Paediatric Cardiology ST4 · Latest published criteria

Paediatric Cardiology ST4 shortlisting 2027: points calculator and scoring guide

2026 criteria; 2027 not yet published (Wessex page, modified 8 October 2026, lists the 2027 criteria as "coming soon") Last checked

Pick the option that fits your evidence at each step to see your score out of 50, and what you can still add before the deadline.

Applications close 4pm, Thu 10 Dec 2026

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Paeds Cardiology ST4 points calculator

Answer one question for each scored domain. We add up your points with the published rules shown on each step, then show what you could still add before the deadline, with dates. It takes about two minutes.

We'll show your result and email you a copy.

When are you applying?

We use this to date your plan. Applying this round, it works back from the deadline. Applying next year, you get the long-run version instead.

Your score is the total of the domain scores, out of a maximum of 50.

Maximum 4 pointsA. Postgraduate degrees & other qualifications relevant to paediatric cardiology

Generic Achievements A. Postgraduate degrees & other qualifications relevant to paediatric cardiology+ 0 – 4*

Each item you can evidence adds its points, up to 4 points for the domain.

A relevant Masters and/or an MD or PhD applied to paediatric cardiology, 2 points each.

Watch out. Diplomas and certificates score nothing, and intercalated degrees are excluded.

Caps. Cumulative, max 4. "+To award points it is essential an achievement clearly constitutes a higher award and is not a primary medical degree, a part thereof, or an intercalated qualification. Note Diplomas, Associated Diplomas and Certificates are not awarded points". "*These fields are marked cumulatively, rather than awarding a mark corresponding to the highest achievement only. For example, a candidate holding both a Degree and a PhD scores 5, and a candidate providing evidence of both informal and formal teaching appointments scores 3 not 2"

Maximum 3 pointsB. Clinical governance & quality improvement

Training-related B. Clinical governance & quality improvement 0–3

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Your level of involvement in governance: taking part (M&M, incident reporting), leading (guidelines, safety protocols), or system-level change with measured impact.

Watch out. Category H scores quality improvement separately; describe governance work here and QI projects there.

Caps. Range 0–3; best level held.

Maximum 3 pointsC. Training courses

C. Training courses 0–3

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Courses clearly relevant to paediatric cardiology, counted: 1, 2, or 3 and more.

Watch out. Generic courses (teaching, leadership, research methods) don't count unless they are clearly relevant to paediatric cardiology.

Caps. "Courses must be clearly relevant to paediatric cardiology".

Maximum 4 pointsD. Teaching experience

D. Teaching experience 0 – 4*

Each item you can evidence adds its points, up to 4 points for the domain.

Teaching you deliver: informal (1) and a formal teaching appointment (2) add together, plus 1 for excellent feedback and 1 for teaching in paediatrics or cardiology.

Watch out. This category scores teaching delivered. Attending a teaching course earns nothing here.

Caps. Cumulative, max 4. "*These fields are marked cumulatively, rather than awarding a mark corresponding to the highest achievement only. For example, a candidate holding both a Degree and a PhD scores 5, and a candidate providing evidence of both informal and formal teaching appointments scores 3 not 2"

Maximum 4 pointsE. Presentations (last 3 years only)

E. Presentations (last 3 years only) 0 – 4*

Each item you can evidence adds its points, up to 4 points for the domain.

Presentations in the last 3 years that are relevant to paediatric cardiology: local/regional 1, national/international 2, plus 1 for a presentation award and 1 for a series showing progression.

Watch out. A presentation on a topic outside paediatric cardiology scores nothing here, however big the meeting.

Caps. Cumulative, max 4. "Must be within last 3 years and relevant to paediatric cardiology". Oral and poster are not distinguished. "*These fields are marked cumulatively, rather than awarding a mark corresponding to the highest achievement only. For example, a candidate holding both a Degree and a PhD scores 5, and a candidate providing evidence of both informal and formal teaching appointments scores 3 not 2"

Maximum 4 pointsF. Research

F. Research 0–4

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Your research role (modest local, substantial, designed and led), plus 1 for securing grant funding.

