The Bottom Line
- Use the current CREST form version and follow the official checklist—CREST rejection is often a <strong>paperwork error</strong>, not competency.
- The fastest path is to treat CREST like a contract: confirm signatory eligibility, ensure dates are valid, and avoid incomplete sections.
- Start early. The biggest risk is hunting a signatory at the last minute and accepting suboptimal completion.
CREST failure feels unfair because it is frequently avoidable. The recruitment system needs a form that is correctly signed, correctly dated, and internally consistent. The clinical reality may be true; the application reality is evidence-driven.
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Step 1 — Download the correct version and checklist
Get the form and checklist from the NHS medical recruitment hub (don’t rely on random PDFs circulating in WhatsApp groups).
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Step 2 — Confirm your signatory early (and brief them)
Pick a consultant-equivalent who actually knows your work and is willing to complete it carefully. Send them (a) the checklist, (b) your evidence summary, (c) a proposed completion date.
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Step 3 — Build a one-page evidence map
Map each CREST domain to 1–2 pieces of evidence (supervised clinics, audits, feedback, on-call exposure, procedural experience). This makes completion faster and cleaner.
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Step 4 — Run the ‘consistency audit’ before submission
Check: dates align with your employment history; names match GMC/passport; all required boxes are completed; signatures are present; no contradictory statements.
Common CREST rejection points
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