IMHO, ma certamente non uno studente

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Note added at 2 days5 hrs (2012-08-31 15:14:03 GMT)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associate_Specialist

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Note added at 2 days5 hrs (2012-08-31 15:17:52 GMT)
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Terms and conditions of service for associate specialists – England (2008)
Schedule 1
Entry Criteria to the Grade
1. This grade will be closed to new entrants from 1 April 2009.
2. A doctor in this grade:
• shall have full registration with the General Medical Council;
• shall have served for a minimum of four years in the registrar or staff
grade and/or specialty doctor grade and/or in the clinical and/or senior
clinical medical officer grades, at least two of which have been in the
appropriate specialty. Equivalent service is also acceptable, with the
agreement of the relevant College or Faculty Regional Adviser and the
Regional Postgraduate Dean; and,
• shall have completed 10 years medical work (either a continuous
period or in aggregate) since obtaining a primary medical qualification
which is (or would at the time have been) acceptable by the GMC for
full, limited or temporary (but not provisional) registration. Placement
on the overseas list will not by itself count towards the qualifying
period.