Watch out. Category F isn't starred as cumulative; only the stated +1 for grant funding adds on.

Caps. Range 0–4. Not marked cumulative, but the +1 for grant funding adds to the level held; the combined options are our arithmetic.

Maximum 4 pointsG. Publications (last 3 years only)

G. Publications (last 3 years only) 0 – 4*

Each item you can evidence adds its points, up to 4 points for the domain.

Peer-reviewed publications in the last 3 years, more for a high impact journal, first or senior authorship and three or more papers.

Watch out. Older papers don't count, however strong.

Caps. Cumulative, max 4. "Must be within last 3 years". "*These fields are marked cumulatively, rather than awarding a mark corresponding to the highest achievement only. For example, a candidate holding both a Degree and a PhD scores 5, and a candidate providing evidence of both informal and formal teaching appointments scores 3 not 2"

Maximum 4 pointsH. Quality improvement

Clinical Practice H. Quality improvement 0–4

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Your QI record: involvement, leading a project with outcomes, several projects or system-wide impact, or sustained innovative improvement.

Watch out. Leading needs clear outcomes; taking part only scores 1.

Caps. Range 0–4; scored by the consultant panel from your application form.

Maximum 4 pointsI. Team-focused behaviour

I. Team-focused behaviour 0–4

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Examples of team and MDT working, judged by the panel.

Watch out. Generic teamwork statements score at the bottom; give concrete MDT examples.

Caps. Range 0–4; scored by the consultant panel from your application form.

Maximum 4 pointsJ. Clinical leadership and management

J. Clinical leadership and management 0–4

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Leadership examples, from emerging to sustained with outcomes, judged by the panel.

Watch out. Sustained leadership needs outcomes, not just a title.

Caps. Range 0–4; scored by the consultant panel from your application form.

Maximum 4 pointsK. Complex clinical decision-making

K. Complex clinical decision-making 0–4

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

A clinical scenario you describe, scored on complexity and reasoning, plus 1 for exceptional learning and reflection.

Watch out. A straightforward case scores 1 however well written; pick a genuinely complex one and show what you learned.

Caps. Range 0–4. The +1 for reflection adds to the level; the combined options are our arithmetic.

Maximum 4 pointsL. Career progression (emphasis on recent)

L. Career progression (emphasis on recent) 0–4

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Your training trajectory, weighted to the last 3 years.

Watch out. The top mark needs a clear paediatric cardiology focus.

Caps. Range 0–4; scored by the consultant panel from your application form.

Maximum 4 pointsM. Suitability for training

M. Suitability for training 0–4

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

The panel's overall judgement of suitability.

Watch out. This is a global judgement; the top mark needs 'compelling evidence'.

Caps. Range 0–4; scored by the consultant panel from your application form.

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Paediatric Cardiology ST4 shortlisting runs on a 13-category application form scoring guide, A to M, with a stated “Total 0 – 50”, and “Each application will be scored by three Consultants independently.” The mark is used only to rank the shortlist (“The score assigned will be used to produce a shortlist rank.”); offers then follow the interview ranking. NHS England Wessex runs one national round for posts in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and its recruitment page still lists the 2027 criteria as coming soon, so this page sets out the 2026 version. Applications open at 10am on Thursday 19 November 2026 and close at 4pm on Thursday 10 December 2026, and the consultants score the form as you submit it, so anything you want counted has to be done and written up by then.

Paeds Cardiology ST4 application form scoring guide (shortlisting) points at a glance

2026 criteria; 2027 not yet published (Wessex page, modified 8 October 2026, lists the 2027 criteria as "coming soon") Last checked

Your score is the total of the domain scores, out of a maximum of 50.

"Total 0 – 50" (2026 scoring guide). The score is for shortlisting: "Each application will be scored by three Consultants independently" and "The score assigned will be used to produce a shortlist rank." Offers follow the interview ranking: "The ranking of candidates determined by interview at the assessment centre will be tabled against preferences for posts, to determine offers."

