Membership and renewals - frequently asked questions

The renewal cycle starts on the 1 April – the annual subscription year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

The renewal cycle starts on the 1 April – the annual subscription year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

Our membership fees are based on your annual overall gross income (before tax) from any medical/non-medical related income carried out in the previous tax year or current personal circumstances. Please note that income from pensions should not be included in your calculation.

The fees are listed on our join page, which details the fees for each membership category, concessions, and further information.

You can pay for your membership by direct debit, debit/credit card or cheque. Just log into your online account to make payment.
If you set up a Direct Debit you can choose to pay; monthly, quarterly, or annually.

No, your membership will automatically renew on 1 April.

However, if your circumstances have changed, or you would like to change the frequency of your payments, then you will need to make these changes before 16 March.

If you wish to update or change your direct debit details, for the current membership year, please complete our online Direct Debit form.

If you are looking to update or change your direct debit details, for the following membership year, you can do this online from mid-February by signing in to MyRCGP.

Please note, you cannot change your payment plan schedule mid-membership year’

The membership year runs from 1 April to 31 March for all members.

If you joined the RCGP before 31 March, you paid an initial registration fee which covered the administrative costs, including access to the trainee portfolio, and your membership up until 31 March of that year. Therefore, your membership subscription is due for from the 1 April.

If you have returned to training already or are returning shortly, simply complete this form for restarting membership as a trainee.

If you wish to restart from 1 April 2024, simply restart online:

• International Affiliate
• Associate, First5, Member, Fellow, International Member, International Fellow

If you wish to restart from the current quarter (1 July, 1 October 2023 or 1 January complete our short membership reinstatement form, and a member services colleague will be in touch shortly.

If you are experiencing any issues with the form, or you have any questions, please email the member services team on membership@rcgp.org.uk.

Maternity, adoption, retirement, unemployment, sickness, moving abroad, change in income and financial hardship all count as a change of circumstances and as such can entitle you to a discount on membership.

During the renewal period you can update these details under "Manage my membership" when logged in on MyRCGP.

To change your preferences or update your profile, simply log in to MyRCGP and select 'Manage your membership' on the home page.

This will take you to your profile where you can update your email address, phone number and postal address.

If your name has changed, you simply need to contact membership@rcgp.org.uk with your membership or GMC number, and the change of name details. Please note, if you are UK GP or trainee, we are only able to change your name once the change has been made on the GMC register.

You can reset your password on our website and enter your email address. Be sure to check your spam or trash folder for the reply.

• Have you reset your password? Find out how you can reset your password above.
• Email addresses are case sensitive. Did you enter your email address all in lower case, or with capital letters at different points?
• Has your email address changed recently? If you log in with your old email address, you can then update your profile with your new email address. 

After payment of your membership/registration fees, a receipt will automatically be emailed to you. For past receipts, simply log into MyRCGP and click 'Manage your Membership'.
All receipts are saved under 'Order History'.

You could save up to 40% on your RCGP membership fee

Did you know, as a UK taxpayer, you could save up to 40% on your RCGP membership fee through tax relief?

Reclaim tax on your membership fee for the last four years

To claim tax relief on RCGP fees

• your membership fees must be paid by you and not by your employer (or claimed back through them)
• your membership must directly relate to your current job

How much can I claim?

How much you can claim will depend on several factors including how much your annual fees cost and your tax situation.

As a guide, members who pay basic rate tax in the UK, can claim up to 20% on their membership fees. This rises to 40% for higher rate taxpayers. Please note that there are time limits for making a backdated tax relief claim.

What if I’ve retired?

Most retired members cannot claim tax relief on their membership because the membership must relate directly to employment.

How to claim

There are three different ways of claiming tax relief on your membership fees:

1. If you complete a self-assessment tax return, you can claim tax relief from your membership fees on the employment page of the return.
2. If you do not file a tax return, you can claim income tax relief for your employment expenses by completing a P87 form.
3. You can contact HMRC and ask for relief on your fees.

