General Practitioners with Extended Roles

A GP with an extended role (GPwER) is a GP who undertakes a role that is beyond the scope of GP training and the MRCGP, and requires further training.

A doctor talking to a patient in a consultation room

The RCGP guide to clinical extended roles provides guidance for GPs on how to demonstrate competence in extended roles across all clinical specialisms. Employers and service commissioners are encouraged to refer to this guidance. Due to local service variation, GPs planning to deliver a service as a GPwER are advised to establish requirements with the relevant employer and service commissioner. 

RCGP guide to GP clinical extended roles (PDF file, 440 KB)

Extended role frameworks

The RCGP supports its members to develop extended roles by providing best practice frameworks in areas that we know are of interest to our members. The following frameworks are available and new frameworks will be added as and when they are complete:

An RCGP extended roles framework.

Developed externally in accordance with the RCGP extended role framework.

Developed in partnership with the British Dermatology Association and the Primary Care Dermatology Society.

An RCGP extended roles framework.

An RCGP extended roles framework.

Developed externally in accordance with the RCGP extended role framework.

An RCGP extended roles framework.

An RCGP extended roles framework.

Developed externally in accordance with the RCGP extended role framework.

Population health and health inequalities webinar

A joint webinar from the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) and the RCGP, with Professor Margaret Ikpoh (Vice Chair for Professional Development and Standards at the RCGP) and Dr Kathrin Thomas (Co-Chair FPH Primary Care and Public Health SIG and member of RCGP Health Equity SIG). Further information and registration is available on the FPH website:

The new GP with an extended role in population health and health inequalities
A pair of hands are typing on a silver laptop.

Extended role accreditation

The RCGP’s position on extended role accreditation, and reaccreditation, is outlined in the RCGP guide to clinical extended roles.

The RCGP does not accredit GPs with extended roles, but currently supports the British Association of Dermatologists to provide an accreditation programme for dermatology GPwERs.

RCGP mentoring

Our mentoring platform can connect members with others with an interest or experience in your chosen extended role area.

RCGP mentoring scheme
Three people smiling in discussion

Useful links

Contact us

If you have questions about GP extended roles, please contact professionalstandards@rcgp.org.uk