Paeds Cardiology ST4: every domain, what scores and the maximum
DomainWhat scores (official wording)Max
A. Postgraduate degrees & other qualifications relevant to paediatric cardiology
  • 2 points 2 points = Masters with clear relevance to paediatric cardiology
  • 2 points 2 points = MD or PhD with direct application to paediatric cardiology Must include explanation of relevance (50 words)

Each item you can evidence adds its points, up to 4 points for the domain.

Cumulative, max 4. "+To award points it is essential an achievement clearly constitutes a higher award and is not a primary medical degree, a part thereof, or an intercalated qualification. Note Diplomas, Associated Diplomas and Certificates are not awarded points". "*These fields are marked cumulatively, rather than awarding a mark corresponding to the highest achievement only. For example, a candidate holding both a Degree and a PhD scores 5, and a candidate providing evidence of both informal and formal teaching appointments scores 3 not 2"

4
B. Clinical governance & quality improvement
  • 3 points 3 points = System-level improvements with demonstrated measurable impact
  • 2 points 2 points = Leading clinical governance activities (guideline development, safety protocols)
  • 1 point 1 point = Active participation in governance activities (M&M, incident reporting, safety initiatives)
  • 0 points 0 (lowest mark in the published range)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points.

Range 0–3; best level held.

3
C. Training courses
  • 3 points 3 points = 3 or more courses
  • 2 points 2 points = 2 courses
  • 1 point 1 point = 1 course
  • 0 points 0 (lowest mark in the published range)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points.

"Courses must be clearly relevant to paediatric cardiology".

3
D. Teaching experience
  • 2 points 2 points = Formal teaching appointment
  • 1 point 1 point = Informal teaching
  • 1 point +1 point = Evidence of excellent feedback
  • 1 point +1 point = Teaching specifically in paediatrics/cardiology

Each item you can evidence adds its points, up to 4 points for the domain.

Cumulative, max 4. "*These fields are marked cumulatively, rather than awarding a mark corresponding to the highest achievement only. For example, a candidate holding both a Degree and a PhD scores 5, and a candidate providing evidence of both informal and formal teaching appointments scores 3 not 2"

4
E. Presentations (last 3 years only)
  • 2 points 2 points = National/International meeting
  • 1 point 1 point = Local/regional meeting
  • 1 point +1 point = Conference award for presentation
  • 1 point +1 point = Multiple presentations showing progression

Each item you can evidence adds its points, up to 4 points for the domain.

Cumulative, max 4. "Must be within last 3 years and relevant to paediatric cardiology". Oral and poster are not distinguished. "*These fields are marked cumulatively, rather than awarding a mark corresponding to the highest achievement only. For example, a candidate holding both a Degree and a PhD scores 5, and a candidate providing evidence of both informal and formal teaching appointments scores 3 not 2"

4
F. Research
  • 4 points 3 point = Designed and led original research +1 point = Evidence for securing grant funding
  • 3 points 3 point = Designed and led original research
  • 3 points 2 point = Substantial contribution +1 point = Evidence for securing grant funding
  • 2 points 2 point = Substantial contribution
  • 2 points 1 point = Modest local experience +1 point = Evidence for securing grant funding
  • 1 point 1 point = Modest local experience
  • 0 points 0 (lowest mark in the published range)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

Range 0–4. Not marked cumulative, but the +1 for grant funding adds to the level held; the combined options are our arithmetic.

4
G. Publications (last 3 years only)
  • 2 points 2 points = High impact journal
  • 1 point 1 point = Any peer-reviewed publication
  • 1 point +1 point = First/senior author on any publication
  • 1 point +1 point = 3 or more recent publications

Each item you can evidence adds its points, up to 4 points for the domain.

Cumulative, max 4. "Must be within last 3 years". "*These fields are marked cumulatively, rather than awarding a mark corresponding to the highest achievement only. For example, a candidate holding both a Degree and a PhD scores 5, and a candidate providing evidence of both informal and formal teaching appointments scores 3 not 2"

4
H. Quality improvement
  • 4 points 4 points = Innovative QI with sustained improvements
  • 3 points 3 points = Multiple QI projects or system-wide impact
  • 2 points 2 points = Led QI project with clear outcomes
  • 1 point 1 point = Basic QI involvement
  • 0 points 0 (lowest mark in the published range)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

Range 0–4; scored by the consultant panel from your application form.