*See the HMRC website for further details, including allowable expenses, eligibility and claiming back tax for past years.

Associate in Training (AiT) membership is for qualified doctors who have yet to pass the MRCGP exams.

To apply for AiT membership, you need to be:

• GMC registered
• about to start training with an NHS Deanery
• in a 3+ year training programme

Register for AiT membership.

There are two options for GP trainees who want to sit the MRCGP exams. Both options include RCGP certification and access to the trainee portfolio.

1. RCGP membership option

Having membership with the College means you have access to our journals, GP self test, discounts on exam preparation events, faculty support, online learning resources and so much more. You can also claim your tax back (up to 40%) from HMRC to reduce your membership fee even further.

2. Trainee non-member package £935

This is payable by credit/debit card only and is paid in one lump sum at the beginning of training. This fee is based on training of up to three years.

Please note that the non-member fee is not tax deductible via HMRC.

The AiT membership fee is based on your training pathway. You can update your training status or career pathway at any time via your MyRCGP account.

If your training status changes between July and December please contact the member services team to amend your fee for the year if applicable.

The Trainee Portfolio is where the trainee records their learning in all its forms and settings. It is designed to be an educational tool that will facilitate and record the trainee’s clinical and personal development throughout training. It is the system used to record the evidence collected through workplace based assessment (WPBA). It might be described as the ‘glue’ which holds the curriculum, learning and assessment together.

• Trainees and trainers - login to the FourteenFish website
• Information for deaneries, supervisors, and trainers
• Administrators, deans, directors and panel users - login to the FishBase website
• Introduction to FishBase

Membership with the College is not mandatory while you are training. However, you do need to sign up with the RCGP to access the portfolio to complete your training. The portfolio is included in the AiT membership with the College and even though it is a separate platform you still need to be registered with RCGP to access to FourteenFish. If you do not wish to have membership with the College, you can sign up to just the portfolio for 3 years for £935, however you will be unable able to claim back on tax like you can with membership.

Your training portfolio will automatically be created one you have signed up and chosen your membership option. You do not need to register with FourteenFish separately.

You have 2 options when for your AiT membership subscription while on leave (maternity, sick, and Out of Programme experience) from training.

• Option 1 is keeping your membership active at a reduced rate for your period of leave.
• Option 2 is suspending your membership while on leave.

Please note this also results in the suspension of access to the Trainee Portfolio, online exam booking systems and all other member benefits. Retrospective membership suspension is not possible.

You simply need to inform the member services team of your leave dates and choice via email for this to be applied. You can reinstate your membership when you return to training by completing the online reinstatement form for AiTs.

Using Post Nominals - What MRCGP denotes

If you're a member of the RCGP, you can use the post nominal MRCGP. This indicates that you have successfully completed the MRCGP or the MAP process. It recognises your status as a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. It also indicates your commitment to maintaining your continuous professional development.

How to use

• Members and First 5s : MRCGP
• International members: MRCGP [Int]
• Fellows: FRCGP

As agreed by the Queen's Counsel, the initials MRCGP (FRCGP) are an acronym for the status of being a Member (Fellow) of the Royal College of General Practitioners. This means that use of the post-nominal is restricted to those who are "in good standing" with the College - doctors who have met all of the requirements for full membership of the College and who maintain that status through payment of an annual subscription fee in accordance with RCGP bye-laws.

Professional obligation

The College takes the view that it is misleading for a non-member to use the post-nominal MRCGP in circumstances where patients or colleagues could reasonably believe it to indicate current membership of the RCGP (and not simply as an indication of past membership at an unspecified date) which can/may be seen as a breach of the professional obligation "to be honest and trustworthy", which is defined by the General Medical Council as one of the duties of a doctor. Such circumstances include using the post-nominal MRCGP/FRCGP on a practice nameplate, website, leaflet or letterhead, or in information supplied to a Primary Care Organization.

