Features: Licensing - it's time to decide
25 March 2009
GMC to launch campaign to find out how many doctors will want to hold a licence to practise.
The GMC is working towards the introduction of the licence to practise. To practise medicine in the UK after licensing begins, doctors will, by law, need to be both registered and hold a licence to practise. This will apply whether you practise full time, part time, as a locum, privately or in the NHS, and whether you are employed or self-employed.
Before licensing begins, we will be asking doctors to make an important decision about licensing and their status on the medical register. A new GMC campaign, starting in April, will ask registered doctors across the UK whether they wish to hold a licence to practise in the future.
Your decision as a doctor
At the time of the change all registered doctors will be entitled to a licence to practise. But your decision to hold one will depend on your role as a doctor and the particular activities you undertake. If you do not wish to hold a licence, you will need to consider if you wish to remain registered without a licence to practise or relinquish your registration.
Here, GMCtoday outlines the three options available in more detail to help you make your decision.
Your Options
Option A: Registration with a licence to practice
This will legally allow you to undertake any of the activities for which UK law currently requires you to be registered. Holding a licence means you must comply with the requirements of revalidation when it is introduced.
Aside from any legal requirement, you may decide to hold a licence to meet a contractual obligation imposed by your employer, or those who contract your services.
In certain situations you may not be under any legal or contractual obligation to hold a licence but you still may decide to do so, if you use your professional knowledge and skills or rely on your professional standing to carry out your role.
Option B: Registration without a licence to practice
This means you will remain registered but not be able to undertake any of the activities in the UK legally restricted to doctors holding a licence.
If you are not practising medicine, and there is no legal or other requirement for you to hold a licence, you may decide to take this option.
If you practise solely outside the UK you may decide to take this option because you will not need to hold a licence for the period that you are out of the UK.
Option C: No longer registered
You have the option to no longer be registered if you do not want a licence or to remain registered without one.
You can apply to relinquish your registration by completing an application for voluntary removal of your name from the Register.
Please visit our website at www.gmc-uk.org to download an application form.
Your licensing questions answered
Do I need a licence?
You will need a licence to undertake any form of medical practice for which UK law currently requires you to hold GMC registration - whether you practise full time, part time, as a locum, privately or in the NHS, employed or self-employed.
Certain activities are restricted to doctors holding GMC registration. These include, but are not limited to, writing prescriptions, holding a post as a doctor in the NHS and signing cremation certificates. In the future you will need to be registered with a licence to undertake such activities.
If your practice involves the application of your professional knowledge and skills, even though you may not be under a legal or a contractual obligation to hold a licence, you may decide to take a licence.
What will taking a licence mean?
If you take a licence you will be subject to the requirements of revalidation, when it is introduced. This means you must undertake the periodic renewal of your licence by demonstrating that you are up to date and fit to practise.
Taking a licence will also mean that it will remain your responsibility to follow the guidance contained in Good Medical Practice.
What will registration without a licence allow me to do?
Remaining registered without a licence may suit you if you are not practising medicine but nevertheless want to retain your GMC registration.
Holding registration without a licence will allow you to show to employers, overseas regulators and others that you remain in good standing with the GMC. It will remain your responsibility to be familiar with Good Medical Practice and to follow the guidance it contains.
You will, of course, be able to undertake activities not legally dependent on holding a licence. You will be able to sign passport photographs and use the title 'Doctor'. You must, however, make it clear you are not registered with a licence to practise. To present yourself as registered with a licence to practise when you are not would be a criminal offence.
The lack of a licence will not prevent you from providing assistance in emergencies - sometimes referred to as 'Good Samaritan' acts. You should check with your medical defence organisation or insurer if you are concerned about any potential liabilities arising from performing such acts or whether your present arrangements will cater for such acts if you are registered without a licence.
If you hold registration without a licence, you will not be subject to the requirements of revalidation because you will have no licence to renew.
Remember: if you want to prescribe or undertake any form of medical practice for which UK law currently requires you to hold GMC registration, you will need a licence.
How much will I have to pay for a licence or to remain registered without a licence?
Whether you take a licence or remain registered without one you must continue to pay an annual fee.
The date on which your annual fee falls due will remain unchanged and will not be affected by the introduction of licensing.
The annual fee for maintaining registration with a licence will be the same as the current annual retention fee (£390 for fees due prior to 1 April 2009, and £410 for fees due after this date).
The annual fee for holding registration without a licence will be £145.
If you choose registration without a licence, but have already paid your annual retention fee, we will adjust your fee accordingly and give you a refund if necessary.
If I take a licence, when will I have to revalidate?
Revalidation is not being introduced at the same time as licensing. Only when we are sure that the necessary systems and arrangements to support doctors are in place, will we begin to implement revalidation.
Once revalidation is introduced, your licence will be subject to periodic renewal, probably every five years. Until that time, there is nothing you need to do to renew your licence over and above what you must do to maintain your registration.
For more information go to our website www.gmc-uk.org.