4
I. Team-focused behaviour
  • 4 points 4 points = Exceptional team player enhancing team performance
  • 3 points 3 points = Strong MDT working with system understanding
  • 2 points 2 points = Good evidence of collaboration
  • 1 point 1 point = Basic teamwork examples
  • 0 points 0 (lowest mark in the published range)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

Range 0–4; scored by the consultant panel from your application form.

4
J. Clinical leadership and management
  • 4 points 4 points = Exceptional leadership driving change
  • 3 points 3 points = Sustained leadership with outcomes
  • 2 points 2 points = Clear leadership examples
  • 1 point 1 point = Emerging leadership skills
  • 0 points 0 (lowest mark in the published range)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

Range 0–4; scored by the consultant panel from your application form.

4
K. Complex clinical decision-making
  • 4 points 3 points = Highly complex with excellent integration +1 point = Exceptional learning and reflection
  • 3 points 3 points = Highly complex with excellent integration
  • 3 points 2 points = Moderately complex with clear reasoning +1 point = Exceptional learning and reflection
  • 2 points 2 points = Moderately complex with clear reasoning
  • 2 points 1 point = Basic clinical scenario +1 point = Exceptional learning and reflection
  • 1 point 1 point = Basic clinical scenario
  • 0 points 0 (lowest mark in the published range)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

Range 0–4. The +1 for reflection adds to the level; the combined options are our arithmetic.

4
L. Career progression (emphasis on recent)
  • 4 points 4 points = Exceptional trajectory with clear paediatric cardiology focus
  • 3 points 3 points = Strong recent progression (last 3 years)
  • 2 points 2 points = Steady progression
  • 1 point 1 point = Limited progression/long gaps
  • 0 points 0 (lowest mark in the published range)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

Range 0–4; scored by the consultant panel from your application form.

4
M. Suitability for training
  • 4 points 4 points = Highly-suited with compelling evidence
  • 3 points 3 points = Well-suited
  • 2 points 2 points = Quite suitable
  • 1 point 1 point = Barely suitable
  • 0 points 0 (lowest mark in the published range)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

Range 0–4; scored by the consultant panel from your application form.

4
Total50

Dates for this round

  • Advert source
  • Applications open source
  • Applications close (the form is scored as submitted) source
  • Interviews (remote) source

What you can still add before 10 December 2026

What each of these adds is the difference between the option you would reach and the one you already hold, so it can be nothing if you hold that option already. The calculator works out the gain from your own answers.

  • C. Training courses. Complete a course clearly relevant to paediatric cardiology before you submit the application. Gets you to: 1 relevant course. Start by 10 December 2026. Applications close 4pm Thursday 10 December 2026 and the form is scored as submitted, so complete the course before you submit. Only a course "clearly relevant to paediatric cardiology" counts; Erudical's Teach the Teacher course does not.
  • D. Teaching experience. Deliver informal teaching in paediatrics or cardiology and collect written feedback before you submit. Gets you to: Informal teaching; Plus: evidence of excellent feedback; Plus: teaching specifically in paediatrics/cardiology. Start by 10 December 2026. Applications close 4pm Thursday 10 December 2026 and the form is scored as submitted, so only teaching you have already delivered (or a teaching appointment you already hold) counts, plus any feedback you already have for the extra point.
  • E. Presentations (last 3 years only). Submit a paediatric cardiology abstract to NMERC 2026 (free, at nmerc.org/submit) and present it online on 14 Nov 2026, before the window opens on 19 Nov. Gets you to: National or international meeting. NMERC 2026 is online on Sat 14 Nov 2026; applications close 4pm Thursday 10 December 2026.

