So You Want To Be A GP?

GP Speciality Training takes 3 years. During the programme in Scotland you will currently spend 18 months in General Practice (generally 1 block of 6 months in GPST1 and 1 block of 12 months in GPST3) and 18 months in a variety of hospital posts (1 block of 6 months in GPST1 and 2 blocks of 6 months in GPST2). 

Hospital posts are many and varied but have all been assessed as adding something unique to the GP training experience. The GP posts are usually in the same GP practice allowing trainees an opportunity to work with the same Primary Care team for a longer period of time.

This may change in the future with a move to spending 24 months in General Practice and 12 months in hospital posts. 

The path to get into GP training can be varied but there are a few things along the way that you might like to know that could help.

Foundation Year 2

There are a number of GP posts in FY2 and although not essential are very beneficial to try and get a Foundation GP post if you think  you may wish to progres to a career in General Practice

GP Taster Week

If you have been unable to secure an FY job in GP, organising a GP taster week if definitely worthwhile. This will give you a flavour of a typical week in general practice.  

Scotland Deanery Taster Days

Contact: hilary.duffy@nhs.scot

Recruitment Process

Details of the recruitment process and important dates and deadlines are available from The GP National recruitment Website. There is also information available here on Eligibility criteria for GP training. 

The General Practice (GP) National Recruitment Office

The MSRA is a computer-based assessment, delivered in partnership with Work Psychology Group and Pearson VUE, which has been designed to assess some of the essential competences outlined in the Person Specification and is based around clinical scenarios. The MSRA is utilised as an entry to training assessment by several postgraduate medical specialties.

Exams during Training

There are no exams required prior to applying

There are 3 elements to the examination process

• AKT - Applied Knowledge Test (an MCQ, taken in GPST2) 
• RCA- Recorded Consultation Assessment (a summative assessment, using recorded video or audio consultations, submitted in GPST3)
• WPBA - Work Place Based Assessment (an ongoing assessment of progress, made by your GP Educational Supervisor, based on evidence in an eportfolio)

Useful Links 

• Royal College of General Practitioners- more info on the exam process 
• Scottish Medical Training
• NHS Education Scotland GP Training