Inappropriate use or misuse of the post-nominal is investigated and followed up by the Honorary Secretary's office. It has become apparent that most cases brought to our attention were a result of lack of awareness of the usage rather than any intentional action.

As part of your RCGP membership you get to experience and enjoy exclusive access to RCGP Plus – a wide variety of additional member benefits and offers from our selected partners for no additional membership fee.

We secure preferential rates, exclusive offers and added value packages for members on a wide range of products, services and experiences with leading brands and retailers.

Take advantage of these exclusive member offers at RCGP Plus. You will be required to login to access the offers using your usual RCGP login credentials.

TOTUM Pro is a new discount card for association members, brought to you by the team behind TOTUM powered by NUS extra.

We award fellowship in recognition of a significant contribution to medicine, and general practice in particular. Fellows are ambassadors for RCGP.

In order to be eligible for Fellowship you must have been a continuous member in good standing for 5 years. If you would like to look at paying retrospectively to close any gaps in membership, please contact us.

If you have any further questions regarding fellowship please email us or call us on 020 3188 7665.

AiTs (Trainee GPs) and First5s (GPs in their first 5 years after qualifying) have dedicated committees to help with the specific needs of those in the early stages of their general practice careers.

All other members can get in touch with their local faculty who are there to support members at a local level. Faculty boards represent members at Council.

Make even more of your Royal College of General Practitioners membership by joining our community. Network and connect with your peers, develop personally and professionally and know you are supporting great doctors, providing great care – three incredible reasons to get involved.

Find our latest RCGP Volunteering opportunities

RCGP membership certificates acknowledge your membership status and display your pride! By joining the RCGP, you have demonstrated your commitment to high professional standards.

Let others know you are a member of one of the largest Medical Colleges in the world by displaying your RCGP membership certificate in your practice or home.

If you are a new Member or an AiT upgrading to Member and you have passed MRCGP, MAP and MRCGP[INT] you will automatically receive an A4 membership certificate free of charge.

The certificate displays your College membership, rather than proof of you passing an examination, and is only valid while your membership remains in good standing.

Every certificate is superbly printed on quality grade paper with an embossed silver border. Your certificate will bear your name, the date you became a full member, and the signatures of the RCGP President and RCGP Chair.

You can choose to order an A3 or framed certificate in a high-quality teak frame with a dark blue RCGP mount (approx 18"x14").

To order an A3 certificate, framed certificate, or an unframed replacement certificate, please use the online order form.

Certificate order form

Please note our certificates are printed monthly by an external provider.

Unframed A4 certificate

• Free to active members

Please note members are eligible for ONE free unframed A4 per membership year. Additional unframed A4 certificates are chargeable at £20 each.

Unframed A3 certificate prices

• UK - £20
• EU - £27
• Rest of World - £48

Framed A3 certificate prices

• UK £58
• EU £75
• Rest of World £82

We can provide a tracking service for your certificate. This cost is additional to your certificate order.

Tracked delivery (Royal Mail)

• Tracked delivery UK - £20
• Tracked delivery non-UK - £75

Tracking information will be provided once the certificate has been posted.

Frame and Mount Only (not incl. postage)

• £48

Postage prices may vary depending on shipping address.

Please note our certificates are printed and posted monthly by an external provider. 

Certificate orders are processed on the 1st of each month. Any orders placed after the 1st of the month will be processed in the following month. 

Once your certificate order has been processed, it can take 4-6 weeks for delivery in the UK and up to 6-8 weeks for delivery outside the UK. 

Subscription year

The subscription year runs from 1 April to 31 March. The fees payable by members for any subscription year will be notified in advance via a renewal notice. Fees may be varied or waived by the Council subject to College bye laws or ordinances.

