The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) runs two entry-level practical surgical skills courses: Basic Surgical Skills (BSS) and Surgical Skills for Students and Health Professionals (SSSHP). They sound similar and cover some of the same techniques, but they are written for people at different stages. Choosing the right one saves you time and money.
PLAB Guide Training Centre in Levenshulme, Manchester is now an RCS England approved centre for both courses.
The short answer
- You are a doctor in, or about to enter, surgical training: book BSS.
- You are a medical student, or you work in theatre (ODP, surgical first assistant, physician associate): book SSSHP.
- You are a foundation doctor considering surgery: SSSHP is a gentle introduction, but BSS is the course most core surgical training programmes expect, so if you are applying soon, go straight to BSS.
BSS and SSSHP side by side
| BSS | SSSHP | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | FY1–FY3, CT1–CT2, MRCS Part B candidates, Surgical Care Practitioners | Medical students, early foundation doctors, ODPs, surgical first assistants, physician associates |
| Length | 2 days, plus pre-course e-learning | 1 day |
| Days at PLAB Guide | Thursday and Friday | Saturday |
| Core content | Theatre safety, knots, interrupted, mattress and continuous sutures, tissue handling, local anaesthetic, lesion excision, laparoscopic principles | Handwashing, gowning and gloving, knots, interrupted, mattress and subcuticular sutures, local anaesthetic, lesion and cyst excision |
| CPD | 12 points | Not stated |
| Extras | RCS England certificate in your RCS account | A year of RCS course videos, a handbook, and free RCS Affiliate Membership for eligible students and trainees |
| Fee at PLAB Guide | £625 including VAT | £199 including VAT |
Why BSS matters for surgical trainees
Most core surgical training programmes expect trainees to complete BSS during core training, and many list it on their review checklists. It also supports MRCS Part B preparation and core surgical training applications, because it shows you have been taught a safe, standard technique. If you are an international medical graduate moving into UK surgery, BSS is one of the most useful early additions to your portfolio.
Why SSSHP suits students and theatre staff
Many medical students get little structured surgical teaching before placements. SSSHP fills that gap in a single day, and the follow-up videos let you keep practising. For ODPs and surgical first assistants, it builds confidence with knots and suturing in a supportive setting.
Can I do both?
Yes. Many people take SSSHP as students and BSS once they start surgical training. The two courses are steps on the same path.