Postgraduate training
After graduating from medical school and completing their foundation training, many doctors complete a third stage, postgraduate training, to become general practitioners (GPs) or consultants.
Setting standards
The GMC does not set standards for this stage of training. These standards are set by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) (external website).
In 2005 the GMC and PMETB jointly published Principles of Good Medical Education and Training (97kb, 
pdf).
Changes to specialist training
Some of the main reforms being developed at present are:
- Modernising Medical Careers (external website) - a policy initiative from the four UK health departments that indicates how modernisation of postgraduate medical education will be taken forward.
- The establishment by the GMC of a general practice register.
- Reviews by the royal colleges of the nature of the training that is received by after completion of the Foundation Programme.
- Development of generic standards for specialty training by the PMETB
