The General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2003

Minimum requirements for general practice training

5.—(1) The minimum requirements for general practice training referred to in article 4(2) are that—

(a) the training shall comply with the requirements of article 31(1) of the Directive or, in the case of part-time training, article 31(1) together with article 34 (requirements for specific training in general practice);

(b) subject to paragraph (3), the training shall include at least three years in full-time employment, and shall be supervised by the Board; and

(c) the three year period specified in sub-paragraph (b) shall include—

(i) a period or periods amounting to at least 12 months employment as a GP Registrar which takes place with a general practitioner who has been approved by the Board for the purpose of providing training in accordance with article 4(5)(d), and

(ii) a period or periods amounting to at least 12 months employment in a post (or posts), in a specialty or specialties which the Board has prescribed for this purpose, that post or posts being in accordance with such other requirements as the Board may prescribe.

(2) Any period remaining under paragraph (1)(b), the minimum periods set out in paragraph (1)(c) having been met, shall consist of a period of employment in a post (or posts) falling within paragraph (1)(c)(i) or (ii).

(3) In relation to periods of part-time employment under paragraph (1)(c), the requirements of this article may be satisfied by periods of part-time employment of equivalent duration but it shall not be regarded as equivalent unless it includes at least two periods of full-time employment, each lasting not less than one week, one such period falling within paragraph (1)(c)(i), and one such period falling within paragraph (1)(c)(ii).

(4) A general practitioner who is approved by the Board under article 4(5)(d) for the purposes of providing training to a GP Registrar under paragraph (1)(c)(i) shall be known as a “GP Trainer”.

(5) “GP Registrar” means a medical practitioner who is being trained in general practice by a GP Trainer whether as part of training leading to the award of a CCT or otherwise.

(6) Schedule 4 (which sets out the text of articles 30, 31(1) and 34 of the Directive as it had effect on the date this Order was made) shall have effect.