Aim To survey former students of the English National Board N46 eating disorders programme at Anglia Polytechnic University, since its introduction in 1994.

Method This was a collaborative exercise involving lecturers and a former ENB N46 student, and provides a good example of evidence-based education. A postal questionnaire, consisting of questions relating to current employment, qualifications, evaluation of the ENB N46 and further training needs, was delivered to 45 former students, 27 of whom returned questionnaires.

Results The analysis suggests that the ENB N46 programme had a significant effect on students’ practice and continuing professional development, with 96 per cent of respondents saying they would recommend the course to others and 92 per cent indicating a clear commitment to continue working in this area.

Conclusion Specialist training courses in eating disorders represent a valuable contribution to the quality of client care and treatment, despite their scarcity and uneven distribution across the UK.