General Practice Specialty Training

Applications for General Practice (Round 1) will open on 3rd November 2022 at 10am and close at 4pm on 1st December 2022.

General Practice offers a career with variety, flexibility and challenge. GPs work in teams to provide holistic and continuing care for patients and their families across a range of settings - urban, rural and in more remote communities.  GP training in Scotland reflects this variety with posts available in large cities, small towns, and in rural locations; all in a country world famous for its scenery and culture. 

Whatever your preferred lifestyle, GP Training in Scotland has it all:

• Excellent training programmes with supportive and enthusiastic Educational Supervisors
• High pass rates in MRCGP
• Post training opportunities (such as Fellowship posts)
• Unparalleled recreational, cultural and sporting opportunities

To find out what its like as a GP trainee in Scotland, read this first hand account from Dr Alex Thain.

What are you waiting for? Apply now for General Practice at the GPNRO website.

How to apply for a General Practice programme in Scotland in 2023/2024

Round 1 applications for post commencement in August 2023 will open at 10am on 3rd November 2022. 

The GP National Recruitment Office (GPNRO) (external link) is the administrative body responsible for co-ordinating the nationally agreed and quality assured process for recruitment to GP Specialty Training Programmes in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  If you wish to apply only for General Practice, the GPNRO Website (external link) has all the documentation and guidance you require.

You do not apply to General Practice Training Programmes via the Scottish Medical Training website. However, if you wish to apply to other specialties in Scotland, in addition to General Practice, then you must do so via this website, or via the relevant recruiting website noted on the How To Apply page.

Please click on the link below for the 2023 GP Training brochure.

2023 GP Training Brochure (pdf)

For further information on training as a GP in Scotland and for details of the programmes on offer, please visit our Programme Information section.

For vacancy information, please view the GP Recruitment section.

Shortage Occupation List Update:

From 6 October 2019, all medical practitioners have been added to the Shortage Occupation List in the UK. This means that all medical practitioners are exempt from the Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) and can apply for any specialty in any recruitment round, subject to eligibility, and will be considered for posts alongside UK/EU/EEA nationals and other settled workers.

All applicants for specialty training must hold or be eligible to hold full registration with the GMC/GDC, and Applicants to Public Health will still be subject to the RLMT.

Full details can be found in the 2023 Applicants Guide.

Geographical Preferences & Offers 2023

Candidates must preference all programmes they wish to be considered for within the designated time-frame on the Oriel system. Preferences expressed in any other way (e.g. verbally or by email) or after the deadline will not be considered.

Further information on the geographical preference and offers process for GP Recruitment will be uploaded in due course. 

Applying From Another Medical Specialty?

You may be able to shorten your GP training by six months through the Accreditation of Transferable Competences Framework process.  Follow this link for more information and ensure that you add this to your application if you are eligible.