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Section 1: Employment History

Section 2: Documents & Certificates

Section 3: Academic Achievements

Section 4: Career Development

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No, you do not need to keep a logbook if you are not a surgical trainee and have no intention to become one in the future, however, there is also no harm in keeping a record of surgeries you have attended or assisted with as a matter of personal interest or future-proofing.

A DOPS demonstrates procedural competence and technical skill, whereas a logbook demonstrates breadth of experience. A logbook is not a formal assessment, but a log of all operative procedures you have undertaken and the level of supervision required on each occasion.

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) provides trainees with access to a digital logbook where they can compile information about which surgeries they attended and with which lead surgeon, their role in the procedure, and their reflections (along with lots of other information). The entries in the digital logbook can be ratified (digitally signed off) by the surgeon listed in the logbook as proof.

If you want to use a digital logbook but aren’t a member of the RCS, then there are free and paid options online, but you can also use paper documents for sign-offs if you include the following information:

Make sure that every logbook entry is signed/validated by the trainer/supervisor.