Information about ANRO:

The Anaesthetics National Recruitment Office (ANRO), part of NHS England (formerly Health Education England) based in the West Midlands is the responsible organisation for coordinating CT1 and ST4 recruitment to Anaesthetics specialty training posts (including ACCS Anaesthetics) within the NHS.

We are expecting a high level of interest in Anaesthetics/ACCS Anaesthetics which means that it is likely that a sufficient number of appointable applicants will remain at the end of the Round 1 recruitment process. Posts with a later start date will be offered to those applicants and any remaining posts may be filled within the same recruitment round. As a result, we may not advertise again later in the recruitment year.

It is recommended that potential applicants familiarise themselves with the Medical Specialty Recruitment Applicant guide 2026. 

NEW from 16^th July 2025 – Applicant or Resident Doctor queries now need to submit their query to our new central helpdesk: https://nhs-help.freshdesk.com/support/home        

RCoA Website: Recruitment into Anaesthesia

ROUND 1 CT1 - Current Position on MSRA

If eligible, you will be invited to take the MSRA.

Important message: Two sittings planned for Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) for 2026 recruitment 

As there is an anticipated rise in the number of applications to medical speciality training recruitment Round 1 for 2026 which opens on 23 October 2025, we will deliver the MSRA split across two windows: one in January and one in February.

There will be two sittings of the MSRA next year for R1:
  •  January 2026: Open to applicants for all specialties.
  •  February 2026: Reserved for applicants who apply to Core Psychiatry and/or General Practice only.

Please note:  If the number of applicants applying to Core Psychiatry and/or General Practice exceeds the capacity available for the February sitting, then some applicants will be required to sit the MSRA in the January sitting.  Allocated sittings will be confirmed as soon as possible, after the application closing deadline. 

Allocated testing windows cannot be changed, even if applicants choose to withdraw applications to try and make themselves eligible for the later testing window.

ST4 Self-Assessment Webinar for Applicants planning to apply for an August 2026 start

The RCoA will be hosting a Self-Assessment webinar for applicants on Wednesday 12^th November 2025 at 7pm – 8.30pm recruitment into anaesthesia. Any applicants wishing to attend should please register on the RCoA website here.

Updates to the 2026 ST4 Anaesthetics Interview Matrices

TO BE CONFIRMED

Updates to the 2026 CT1 Anaesthetics Interview Matrices

Changes to ST4 Self-Assessment Criteria from August 2026 Recruitment

Applicants should please be advised that, from Round 2 August 2026 recruitment onwards, points for all undergraduate degrees will be removed from Domain 1 (Additional degrees and qualifications) of the Self-Assessment Criteria for ST4 Anaesthetics recruitment. This change is NOT implemented for the Round 2 August 2025 recruitment year.