The short answer
Mandatory training is the basic safety training doctors are expected to keep up to date. It covers essentials such as safeguarding, infection control, resuscitation and information governance. For appraisal, it helps show your appraiser that you remain competent in the fundamentals of safe clinical practice—not just that you have met an employer’s administrative requirements.
My advice is simple: complete the relevant core modules, check they are in date, and upload the completion certificates. This is one of the easiest sections of an appraisal portfolio to get right.
Which mandatory training should I complete?
The following 11 subjects are the standard starting point for doctors working in England, based on the Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF). I would usually expect to see evidence across this core set. The level appropriate for you depends on your clinical role and employer, especially for safeguarding and practical skills.
| Module | Typical training / level to look for |
|---|---|
| 1. Equality, Diversity and Human Rights | Core awareness |
| 2. Fire Safety | Core awareness |
| 3. Health, Safety and Welfare | Core awareness |
| 4. Infection Prevention and Control | Level 2 (clinical) |
| 5. Information Governance / Data Security | Core awareness |
| 6. Moving and Handling | Level 2 (clinical); practical assessment where needed |
| 7. Conflict Resolution | Core awareness |
| 8. Prevent (Preventing Radicalisation) | Basic awareness |
| 9. Adult Resuscitation | Level 2; practical assessment where required |
| 10. Safeguarding Adults | Level 3 commonly expected in medical roles |
| 11. Safeguarding Children | Level 2 or 3, depending on clinical responsibilities |
Also consider role-specific training such as the Mental Capacity Act / consent, dementia, learning disability and autism, or other subjects your organisation requires. Check your employer’s training matrix if you have one.
Where can I complete the training for free?
A practical starting point is NHS England e-Learning for Healthcare (elfh). You can register for a free account even if you do not currently have an NHS post; the courses available to you will depend on your email address, role and eligibility.
1. Go to https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Register (or start from https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/).
2. Enter your email address, professional role and workplace details where applicable. Use a recognised NHS or healthcare work email if you have one, as this can unlock more programmes.
3. Follow the email link to set a password, then sign in to the elfh Hub.
4. Search the catalogue for “Statutory and Mandatory Training” or individual CSTF topics. Complete the relevant sessions and assessments.
5. Save the completion certificate or completion record for each module, with its title, your name and date clearly visible.
If you use a personal email, registration is still free but access may be limited. If a particular module is unavailable, ask your employer or agency about access or use another appropriate training provider. Some hands-on assessments cannot be completed online.
What exactly should I upload to my appraisal?
Put your mandatory training in the dedicated section of your portfolio, if there is one, or under CPD. Your appraiser should be able to see at a glance what you completed, when you completed it and the evidence.
| Include | What good evidence looks like |
|---|---|
| Completion certificate | One for each subject (or an employer record that identifies each subject clearly). |
| Completion date / expiry | Check certificates are current against your employer or role requirements. |
| Module and level | For example, “Infection Prevention and Control – Level 2”. |
| Practical evidence where applicable | Keep proof of in-person assessment where your role requires one. |
You do not need to write 11 separate long reflections. A clear list of training plus the certificates is usually enough. Avoid a single vague entry saying “mandatory training completed” without the supporting evidence.
Example portfolio entry
2026. Completed the core CSTF subjects relevant to my clinical role. Individual certificates uploaded, including Infection Prevention and Control Level 2, Adult Resuscitation Level 2 and Safeguarding Adults Level 3. Practical competency evidence recorded separately where required.”
Before your appraisal: a quick check
- All 11 core areas considered; relevant modules completed.
- Correct clinical levels and any role-specific training checked.
- Certificates saved and uploaded; names, dates and completion visible.
- Expiry / refresher dates checked.
- Practical assessments arranged or evidenced where required.
A simple workflow: CHECK YOUR ROLE → COMPLETE MODULES → SAVE CERTIFICATES → UPLOAD TO PORTFOLIO
What if some training is missing?
As an appraiser, I would normally raise missing essential training. Depending on what is missing and the circumstances, I might ask you to complete it before the appraisal is finalised, or agree an urgent Personal Development Plan (PDP) objective with a clear deadline. It should not simply be left unresolved for another year.
If the same gap remains at the next appraisal, I would want to understand why, what barriers exist and whether the agreed action was taken. Repeated omissions despite clear expectations become a more significant concern about engagement with basic professional responsibilities.
If you are between jobs, you might have completed the online resuscitation or moving-and-handling module but not yet had access to a practical session. Explain that honestly and arrange the practical component before starting work if the employer requires it. An online certificate does not substitute for an assessed hands-on skill.
Does this count towards CPD?
Yes, mandatory training is useful CPD, but it should be a relatively small part of a broader portfolio of learning relevant to your practice. In my appraisal work, around ten hours or credits is a common practical allowance for mandatory training; do not treat it as your entire year’s CPD. The more important point is that your training is completed and properly evidenced.
My bottom line
Don’t overcomplicate this. Complete the core training that applies to your work, make sure your certificates are up to date and upload them. Doing that before the appraisal means we can spend more time discussing your actual clinical practice, development and achievements.
Sources and review
- Last reviewed
- 26 October 2026