Réforme du troisième cycle des études médicales en France

Abstract

The reform of the third cycle of medical studies was implemented in 2017. Its main objective was the professionalization of training allowing young doctors to establish themselves as specialized medical doctors upon obtaining their specialized studies diploma (DES) which is the only diploma. The number of DES increased from 30 to 44: 13 DES in surgical specialties, 30 DES in medical specialties, and the DES in Medical Biology. The DES are divided into three phases: a one-year base phase which takes place in services that recruit frequent pathologies in the specialty and can guarantee close supervision, a 2 to 3-year in-depth phase which corresponds to the former intern status, and a consolidation phase of one to two years. The student's competencies are evaluated at the end of each phase. At the end of the in-depth phase, the student must have defended his thesis to move on to the consolidation phase and obtain the title of Junior Doctor. The choice of internships is made according to the ranking for the foundation and in-depth phases and according to a matching procedure by mutual consent for the consolidation phase. The options and specialized transversal training (FST) are training courses which allow the acquisition of skills complementary to those acquired within the framework of the DES. These are named options when they are specific to a DES, and FST when they are shared between several DES (26 different FST). A postgraduate student can only follow one option or FST. Since November 2023, it has been possible to follow training to obtain a second DES, from three years of practice after obtaining the first DES. The second DES replaces the first. It is also possible to obtain a new option or FST while retaining its original DES.