Late payments

Subscriptions are due on 1 April of the subscription year. Subscriptions which are outstanding as at 1 August will result in your membership being lapsed. In such instances, you will no longer be entitled to use the post-nominals MRCGP, FRCGP, MRCGP[INT], or FRCGP[INT] after your name.

Reinstating within two year

If you reinstate your membership within a two-year period, there is no gap in your years of membership and you will retain your original date of enrolment. This is important if you:

• Are interested in applying for Fellowship, which requires that applicants have at least five years of continuous membership.
• Hope to become a Life member, which requires a minimum of 40 years ‘active’ membership with the most recent 5 years prior to election to Life being continuous.

Requirements for reinstating:

• All outstanding fees must be paid in full for the years when your membership was lapsed.
• You must still be actively registered with the GMC.

By reinstating your membership of the RCGP you acknowledge that, you will be bound by the RCGP’s Royal Charter, Bye laws and Terms and Conditions.

Reinstating after two years

When you re-join the RCGP, you are given a new enrolment date, as if you are a new member. You will only receive credit for the current and one previous year’s membership.

Requirements for reinstating:

• Pay the previous and/or current year membership fees in full, in order to receive membership benefits.
• You must still be actively registered with the GMC.

By re-joining membership of the RCGP you acknowledge that, you will be bound by the RCGP’s Royal Charter, Bye laws and Terms and Conditions.

To reinstate your membership please contact the Member Services team.

Reduced membership fees

Reductions can be claimed in the following circumstances:

• Professional income below the specified amounts (see RCGP website).
• Retired
• Discount for the first 2 years of full membership after GP training completion/entering GP register
• Overseas residents
• Training for general practice
• Unemployment, illness and hardship
• Career break
• Maternity, paternity or adoption leave
• Member of another Royal Medical College or Faculty where appraisal is conducted within the other specialism. 

Resigning

All resignations must be received by completing the Resignation Form below. Please refer to our Membership Refund and Cancellation Policy for further information.

Personal details

The RCGP maintains a private database of its members and each member is responsible for ensuring that their details are complete, accurate and current. You can update your details by logging in to the members' area of the website.

Feedback

We aim to provide all our members with the highest quality of service, tools and benefits relevant to day to day practice. If you’re unhappy with our services, products, or have a complaint, please contact us in order that we can understand the situation and do everything we can to put things right. We always welcome suggestions and feedback.

RCGP membership is an annual subscription running for a minimum 12-month period from 1 April.

Renewal notices are sent to all members at least five weeks before the subscription period ends. The notice will advise:

• the amount of subscription due for the following year
• your chosen method of payment
• the date your payment is due / will be collected (if paying by direct debit).

To view RCGP’s current fees, go to membership fees.

Cancellation of membership

If you wish to resign your annual membership, you will need to complete a Membership Resignation Form which can be found in the Membership Resignation section below this policy. 

Annual Payments

If membership is cancelled during the year after full payment is made, no refunds will be provided, unless you meet the criteria outlined in this policy.

If you do not wish to renew your membership at the end of the 12-month period, you are required to give us written notice of this at least one calendar month before the date on which your current membership expires.

Monthly and Quarterly Payments

If you pay by direct debit, we will automatically renew your membership unless you give us one calendar month written notice of your intention to cancel. If you cancel your direct debit payments midway through your membership year, you remain liable to pay us the remaining balance of your membership fee for that year, either by a one-off payment or by reinstating your direct debit. Any outstanding fees would also be payable before reinstating your membership.

If you have outstanding membership fees due to the RCGP, we reserve the right to lapse your membership and stop access to all membership benefits, including access to GP Self-test and the Trainee ePortfolio.

Refund eligibility

We will only refund your subscription:

• for an over payment, due to personal circumstances or income changing in the first 3 months of the subscription year. You must notify us within the first 3 months of the subscription year to be eligible, no refunds will be offered after the first 3 months.
• we agreed to the refund after an appeal.
• if you die and your estate requests a pro rata subscription refund.
• you can show that the payment was made in error.
• if you are unable to work, due to ill health or hardship.

