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The licence to practise

The way doctors will be regulated is changing. The GMC will introduce the licence to practise in the Autumn of 2009.

When licensing begins, it will be the licence to practise, rather than registration, which will signify to patients that a doctor has the legal authority to practise medicine in the UK. Only licensed doctors will be able to exercise the privileges currently reserved for registered medical practitioners, such as those relating to prescribing and signing death certificates.

The licence to practise will be the first step towards the introduction of revalidation. This new approach to medical regulation will give patients and employers regular assurance that their doctors are upto date and fit to practise.

Under revalidation, all licensed doctors will be required to demonstrate that they are practising in accordance with the generic standards of practice set by the GMC (as described in Good Medical Practice). Licensed doctors on the Specialist and GP Register will, in addition, be required to recertify against the standards that apply to their specialty or area of practice, set by the relevant medical Royal College or Faculty and approved by the GMC. 

Introducing the licence

Before the licence to practise is introduced, doctors will need to decide whether or not they will require a licence. We will write to all registered doctors in early 2009 and provide them with more information about the three options that will be available to them.

For the moment, there is nothing doctors need to do to obtain a licence. They should, however, start to consider which option will best suit their needs and requirements.
Once the licence has been introduced, all doctors wishing to practice or exercise the privileges currently reserved for registered medical practitioners will need to be a licensed medical practitioner; this means they must hold both registration and a licence to practise with the GMC. 
Doctors will need a licence to practise if they want to:

  • Hold a position as a doctor in the NHS or independent sector, on a permanent or locum basis
  • Write prescriptions, sign death certificates or exercise any of the other legal privileges currently reserved for registered medical practitioners

OR

  • If doctors’ employers, those who contract their services or another party require them to hold a licence.

Doctors may choose to hold a licence if they:

  • Use their professional knowledge and skills or rely on their professional standing to carry out their role. There may be no legal requirement to hold a licence for activities such as teaching, medical journalism, medico-legal work and some types of research.

Doctors may choose to hold registration only if they:

  • Wish to remain registered with the GMC following the introduction of licensing, but do not require a licence. Doctors holding registration only will be able to provide formal recognition of their good standing with the GMC. If doctors hold registration only, they will have no licence to renew by periodic revalidation.

The lack of a licence, however, will not prevent doctors from providing assistance in emergencies or undertaking any other activities, for which in the future, a licence will not be required.
Doctors holding registration only, will not be able to exercise any of the privileges currently reserved for registered medical practitioners, such as those relating to prescribing and signing death certificates. 

Further information can be found in our leaflet Licensing and you: Information for registered doctors (362kb, PDF Document Iconpdf) or on our answers to Frequently Asked Questions page.