather than points-scored.
Important caveat: point values and the live-vs-online requirement change every year and differ by specialty. Treat any specific number here as a starting point, not gospel — always check the current person specification for the programme and year you are applying to. (We explain the mechanics in more depth in our guide to how teaching points are scored for IMT and ST3.)
The best Teach the Teacher courses for doctors compared
Every price and format below was taken from each provider’s own course page in June 2026. “From” prices are the cheapest entry point; live components usually cost more, except where bundled.
| Provider | Price (from) | Format | CPD | Application points | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erudical | £199 (live + self-paced bundled) | Full-day live course and interactive self-paced course in one package (can’t buy either alone); self-paced includes 3 graded assignments with written feedback | Up to 12 (self-paced, RCP basis) | 1 pt IMT/ST3 (self-assessed; live element included) | Cheapest course that includes a live component; most rigorous self-paced option |
| Teach The Dr Teacher | £145 online / £269 live | Self-paced 2-day eCourse, or 1-day live Zoom classroom (live includes free async access) | 12 (online) / 6 (live) | IMT, CST, radiology portfolios | Cheapest online-only, with a live upgrade option |
| Medibuddy | £199 on-demand / £349 live | 2-day on-demand (Thinkific), or 1-day (£349) / 2-day (£399) live, each including on-demand | 12 | CST, Radiology, Histopathology, O&G, Urology, Anaesthetics; live for IMT | Strong academic author panel |
| Medset | £195 online / £349 live | 2-day on-demand, or live virtual classroom (incl. ~6 hrs live + online modules) | 12 | CST, IMT, Radiology, Ophthalmology, Histopathology, etc. | Authority (Prof. Judy McKimm); large review base |
| Oxford Medical | £399.99 virtual / £449.99–£479.99 in-person | 2-day live tutor-led, virtual or in-person (virtual adds a 3-CPD online course) | 12 (+3) | IMT 1 / Radiology Cat C / CST Indicator D / Ophthalmology 0.5 | Most popular live course (2,500+ doctors/yr); includes a teaching book |
| Royal College of Physicians (RCP) | Premium (on application) | Live, in-person | Varies | — | Prestige brand / in-person CPD |
A few honest observations from putting this table together. Erudical’s genuine advantage is not “cheapest course” — it’s cheapest live course. The sub-£200 prices at Teach The Dr Teacher (£145) and Medset (£195) are for online-only study; the moment you need the live component — which most specialties require for the application point — those providers charge separately: £269 at Teach The Dr Teacher, £349 at Medset and Medibuddy, and £400-plus at Oxford Medical. Erudical includes a full-day live course and the self-paced course in the same £199, making it the cheapest way for most doctors to actually secure the point.
Where Erudical loses: if you only want a self-paced certificate and your specialty accepts online-only, you can pay less elsewhere (£145–£199). And Erudical asks more of you — its self-paced course is interactive and requires three graded assignments, so it takes more effort than a video course you can click through in an evening. We think that’s the point, not a drawback, but it’s an honest trade-off and we’ll come back to it below.
Which Teach the Teacher course is right for you?
Best value (live + self-paced bundled): Erudical
If you want both formats — the live component for points and the self-paced course for depth and flexibility — Erudical at £199 is the best value on the market, because no one else bundles them at that price. The nearest live-inclusive rival is around £70 more for less self-paced content.
Cheapest online-only: Teach The Dr Teacher or Medset
If your specialty accepts an online-only course and you don’t need a live session, Teach The Dr Teacher (£145) and Medset (£195) undercut everyone, both carrying 12 CPD points. Be clear-eyed about the limitation: an online-only certificate generally will not earn the IMT point, which requires live teaching.
Best if your specialty requires a live component: Erudical (cheapest), then Medset or Oxford Medical
For IMT and any pathway that demands synchronous teaching, you need a live course. Erudical is the cheapest at £199; Medset and Medibuddy sit at £349; Oxford Medical is the most established live brand at £399.99-plus. Before booking, open your programme’s person specification and confirm whether it specifies “synchronous/live” — that single line decides whether the cheaper online courses are even eligible.