We will not refund, in part or full, annual membership fees you paid for the same year you cancelled your membership.

Exceptions

Refunds will also be made to members affected by the following: 

• where a member’s personal circumstances change (e.g., maternity leave, career break, ill health) in the first 3 months, meaning a lower annual fee, but have already paid in advance for the higher annual fee. The refund due will be the difference between the fee paid. You must notify us within the first 3 months of the subscription year to be eligible, no refunds will be offered after the first 3 months.
• Where an Associate in Training (AiT) suspends their membership due to maternity/parental/adoption leave or out of programme.

Changes to circumstances

Members must inform us in writing of required changes to their circumstances at the time those changes take place. For example, please notify us if you take maternity or paternity leave, retire, stop work through unemployment or undertake unpaid work abroad. Refunds will not be given for retrospective changes to personal circumstances: for example, a member who has been retired for two years.

Appeals

If a member feels they have an extenuating circumstance that justifies an exception to the refund policy, then they may submit an appeal, in writing, to Honorary Treasurer membership@rcgp.org.uk.

All requests must be submitted in writing and include supporting documentation.

If you have any further questions about RCGP membership fee refunds, then please contact us on membership@rcgp.org.uk.

We are sorry to hear that you are thinking of resigning your membership of the College.

The RCGP is committed to ensuring professional standards throughout general medical practice, it's only with the support of our members that we can achieve this vital work. Your College is dedicated to keeping your needs at the heart of everything we do, supporting you at every stage of your career. As a valued member of the College you have access to a wide range of events, a network of peers, free learning tools such GP Self-Test to support your CPD and training and exclusive offers on lifestyle benefits that help our members save more money. In addition, your College is engaging with policy and decision makers at all levels to keep the needs of members and General Practice at the top of the agenda.

Please note:

• All resignations must be received in writing by completing the Membership Resignation form below.
• If membership is cancelled during the year after full payment is made, no refunds will be provided, unless you meet the criteria outlined in our Membership Refund and Cancellation Policy.
• Only a member can cancel their own membership (we cannot accept cancellations from other parties, e.g. practice managers, spouses, siblings, etc. unless they hold a power of attorney for you)
• Resigning your membership is likely to affect your ability to become or continue as a GP trainer and may affect your ability to become a Life member or Fellow in the future.
• If you resign your membership you will no longer be able to access any benefits or use MRCGP or FRCGP post-nominals.

Continuity of your membership is important, especially if you are thinking of applying for Fellowship (or nominating a colleague), considering becoming a GP trainer, and for free Life membership eligibility.

Are you sure you want to go?

We want to make sure we've done everything we can to find out why you are resigning and try and fix this before you leave. Please contact the Member Services team if you wish to discuss further before you resign.  

Did you know . . .

• Fees are based on your income from the previous year, and we offer discounts of up to 75% if your income is below certain thresholds.
• You can set up a Direct Debit and pay by monthly instalments, so that your fee is more manageable over the year.
• Our membership fees are also taxed deductible by up to 40%.
• As a member, you have access to hundreds of face-to-face and online learning resources and events, many of which are free and the rest with a discount for members, free access to an extensive eLibrary of journals and publications, a network of support from other members, free resources to look after your well-being, a voice in leading the conversation on policy issues affect GPs, and a role in shaping the future of general practice.

Still want to go?

In order to resign your membership of the College, please complete and submit this Membership Resignation form.

You will receive an email notification once your membership has been resigned.

On behalf of everyone at the RCGP, we’d like to thank you for your support. We wish you every success for the future and the good news is that you can re-join the College at any time,

By submitting this form, you understand that your membership with RCGP will end and you will no longer be able to access any of the member benefits, use the post nominals and eligibility for Fellowship or life membership may be impacted.