In any field of medicine or business, there are circumstances that mean individuals decide to either retrain or change the focus of their career. The Health Careers website has details about switching medical specialty including information on the Accreditation of Transferable Competencies Framework (ATCF).
There has been an increase in the number of enquiries about how to become a GP, from both trainees across all specialities, consultants, trust and staff grade doctors. Changes in the NHS over recent years mean that more care is provided by primary care teams which are increasing in size and the scope of what they do. The report, ‘The future of primary care, creating teams for tomorrow’ gives more insight into these developments.
We understand that it is not so easy to find information when you have moved on from the normal training cycle so we have provided answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQs) and some examples from people who made the change.
You will find a range of useful information in the applicant guidance and recruitment round dates on the Recruitment section of the website. All applicants will need to apply through the Oriel recruitment portal. There are currently 3 application rounds a year.
The competency based selection process allows applicants to demonstrate their abilities and suitability for GP training.
There are a number of selection centres based across the country. Dates and locations are posted on the Recruitment section of website.
Candidates work through three, 10 minute scenarios known as objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE). These are friendly non-intrusive observations using role play scenarios with a patient, colleague, carer or a relative for example, with a written exercise to assess prioritisation skills. The exercises test four main areas around communication skills, conceptual thinking and problem solving, empathy and sensitivity and professional integrity. There is more information in the 'Guidance for Applicants' with sample questions available online.
If you have a current National Training Number (NTN), have completed at least a year in one of the approved specialty training schemes and progressed satisfactorily, it may be possible to reduce your GP training time by 6 months under the Accreditation of Transferable Competences Framework (ATCF).
Specific eligibility criteria apply so if you are interested in this scheme, you can find more information and FAQs on the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), The Committee of General Practice Education Directors (COGPED) or The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) websites.
ATCF programmes cannot be applied for retrospectively so you must apply in your initial application to the GP training programme.
If you are not eligible for the ATCF programme, you may still be able to complete a shorter GP training programme through the CEGPR (Combined Programme) route.
The CEGPR (Combined Programme) is for trainees who wish to combine part of the CCT programme with posts held earlier in their career which were not approved for general practice training. These may be formal training posts or substantive paid roles.
To apply for the CEGPR (CP), make sure your Health Education England (HEE) local office or deanery are aware of your previous experience as soon as possible. It may be possible to shorten the GP training programme by 6 – 12 months depending on the experience you submit for review. More information can be found on the RCGP website
The latest terms and conditions (March 2017) are available on the NHS Employers website; please refer to pages 15 & 16 – Paragraph 49-52 under ‘Pay protection on re-entering training from a career grade.’
Anyone with continuous service in a career grade post or posts for at least 13 months immediately prior to re-entering training will be eligible for pay protection for as long as it is more favourable.
It may also be worth looking at the Targeted Enhanced Recruitment Scheme (TERS) - further details are available on the TERS section of the website.
Last updated June 2019
Email gprecruitment@hee.nhs.uk if you have any questions about the career or would like to request contact from a GP who can help you understand more about the job.
The Alliance of Primary Care Societies (APCS): APCS is a forum where primary care organisations come together to work with the RCGP on topics that span the breadth of general practice.
BMA: Up to date guidance on service delivery, premises, staffing and partnerships and running a general practice – most GP are independent contractors either running the business on their own or in partnership with others.
GMC: medical register for sports event doctors.
GP Contract: England.
Health Careers: General information about the career with case studies.
National Association of Primary Care (NAPC): Membership organisation representing the interests of primary care professionals.
NHS England: general information including models of care and vanguards and case studies.
NHS Employers: Examples of work schedules, primary care contracts and much more.
Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP): Discover general practice and how to learn general practice.