General Practitioner in the UK is a challenging career, but it can be extremely rewarding. Both local and international medical graduates (IMGs) can become GPs in the UK. However, their pathways are different.
The medical school training for local graduates in the UK typically lasts between 4 to 7 years. IMGs who worked as GPs in another country can’t simply start working as GPs in the UK, but with GP training, they can do so.
This blog gives you clarity on how to become a GP in the UK for local and IMG candidates.
Who Is a General Practitioner (GP)?
A General Practitioner, or GP, is a doctor in England who provides day-to-day medical assistance to people of all ages. Generally, a person would report their illness to the GP first.
GPs in the UK take care of physical issues as well as the emotional well-being of their patients. A continuing care provider also takes care of patients with chronic diseases and refers patients to a specialist based on their needs.
If you are interested in becoming a GP in the UK, you must know what qualifications you need to be a GP.
Key Skills and Qualities of a GP
Some of the core skills expected from a GP are:
- Clinical knowledge: The GP must know all about acute and long-term medical illnesses.
- Communication: For a GP, communication is more than just talking. Actively listening to patients, asking the right questions, and explaining medical terms in simple words are some of the much-needed communication skills.
- Empathy: A GP is expected to understand the patient’s world: their worries, context, and lifestyle. According to the RCGP curriculum, general practitioners provide ‘whole person medical care’.
- Problem-solving: GPs deal with different types of patients. Their symptoms will sometimes be unclear or overlapping. GPs must know how to work around to make the right diagnosis and offer the right treatment with limited information.
- Adaptability: The healthcare environment also changes fast, so being flexible helps.
- Professionalism: Mistakes as a GP can have severe consequences, affecting not only the doctor but also patients and their families. You must follow the guidelines and act professionally at all times.
- Teamwork: GPs don’t work in isolation. You will work with nurses, specialists, allied health professionals, and even social care. Communication across teams is key.
For skilled professionals who are interested in saving lives and working with people, the following section shows a clear pathway for becoming a GP in the UK.
GP Training UK Pathway: Step-by-Step Process
Here are the steps involved to become a GP in the UK. It can take up to 7 to 10 years to become a GP, but perseverance pays off in the future.
Step 1: Complete a Medical Degree
Getting an accredited medical degree is the first step. Typically, completing a medical degree itself takes 5-6 years in the UK, where you will study core sciences and clinical placements. After getting your medical degree, you may apply for provisional registration with the General Medical Council (GMC).
Step 2: Finish the Foundation Programme (FY1 & FY2)
As a part of medical training to become a GP, you must spend 2 years working in hospitals and community rotations (Foundation Year 1 & 2). This builds broad clinical experience. Only after completing this can you apply for GP speciality training.
Step 3: Apply for GP Speciality Training (GPST)
The GPST can take up to 3 years. During this training, you will learn about hospital and GP practice placements, log your learning in a portfolio, and follow the curriculum set by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
Step 4: Earn the MRCGP Qualification and GMC License
As a part of the training, you must pass the exams under the RCGP’s system. This is the MRCGP. Once you complete the training programs and pass the required assessments, you can apply for inclusion in the GP register with the GMC. GMC then completes its assessment and gives you a full license to practice as a GP in the NHS.
These steps are for a UK resident to become a GP. In the next section, let’s see how someone who completed their medical degree or worked as a GP in a foreign country can become a GP.
Pathway for International Medical Graduates (IMGs)
Non-UK medical graduates called IMGs can also become a GP, subject to the following requirements:
Get registered and licensed with the GMC
Registration with the GMC is the first requirement. You must hold a primary medical qualification recognised by the GMC. Foreign nationals also need to demonstrate English ability through IELTS/OET.
Demonstrate foundational experience
Before entering the GP training, you must show that you have appropriate experience and skills. For non-UK doctors, this may be evidence of a foundation-level competency or completion of a UK foundation equivalent. If you are an IMG, you may need a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Speciality Training (CREST) if you want to enter GP training.
Apply for GPST
Once you have shown proof that you have the basic medical knowledge and experience, you can apply for a 3-year GP training program. The selection process involves the determination of eligibility and the Multi-Speciality Recruitment Assessment (MSRA).
Apply to the RCGT for the GPST program
With successful training and based on the RCGT assessment, you become eligible for GP registration by the GMC.
For IMGs and experienced overseas GPs, alternate routes through the International Induction Programme (IIP) are available. These allow you to become a GP in the UK with the NHS without taking the full GPST program.
Challenges and Benefits of Being a GP in the UK
Before taking up the challenge of how to become a GP in the UK, consider the following challenges and benefits:
Challenges:
- Relentless pace of work
- Heavy workload due to additional administrative tasks
- Budgets don’t always match the demand
- Workforce shortages add to pressure
- Practices may struggle with staffing, infrastructure, and support due to low funding
Some of the benefits of being a GP are:
- A rewarding career where you help people from all walks of life with their health
- Building relationships to become a trusted medical professional
- More control of working hours compared to hospital doctors
- Employment rights and benefits for UK GPs are strong
- Opportunity to work in multiple settings, from urban to rural, to make a difference in your community
Final Thoughts
Becoming a GP in the UK requires commitment, consistent concentration, and a real passion for helping people throughout each phase of life.
From medical school to a full GMC license, each step in becoming a GP will build your confidence to undertake the work that has real meaning. This pathway also allows IMGs to have successful careers in the UK as GPs.
While the pathway is complex, it has its rewards as you play a central role in local healthcare. If you are ready, you can apply for the GP Locums Jobs in Wolverhampton to begin your career as a GP.
