The route to higher training in Acute Medicine is usually via either core medical training (CMT) or acute care common stem (ACCS) training. These programmes give trainees a solid grounding in the medical or acute specialties. Click here to read more about CMT and ACCS .
Higher Acute Medicine training is a four-year programme from ST3 level, which, once successfully completed, leads to a CCT in Acute Internal Medicine. Some trainees will choose to dual accredit in both AIM and General Internal Medicine (GIM), which will add about one year to the training time for full-time trainees. The figures below (taken from the AIM 2009 curriculum) illustrate the training pathway.
Figure 1: Training in Acute Medicine alone
Figure 2: Dual CCT with GIM
During higher training, registrars will gain experience not only in Acute Medicine, but also in other relevant specialties. These include some of the more “acute” medical specialties (such as Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Medicine for the Elderly), and also critical care specialties (Intensive Care Medicine and occasionally Anaesthetics). More information about what to expect from higher training can be found in the AIM 2009 curriculum.
More from SAM
More news, statements and updates from the Society for Acute Medicine.
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“Carrying an existing crisis into winter” – SAM president (20 October)
Commenting on a survey published today (20 October 2026) by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) which found 150 of the UK’s leading A&E doctors have said they are very worried about the pressure that Emergency Departments will face this winter, Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The concerns…
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Corridor Care Coalition letter to Yvette Cooper MP (16 October)
As one of 16 organisations which form the Corridor Care Coalition, the Society for Acute Medicine co-signed a letter to Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, highlighting that corridor care is incompatible with safe, high-quality care. Read the letter in full here
Society for Acute Medicine
Setting the standard. Improving acute care.
