Rank and Speciality
An associate specialist ranks below a consultant and is always nominally accountable to one, but as associate specialists do not count as junior doctors they are able to have their own clinic lists and see patients independently. Associate specialists are often (but not always) on the specialist register of whichever field of medicine in which they practice, and can be specialists in any field. Promotion from staff grade or specialty doctor was normally on experience rather than qualification, although an associate specialist is free to sit any required exams and apply for a consultant post (often without having to have been a specialist registrar first) if they wish. An associate specialist can sit for an exam at any time.
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