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Why, and how to, become a GP?
Thinking of Becoming a GP?
This section is designed for anyone considering a career as a GP – i.e. sixth-form students, medical students and foundation year doctors.
The information contained in this section should assist you in making the right decisions for your career.
It is also designed for career advisors, teachers and lectures to enable you to advise your students appropriately
This is a really useful resource, setting out the route to becoming a GP:
RCGP Diagram – how to become a GP
This is a useful resource on “why” to be a GP: Becoming a GP
Explore further according to your current stage:
- School/sixth form/college students:
The Medic Portal is a very useful website for those considering applying to medical school:
It contains free content and information as well as some optional packages that are paid.
Deciding on Medicine – The Medic Portal
The Guide to Choosing a Medical School – The Medic Portal
Application Guide – The Medic Portal
The Royal College of GPs also has some useful information about how to become a GP:
The route from school to GP is laid out on this poster RCGP-route-to-GP-poster-June-2019.pdf
You could also look at the following:
GP work experience (rcgp.org.uk)
Entry requirements for 2025 start | Medical Schools Council (medschools.ac.uk)
If you are from the ST+W area, two of the closest and most well-known medical schools are Keele and the University of Birmingham:
School of Medicine – Keele University
Birmingham Medical School – University of Birmingham
If the list of requirements feels daunting, there are various mechanisms of support to allow a range of young people from our area to improve their chance of getting a place at medical school. A particular scheme is: Steps 2 Medicine – Keele University and is available to residents of ST+W at Keele University with specific entry criteria, one of which is attending state school and college:
There is a wealth of information about every medical school in the UK which can be found at the Medical Schools Council website, as well as detailed information about the application process.
How to apply to medical school in the UK | Medical Schools Council
- Medical students:
Those medical students already in place will no doubt have a lot of information about their course requirements and career progression made available to them during their training. At the end of their medical school years, the next step is to apply for a job as a Foundation Doctor and it is the West Midlands North Foundation School that provides foundation doctor positions in ST+W.
West Midlands North Foundation School – UK Foundation Programme
Foundation Programme (UKFP) – UK Foundation Programme
School of Medicine – Keele University
Birmingham Medical School – University of Birmingham
- Foundation Year Doctors
If you are a current foundation doctor working in our area, we know that the best way to encourage you into a career in General Practice is by providing you with positive GP placements in your FY2 year. We are working to expand the offer for FY2 doctors and develop innovative and interesting community placements which include time spent in General Practice.
Wherever you are, the following websites contain useful information about our deanery and the GP Specialty Training Scheme:
Staffordshire & Shropshire (westmidlandsdeanery.nhs.uk)
Becoming a GP – see the PPT FIVE FANTASTIC REASONS TO BECOME A GP