The RCGP
18.2. The RCGP has developed the MRCGP in accordance with the GMC’s standards for postgraduate curricula. Read Excellence by design: standards for postgraduate curricula on the GMC's website.
18.3. Medical practitioners training in general practice must register with the RCGP at the start of their training programme. The RCGP will give them information about the MRCGP and how to apply to take the three components.
18.4. The RCGP has overall responsibility for the administration and quality management of the MRCGP. Workplace based assessment (WPBA) is administered locally by postgraduate deaneries and quality managed jointly by the RCGP and deaneries.
18.5. The RCGP is responsible for recommending to the GMC that a medical practitioner who has undertaken specialty training and completed the MRCGP has reached the standard required for independent practice as a GP in the UK and should be issued with a CCT or CEGPR.
Postgraduate deaneries
18.6. Alongside the RCGP, the deaneries have several important roles in the MRCGP process.
18.7. They fund and manage training locally.
18.8. They recruit trainees for specialty training programmes. They are responsible for providing trainees with full details of all three components of the MRCGP and must inform applicants offered a place on a training programme of the need to register with the RCGP and apply to take the MRCGP.
18.9. They are responsible for the delivery of the WPBA component of the MRCGP. The RCGP and deaneries, together, quality manage this component. Deaneries notify the RCGP when a trainee has successfully completed WPBA and is ready to apply for a CCT.
18.10. They select and train GP trainers on behalf of the GMC and in accordance with GMC and RCGP standards.
18.11. They set up and manage end-of-year and end-of-programme panels to consider trainee progress through training and whether training programmes need to be revised and/or extended.
18.12. More information on deaneries is available on the websites of COPMeD and COGPED. Access the COPMeD website. Access the COGPED website.
The GMC
18.13. The GMC regulates specialty training UK-wide, setting standards for entry to training and for training, trainers, curricula, and assessment.
18.14. It formally approves the structure and content of specialty training programmes and assessment systems, such as the MRCGP.
18.15. On the recommendation of the RCGP the GMC issues CCTs and CEGPRs in general practice.
The Department of Health
18.16. The Department publishes a guide to specialty training known as A Guide to Postgraduate Specialty Training: “The Gold Guide” which provides guidance for all specialties on the monitoring of progress through training and the processes that should be in place for failing trainees. Read The Gold Guide on the COPMeD website.