Skip to main content

This is a new service - your feedback will help us to improve it.

Medical Practitioner

Regulators
  • General Medical Council
Nations
United Kingdom
Sectors
  • Health and care

Regulatory or professional bodies

Primary regulator

Regulatory authority
General Medical Council
Address

350 Euston Road
London
NW1 3JN

Email address
gmc@gmc-uk.org
Phone number
+44 (0)1619 236 602

Regulation

Regulation summary

We work with doctors, physician associates (PAs), anaesthesia associates (AAs), those they care for and other stakeholders to support good, safe patient care across the UK. We set the standards doctors, PAs, AAs and their educators need to meet, and help them achieve them. If there are concerns these standards may not be met or that public confidence in doctors, PAs, or AAs may be at risk, we can investigate, and take action if needed.

Regulation type

Licence

Reserved activities

To practise medicine in the UK you need to hold registration with a licence to practise.

More about regulated activities and titles
https://www.gmc-uk.org/about/what-we-do-and-why

Qualifications and experience

New professionals

Routes to qualification

Before you become a UK doctor you first have to obtain a degree in medicine from a medical school whose medical degrees we accept. Courses normally last five years, or four years for a graduate entry programme. They involve basic medical sciences as well as clinical training on the wards.

After graduation, you'll enter the two-year Foundation Programme. You'll be provisionally registered with a licence to practise while completing the first year. Full registration is awarded when you've completed year one.

Professionals from outside the UK

Recognition for professionals outside the UK
All - there are routes to recognition for professionals from all countries
Summary of routes

For full details of how to join the medical register, use the route finder (link below).


Registration

Registration requirements

https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register


Legislation

Title of relevant act or charter

Medical Act 1983

Licence Finder

You may need licences and permits to carry out certain activities in the UK. These are called authorisations. Use the licence finder to find what you need.