Best for actually becoming a better teacher (not just ticking a box): Erudical
Most online courses are passive: watch the videos, pass a quiz, download the certificate. Erudical’s self-paced course is built around scenarios and requires three assignments that are graded with personalised written feedback — you plan and reflect on real teaching, and someone marks it. That’s more work than a click-through course, and that’s deliberate: you come out a genuinely better teacher, and the certificate carries more weight. If you care about teaching beyond the points, this is the differentiator. If you genuinely only want the cheapest possible tick-box, the online-only options exist and we’ve named them.
Best free options: deanery and study-budget routes
Truly free Teach the Teacher courses are rare and their certificates are not always accepted as application evidence — check before relying on one. The better “free” route for most trainees is reclaiming a paid course through your deanery/NHS study budget: many trusts list teaching courses as approved spend, so the course is effectively funded even though it isn’t free upfront. If you’re early and just want exposure, local faculty-development sessions are worth attending; if you need points, a CPD-accredited course you can reclaim is usually the smarter call.
Is a Teach the Teacher course worth it?
For most UK trainees, yes — with caveats. The cost-benefit is straightforward: a teaching point is one of the cheapest and fastest application points to secure, especially compared with the months a publication or QI project takes. If the certificate moves you above an interview cut-off, a £145–£399 course is trivial against the value of a training number.
It’s not worth it if you buy the wrong format. Paying for an online-only course when your specialty requires a live one means you’ve spent money and still can’t claim the point. And it’s worth less if you treat it purely as a formality — the skills only stick if you actually engage, which is the argument for a course with graded feedback over a passive video. Net: buy one, but buy the right format for your person specification, and reclaim it through your study budget if you can.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Teach the Teacher course?
A Teach the Teacher course trains doctors and other clinicians in how to teach — covering adult learning theory, lesson planning, delivery methods and giving feedback. It produces a CPD-accredited certificate used as portfolio evidence and, for many training pathways, to score application points.
Are Teach the Teacher and Train the Trainer courses the same?
Yes. “Teach the Teacher” and “Train the Trainer” describe the same type of course — both develop the teaching, feedback and facilitation skills of clinicians and produce a CPD certificate you can use as portfolio evidence. Medical providers tend to prefer “Teach the Teacher”.
How many application points is a Teach the Teacher course worth?
For IMT it’s typically 1 point for a live course of at least six hours, or 3 points for a university-accredited PGCert/PGDip. Other specialties score it differently, and values change yearly — always check your current person specification rather than relying on a fixed number.
Do I need a live Teach the Teacher course, or is online enough?
It depends on your specialty. IMT requires at least six hours of synchronous (live) teaching for the point, so an online-only course alone won’t qualify. Some other pathways accept on-demand courses. Check whether your person specification specifies “synchronous” or “live” before buying.
Is there a free Teach the Teacher course?
Some free or NHS-funded options exist, but most doctors use a CPD-accredited paid course (online-only from about £145) because the certificate is reliably accepted as portfolio and application evidence. Many trainees reclaim the cost through their deanery study budget, which makes a paid course effectively free.
How much does a Teach the Teacher course cost?
Online-only courses start at about £145 (Teach The Dr Teacher) to £199 (Medibuddy). A course that includes a live component starts at £199 with Erudical — the cheapest live option — rising to £349 (Medset, Medibuddy) and £399.99–£479.99 (Oxford Medical) elsewhere.
Can I claim a Teach the Teacher course on my NHS study budget?
Often, yes. Many deaneries and NHS trusts list CPD-accredited teaching courses as approved study-budget spend for trainees on national programmes. Ask your education team or training programme director, and request an invoice from the provider to support your claim.
Is a Teach the Teacher course worth it?
For most trainees, yes — a teaching point is one of the quickest application points to earn, and the cost is small against the value of an interview. The key is buying the right format for your specialty: an online-only course won’t earn the IMT point, which needs a live component.
The bottom line
If you only want the cheapest online-only certificate and your specialty accepts it, Teach The Dr Teacher (£145) or Medset (£195) win on price. But if you want a live component — which most applications need for the point — and a self-paced course that actually makes you a better teacher, Erudical bundles both for £199, the cheapest live option available. It was created by doctors, for doctors, and the three graded assignments mean you leave able to teach, not just certified to.
See the Erudical Teach the Teacher course →
Last Updated: 20th June 2026