Achieving good medical practice

As a medical student, you are studying to join a trusted profession that will bring you into contact with patients and members of the public. You must demonstrate a high standard of behaviour at all times, which justifies the trust placed in you as a future member of the profession.

This guidance outlines the standards expected of you – both inside and outside medical school – and shows how the principles and values of Good medical practice apply to you as a student.

Understanding how it applies now and in your career will help you be a good student and, in the future, a good doctor.

Please note: This guidance only applies to medical students. Once a doctor is registered, we monitor their fitness to practise.



Inside Achieving good medical practice:


Watch this video to hear more about professionalism and our guidance from experts at your medical school.

 

 

Supplementary information:

    Read more about protected cautions and convictions in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Who is this for?
These documents and resources are for medical students, but can also be helpful for medical schools.
Why do you need this?
Achieving good medical practice can help you as a student understand what is expected of you during your studies, and what will be expected of you later as a practising doctor.

Related content

Student fitness to practise competition Our student competition exploring why professionalism is important to medical students.
Case studies Case studies which demonstrate how professional behaviour and fitness to practise can apply in real life.
Medical School good practice examples Good practice examples that demonstrate how medical schools have implemented the guidance and how they communicated it.
Publications order form You can order a hard copy of this guidance through our publications order form.
Professionalism in teaching The GMC sponsored a project by the Point of Care Foundation, looking at how professional behaviour is taught at medical schools in the UK and exploring what methods would be suggested by medical students and educators.

Good medical practice

Good medical practice is our core guidance for all registered doctors.
Our good medical practice guidance cover image

Professional behaviour and fitness to practise: guidance for medical schools and students

Guidance for medical schools, educators and students on managing processes for professionalism concerns and fitness to practise.
Medical professionals in a meeting