GMC is altering the process for foreign-trained doctors seeking GP registration, aiming to make it more flexible and less cumbersome.

Starting at the end of November, the Certificate of Eligibility for General Practice Registration (CEGPR) and its equivalents for other specialties will be renamed the ‘Portfolio pathway’. This new approach won’t necessitate equivalence with the CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) but will require applicants to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and experience needed for practicing as a qualified specialist or GP in the UK.

The GMC aims to better acknowledge the substantial experience doctors may have gained outside the UK or beyond formal UK training posts with these changes. Parliament has approved these legislative changes, set to take effect on November 30th.

The GMC believes these alterations will allow them to consider a wider range of evidence from applicants, making the application process more manageable by reducing the volume of evidence required.

The intention behind this change isn’t to lower standards but to set a consistent, safe standard across all routes to specialist and GP registration. Applicants must align their knowledge, skills, and experience with the high-level learning outcomes of the GMC-approved UK curriculum in their relevant specialty or in general practice, rather than aligning with the detailed CCT curriculum.

Additionally, the GMC is collaborating with royal colleges to update specific guidance for each specialty. This guidance will focus on enhancing flexibility in areas such as evidence time limits, structured reports, utilizing evidence for revalidation, and incorporating evidence from formal UK education and training progression.

Furthermore, broader reforms within the GMC legislation are underway. This includes the regulation of physician and anesthesia associates, alongside planned changes aiming for more efficient resolution of FTP (Fitness to Practice) investigations.

This monumental shift by the GMC stands poised to open doors and pave smoother pathways for talented doctors worldwide, ensuring a fair and streamlined approach to securing GP registration within the UK.