The Basics

To become an independent General Practitioner in the UK, you must undertake at least three years of GP Specialty Training (GPST), normally including 18 months in an approved training practice with a further 18 months in approved hospital posts.

To ensure that you become a competent, effective and confident GP of tomorrow as well as directly addressing the GP curriculum, Deaneries will tailor your training to your individual needs and your particular rate of progress.

There is an increasing number of four year options available giving extra valuable experience. On joining a GP Specialty Training Programme you should register with the Royal College of General Practitioners. Gaining Valuable Experience.

General Practice Posts

All GP posts are undertaken in a wide variety of locations, and always in an approved training practice under the supervision of a GP trainer. Here you will receive personalised tuition from an experienced GP who has had further training as an educationalist, as well as other members of the Primary Health Care Team. 

The training will be targeted to your identified needs.

Hospital Posts

The exact posts offered by Deaneries in their programmes vary, but you will be offered a complete programme that complies with the regulations set down by the GMC. 

All posts are accredited and approved for GP training. The specialties available include: General Medicine Elderly Care Medicine Paediatrics, Community Paediatrics Obstetrics and Gynaecology Psychiatry and old age Psychiatry ENT Accident and Emergency Dermatology Ophthalmology Palliative Care Some Deaneries have innovative programmes that combine hospital and General Practice posts.

Assessing your Skill Assessments & Examinations

To become a General Practitioner you must possess a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). During all your placements you will complete workplace based assessments as well as preparing for the external MRCGP examinations – the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and the Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA). 

Your progress will be monitored at least yearly by an Annual Review of Competency Progress (ARCP) Panel. More details of the examination can be found on the RCGP website.

The Personal Skills assessed in the Recruitment & Selection process for entry to GP Specialty Training

• Clinical Knowledge & Expertise:
  Capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge & awareness to full investigation of problems
• Empathy & Sensitivity:
  Capacity & motivation to take in others’ perspectives & to treat others with understanding
• Communication Skills:
  Capacity to adjust behaviour & language as appropriate to needs of differing situations
• Conceptual Thinking & Problem Solving:
  Capacity to think beyond the obvious, with analytical and flexible mind
• Coping with Pressure:
  Capacity to recognise own limitations and develop appropriate coping mechanisms
• Organisation & Planning:
  Capacity to organise information/time effectively in a planned manner
• Managing Others & Team Involvement:
  Capacity to work effectively in partnership with others

Educational Supervision

You will be assigned to an educational supervisor based in General Practice throughout your time on the programme, who will help you through the MRCGP procedures, using an e-portfolio to do so.

Other Opportunities - Academic Clinical & Global Health Fellowships

Some HEE Local Office or Deaneries may also offer a limited number of Academic Clinical Fellowship and Global Health Fellowship programmes where time is spent on additional academic projects or where some time is spent abroad working in rural communities. These are subject to availability and more information will be provided on individual HEE Local Office or Deanery web sites.