Evidence traps

  • Presentations and courses only count if they are relevant to paediatric cardiology. Must be within last 3 years and relevant to paediatric cardiology source
  • Courses are counted only if clearly relevant to the specialty, so a generic teaching course adds nothing. Courses must be clearly relevant to paediatric cardiology source
  • Diplomas and certificates score nothing under postgraduate qualifications. Note Diplomas, Associated Diplomas and Certificates are not awarded points source
  • Your shortlisting score can go down as well as up on appeal. It is possible that a shortlisting score could be adjusted down as well as up following the submission of an appeal. source

Sources

Three categories you can still move before 10 December

Presentations (E) is where a Paediatric Cardiology applicant can gain most in the time left. It is marked cumulatively, so a talk at a national or international meeting adds 2 on top of a local or regional one (1), up to the category maximum of 4, as long as it falls within the last 3 years and is relevant to paediatric cardiology. NMERC’s online conference on 14 November is one way to get there before the window opens (see below). Teaching (D) is also cumulative and rewards teaching you deliver: informal teaching scores 1, evidence of excellent feedback adds 1, and teaching specifically in paediatrics or cardiology adds 1 more, so a registrar with no teaching on the form could gain up to 3 by teaching on the paediatric or cardiology wards and collecting written feedback before submitting. Training courses (C) count 1, 2, or 3 and more, and only if they are clearly relevant to paediatric cardiology, so one relevant course completed before the close gains a point if you are below 3. Degrees, research, publications and governance are realistically settled by now. Categories I to M are the panel’s judgement of what you write about teamwork, leadership, a complex case, your career and your suitability, so the time is better spent on choosing strong, specific examples for those answers.

Where Paediatric Cardiology applicants drop marks

The relevance rule appears twice in the guide. Presentations “Must be within last 3 years and relevant to paediatric cardiology”, so a talk on another topic scores nothing in E, however large the meeting, and “Courses must be clearly relevant to paediatric cardiology”, which rules out generic teaching, leadership and research-methods courses in C. In A, “Note Diplomas, Associated Diplomas and Certificates are not awarded points”, intercalated degrees are excluded, and an MD or PhD must come with a 50-word explanation of its relevance. Publications in G must also date from the last 3 years. Governance (B) and quality improvement (H) are scored separately, so describe M&M, incident reporting and guideline work in B and keep your QI projects for H. Finally, the shortlist score and the interview cut-off are released with a short window to appeal, and the applicant guide warns: “It is possible that a shortlisting score could be adjusted down as well as up following the submission of an appeal.”

Worked example: a paediatrics ST3 on 17 of 50

Take a hypothetical paediatrics ST3 with some governance participation, one cardiology-relevant course, informal ward teaching of students on the paediatric wards, a regional paediatric cardiology talk, a small local research role, one peer-reviewed paper and basic QI. Scored on the 2026 guide:

  • A. Postgraduate degrees: none, 0.
  • B. Clinical governance: active participation, 1.
  • C. Training courses: one relevant course, 1.
  • D. Teaching experience: informal teaching (1) plus teaching in paediatrics (1), 2.
  • E. Presentations: a local or regional meeting, 1.
  • F. Research: modest local experience, 1.
  • G. Publications: one peer-reviewed paper, 1.
  • H. Quality improvement: basic QI involvement, 1.
  • I. Team-focused behaviour: good evidence of collaboration, 2.
  • J. Clinical leadership: emerging leadership skills, 1.
  • K. Complex decision-making: moderately complex with clear reasoning, 2.
  • L. Career progression: steady progression, 2.
  • M. Suitability: quite suitable, 2.

That makes 17 of 50. Because I to M are panel judgements, those five marks are illustrative. If this doctor presents a paediatric cardiology abstract at NMERC on 14 November, the national mark (2) adds to the regional 1 they already hold, taking E to 3 and the total to 19, a gain of 2. Written feedback showing excellent ratings for the ward teaching they already do would add the +1 for feedback in D, taking the total to 20. Adding a Teach the Teacher certificate would leave that total where it is. No cut-off score is published in advance, so you can’t read a shortlisting outcome from it.

