Medical Training Act 2026 Commencement Regulations

UK New Legislation

Published March 5th, 2026

Detected March 6th, 2026

Summary

The UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has issued the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 (Commencement) Regulations 2026, bringing all provisions of the Act into force on March 6, 2026. The Act establishes a system for prioritising medical training places, favouring graduates from UK and Republic of Ireland medical schools.

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What changed

The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 (Commencement) Regulations 2026, made on March 5, 2026, bring all provisions of the Act into force effective March 6, 2026. The Act introduces a system for prioritising medical training places in the UK, including foundation and specialty training. Key provisions include prioritising graduates from UK and Republic of Ireland medical schools, and for specialty training, prioritising those who complete foundation training and, in 2026, those with specific immigration status. For specialty training posts starting in 2027 onwards, prioritisation will apply to interview decisions and offers.

These regulations will impact medical graduates and doctors seeking training positions in the UK. Healthcare providers and educational institutions involved in medical training allocation must ensure their processes align with the new prioritisation criteria. While the Act is effective March 6, 2026, specific implications for the 2027 training year onwards are noted for specialty training interviews and offers. No specific compliance deadline is mentioned beyond the effective date of the Act itself.

What to do next

Review the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 and its commencement regulations.
Update internal medical training allocation policies to reflect the new prioritisation criteria, including favouring UK/Republic of Ireland graduates and specific immigration statuses for 2026 specialty training.
Prepare for changes to interview and offer prioritisation for specialty training starting in 2027.

Source document (simplified)

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 221 (C. 19)

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 (Commencement) Regulations 2026

Made

5th March 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 8(2) of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026(1)

Citation

These Regulations may be cited as the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 (Commencement) Regulations 2026.

Commencement of Act

The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 comes into force on 6th March 2026.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Karin Smyth

Minister of State

Department of Health and Social Care

5th March 2026

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations bring into force all provisions of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 (“ the Act ”) on 6th March 2026.

The Act introduces a system of prioritisation for the allocation of medical training places in the United Kingdom, both for foundation training, a two-year work-based training programme for medical graduates, and for medical specialty training programmes, which follow foundation training and enable doctors to become a consultant or general practitioner.

In relation to deciding offers of places for both foundation and specialty training, the Act requires the prioritisation of graduates from UK and Republic of Ireland medical schools before offering places to any other eligible applicants, as well as prioritising international medical graduates who studied in Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, to reflect international agreements.

For specialty training, the Act also requires the prioritisation of those who complete foundation training, or a relevant earlier stage of training, and in 2026, the prioritisation of those with a certain immigration status. For specialty training posts starting in 2027 onwards, prioritisation will take place when deciding which applicants to interview, as well as when deciding offers of places.

An impact assessment has not been prepared for this instrument as an impact statement was published in relation to the provisions in the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill on 14th January 2026.

(1) 2026 c. 7.