Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

Background information on specialist and GP certification

This section provides information about the different types of certification that are available for specialists and GPs.

Doctors who practise as honorary, fixed term or substantive consultants in the UK health services must be on the Specialist Register. Doctors who practise as GPs in the UK health services, other than trainees, must be on the GP Register.

Before they can be entered onto the Specialist Register or the GP Register, we need to check that they are appropriately qualified. We carry out checks that they meet requirements particular to their specialty, training, qualifications and experience.

Successful applicants will be entered onto the Specialist Register or the GP Register.

Doctors may work in areas other than the specialty or specialties listed for them in the Specialist Register. In this section you can read more about the different types of application for specialist and GP registration.

Certificates of Completion of Training (CCT)

Doctors who complete a full GMC approved training programme may apply for entry onto the Specialist Register or GP Register with a CCT.

Specialty equivalence (CESR and CEGPR)

Specialists and GPs who have not completed a GMC approved programme but are able to demonstrate that they have the knowledge, skills and experience required by the approved curriculum for their specialty may apply for entry onto the Specialist Register with a Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) or entry onto the GP Register with a Certificate of Eligibility for GP Registration (CEGPR) through the specialty equivalence route.

The combined programme (CESR and CEGPR)

Doctors who have been appointed to a GMC-approved training programme above the usual entry point, and who successfully complete the rest of the approved training programme, may apply for entry onto the Specialist Register with a CESR or entry onto the GP Register with a CEGPR through the combined programme.

Sub-specialty recognition

Doctors who already hold specialist registration are able to apply for their entry on the Register to be updated with a sub-specialty.

Applicants for entry onto the Specialist Register with a CCT or a CESR may apply for recognition of a sub-specialty as part of their main application.

Reviews, reapplications and appeals

Doctors who are unsuccessful in their application may be able to apply for a review of their decision, to reapply or to appeal the decision.

Specialist and GP certification statistics

Statistics are available here showing numbers of successful and unsuccessful applications by specialty and certificate type.

When you have read this section

Applications