Work through categories A to M in the calculator to get your own total out of 50 on the 2026 guide, along with what a national paediatric cardiology talk would add. Treat its total as a self-estimate, because the consultants judge several categories from your written answers. We’ll show your result and email you a copy.

Go to the Paeds Cardiology ST4 calculator at the top of this page

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Does a teach the teacher course count for Paediatric Cardiology ST4?

No. A teach the teacher course, Erudical’s included, scores 0 for every Paediatric Cardiology ST4 applicant, whatever else is on the form. Category C counts training courses, but “Courses must be clearly relevant to paediatric cardiology”, and a course on how to teach doesn’t meet that. Category D scores teaching you deliver, from “1 point = Informal teaching” to “2 points = Formal teaching appointment”, with no option for attending a course. The certificate doesn’t help in A either, where “Note Diplomas, Associated Diplomas and Certificates are not awarded points”. The way to raise D is to teach: informal sessions on paediatric or cardiology topics, backed by written feedback, can earn all three of its 1-point marks. The teaching points by specialty comparison lists the specialties where the course does score.

What an NMERC presentation could add for Paediatric Cardiology

NMERC 2026 takes place online on Saturday 14 November, five days before applications open and nearly four weeks before they close, so the talk has already happened by the time you complete the form. Abstracts are open to any doctor or medical student at nmerc.org/submit, presenting is free, and each one is reviewed before it is accepted. It only helps here if the work is about paediatric cardiology, because presentations must be “within last 3 years and relevant to paediatric cardiology”. The national tier, “2 points = National/International meeting”, sits in a starred category, and the guide explains: “*These fields are marked cumulatively, rather than awarding a mark corresponding to the highest achievement only.” A national presentation therefore gains 2 on top of any local or regional mark you hold, up to 4. The 2026 guide doesn’t separate oral from poster presentations, and it doesn’t define a national meeting, so the consultant panel decides how an NMERC presentation is counted. For your records, every presenting author is named in the NMERC programme, all co-authors appear in author order in the letter and the abstract book, and each presenter gets a certificate. Presenting there doesn’t score as teaching in D. A prize can’t be planned for, but an NMERC prize for a paediatric cardiology presentation would match “+1 point = Conference award for presentation”, and the panel decides.

Paediatric Cardiology ST4 scoring: common questions

How is the Paediatric Cardiology ST4 application scored?

Three consultant paediatric cardiologists score each application against the 13-category guide worth 50 (the 2026 version; the 2027 criteria are listed as coming soon). The applicant guide adds that “The scores will then be subjected to scrutiny by the recruitment team for evidence of anomalies.” The score decides who is shortlisted, and “The ranking of candidates determined by interview at the assessment centre will be tabled against preferences for posts, to determine offers.” In 2025 Round 2, 63 applications competed for 10 posts (a ratio of 6.30).

Do presentations count for Paediatric Cardiology ST4?

Yes, if they are from the last 3 years and relevant to paediatric cardiology. A local or regional meeting earns 1 and a national or international meeting 2, and the two add together. A conference award for the presentation and multiple presentations showing progression earn 1 more each, with the category capped at 4.

When do Paediatric Cardiology ST4 applications open for 2027?

The advert goes up on Wednesday 18 November 2026. The application window runs from 10am on Thursday 19 November to 4pm on Thursday 10 December 2026, and interviews are on Monday 8 March 2027. “There will be no face to face interviews in 2027”. In 2026 the interview combined structured suitability questions with clinical scenarios, each built from a stem and subsidiary questions, and “Applicants should not use headphones during their online interview.”

Who can apply for Paediatric Cardiology ST4?

The paediatrics route asks for an ST3 ARCP outcome 1 and all of MRCPCH, or the Progress+ ST3 alternative certificate, and the person specification also sets out a physician route. The 2027 person specification lists among its desirable criteria a higher degree (MSc, PhD or MD, not intercalated), cardiac experience at ST1 to ST3, awareness of managing paediatric cardiac disease, achievement outside medicine and altruistic behaviour.