Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

This page details some of the questions applicants have asked regarding the application process for becoming a GP.

Applications

I was successful in a previous GP training application and want to transfer my score to another round. How do I request this on my new application?

You can request to transfer a valid previous GP score by answering ‘Yes’ to the following question on your GP reapplication form: “Do you wish to carry over scores from a successful application to this specialty that you have previously submitted?” You must make this request when you submit your application. Late requests, or requests made outside the application process, will not be considered. 

Score transfer is available only within a 12-month recruitment cycle. For example, a score from an August intake may be transferred to the next February intake or the following August intake. Transfer is also conditional on the recruitment and selection process remaining unchanged. 

Can I use my previous MSRA score for my GP Application if taken for another speciality? 

Yes, in a re-advertisement round. To transfer an MSRA score from another specialty to a GP application, the score must have been achieved in Round 1 of the same recruitment year. You must answer the MSRA-specific questions on the application form to request the transfer. 

An MSRA score achieved for another specialty in Round 3 of the previous recruitment year cannot be transferred to a GP application. 

Is there a limit on the number of times I can apply to GP training, and will reapplying affect future applications? 

No. There is no limit on the number of times you can apply to GP training. However, you may submit only one application for all available GP ST1 posts in each recruitment round. Withdrawing an application or declining an offer before starting training will not affect future applications. 

What support is available to couples and families seeking training in a preferred region? 

 

Specialty recruitment does not allow applications to be linked. However, the following features may help applicants in committed relationships or with family commitments secure posts in their preferred region: 

• The hold deadline allows an offer to be reserved while you wait for the outcome of another application or another person’s application. 

• You can amend your preferences throughout the recruitment process, including after accepting an offer. This allows you to respond to changes in personal circumstances or to re-rank locations if two applicants in a committed relationship receive offers in different parts of the country. You may continue to amend preferences until the upgrade deadline, even if you have received your first-choice offer. 

Why am I not receiving emails from Oriel?

To reduce the risk of GPNRO messages being filtered into your junk or spam folder, you are strongly advised to add [email protected] to your safe senders list. 

Email delivery takes place outside Oriel and cannot be guaranteed. Do not rely on email notifications alone; check your Oriel account regularly for messages throughout the recruitment process. 

Is Round 1 or Round 3 more competitive?

Entry to GP specialty training is highly competitive, and competition varies dependent on your preference of region(s) in which you are looking to train. Competition ratios for each NHS England local office or deanery are published for Round 1 and may help inform your choices. 

Round 3 generally has significantly fewer posts available than Round 1. 

I am registered with the GMC but have temporarily relinquished my licence to practise. Can I still apply?

Yes. You may apply for GP ST1, but you must hold a full licence to practise before the intended post start date. 

Can previous medical experience count towards GP training? 

Yes. Up to 12 months of previous experience may count towards a GP training programme, although six months is more commonly agreed. For details of the available options, refer to the current GP Recruitment Hub. 

If you want previous experience to count towards a new training programme, you must indicate this on your GP training application form. Acceptance onto a Combined GP Training programme is at the discretion of the relevant NHS England local office or deanery, not the GPNRO. 

I have exhausted all permitted attempts at the AKT or SCA. Am I still eligible to apply for GP training? 

Eligibility will depend on your individual circumstances and the examination regulations that apply to you. 

Please contact the RCGP for advice on your eligibility and any options that may be available. 

Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA)

I do not live in the UK. Can I still take the MSRA?

Yes. The MSRA is delivered globally over several consecutive days at Pearson Professional Examinations computer-based testing centres. You can find your nearest centre by visiting the Pearson website. 

Capacity at each centre is limited. If your preferred centre is unavailable, you may need to travel to the nearest centre with appointments available. 

Testing is not available in some countries, either at a test centre or online, because of applicable sanctions. Refer to the Pearson Professional Examinations website for further information. 

Can I take the MSRA remotely?

Remote testing may be available only in extenuating circumstances. Requests are considered individually. If you receive an invitation to the MSRA, refer to it for instructions on requesting remote testing. 

Testing is not available in some countries, either at a test centre or online, because of applicable sanctions. Refer to the Pearson Professional Examinations website for further information. 

Offers

Is there a separate ranked list for priority and non-priority applicants? 

No. There is one ranked list containing both priority and non-priority applicants. Rank is determined solely by performance in the selection process and is not affected by priority status. 

Priority status is applied only during offer matching. Applicants in the priority group are considered first, in rank order, followed by applicants in the non-priority group. This process is repeated each time offers are matched. 

Who should I contact about my training and employment after I have received an offer and the upgrade deadline has passed? 

From this point, contact your new training region. The GPNRO coordinates entry to GP training programmes in the UK but does not administer or deliver training. 

After you have accepted an offer and the upgrade deadline has passed, the region that made the offer will ask you to indicate your preferred geographic area and/or rotation. If you do not receive information about allocations, contact the relevant NHS England regional office or deanery, not the GPNRO. 

Why has Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust contacted me about my employment? 

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is the lead employer for GP trainees in several NHS England regions and is responsible for their overall employment. These regions are: 

• East Midlands  

• East of England  

• North West 

• Thames Valley 

• West Midlands 

For more information about its responsibilities, visit the Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust lead employer website. 

What are my options if I cannot start my training?

You may defer the start of an ST1 programme only on statutory grounds, such as personal ill health or maternity, paternity or adoption leave. Non-statutory deferment is not permitted. Alternatively, successful GP training applicants may be able to transfer their final recruitment score to another round within a 12-month recruitment cycle, provided the recruitment and selection process remains unchanged. 

Submit any deferment request in writing to the NHS England local office or deanery from which you accepted your training offer, not to the GPNRO. 

Where can I find information about doctors’ pay in the UK? 

The British Medical Association (BMA) website provides information about doctors’ pay across the UK, including pay scales, expenses and pay protection. 

You can also find further information on the NHS Employers website. 

Can I request an inter-deanery transfer after accepting an offer? 

Inter-deanery transfers are uncommon. You must meet the exceptional-circumstances eligibility criteria, and a suitable post must be available in the receiving programme. You should therefore preference only programmes in which you are prepared to train. 

If I accept an offer but later decline it before starting training, can I reapply without any negative implications? 

Yes. You may reapply for GP training in a future round if you previously declined an offer. This will not disadvantage a future application, as each application is assessed on its own merits in line with national recruitment guidance. 

What is the likelihood of receiving an offer, and what is the lowest rank to have received one?

The GPNRO does not publish or share the rank of the lowest-ranked applicant to receive an offer. Offers depend on each applicant’s rank, preferences and priority status, so we cannot advise on an individual’s likelihood of receiving an offer.