Intensive Care Courses & Articles for UK Doctors

Intensive Care Medicine can be entered via dual CCT training (combined with anaesthetics, medicine, EM, or surgery) or as a standalone single-CCT programme. The standalone pathway runs from ST3–ST7 after ACCS or equivalent training. Most intensivists hold dual accreditation.

The FFICM (Fellowship of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine) is the primary qualification. It has two parts: FFICM Part I (MCQ covering basic sciences and clinical topics) and FFICM Part II (OSCE and structured oral examination). Many trainees also sit the FRCA or MRCP depending on their base specialty.

ICM training at ST3 had a 2025 competition ratio of 2.97:1. Dual CCT programmes are accessed through the parent specialty (anaesthetics, medicine, etc.), where competition is considerably higher. Strong candidates have ALS/ATLS, audit in critical care, and ideally the FFICM Part I.

Key courses include ALS, ATLS, FFICM revision courses, advanced ventilation and haemodynamic monitoring courses, echocardiography in ICU, simulation-based team training, and courses on end-of-life care in the ICU setting.