Respiratory curriculum and related resources
BTS Training Standards
Our training standards provide comprehensive frameworks to support learners as they develop their skillsets and progress through the levels of training outlined in relevant curricula. They also support supervisors as they guide learners through the levels of capability and make entrustment decisions.
We have published the following training standard documents:
BTS Training Standards for Pleural Procedures
The BTS Training Standards, published in December 2025, are a framework that ensures those performing pleural procedures do so safely, operating within their skillset. They cover the primary procedures relevant to general respiratory medicine, internal and acute medicine/critical care, as well as the advanced procedures that are performed by specialist teams.
Read the BTS Training Standards for Pleural Procedures
This appendix to the training standards shows the results of an expert opinion survey about the minimum number of pleural procedures that would be expected to be performed before independent capability should be granted. This data will be helpful to learners and trainers in planning and appraising experiential learning records when considering CiP level 4 capability in any pleural procedures.
Read the BTS Training Standards Appendix 1
BTS Training Standard for Thoracic Ultrasound
This document, published in May 2020, provides a comprehensive framework for thoracic ultrasound to support the management of patients with respiratory presentations, particularly (but not exclusively) pleural pathologies.
Read the Training Standard for Thoracic Ultrasound
Find out more about the Training Standard in our Frequently Asked Questions Document.
Dr John Park, chair of the BTS Training Standard working group, explained the rationale for this training standard in a feature for Respiratory Futures.
Read the feature on the Respiratory Futures website
Links to the Respiratory Medicine Curriculum, Internal Medicine Curriculum and other resources are provided below.