We make sure that every doctor has the right knowledge, skills, qualifications and experience to work across the UK. We do this by maintaining an official list called the medical register.
When a doctor applies to join the medical register, we check they meet our requirements to work in the UK and deliver good, safe patient care.
To remain in practice, doctors must continue to meet the professional standards we set, show that they are competent and show that they keep their knowledge and skills up to date.
Find out what is on the medical register and the different types of registration available to doctors in our guide to the medical register.
If you're an employer, you can read our guide to employing a doctor.