GP educator

What is a GP educator?

A GP educator is an experienced GP who helps train the next generation of doctors. You’ll use your clinical knowledge and experience to teach, supervise, and mentor others. This is usually a role you do alongside your own clinical work.

The term covers several different activities, such as:

• Educational supervisor—A formal role supervising a GP registrar.
• Medical student tutor—Teaching undergraduate medical students on placement in your practice.
• Medical school lecturer—A formal role within a university, delivering lectures or tutorials to medical students.
• GP appraiser—Conducting the annual appraisal for other qualified GPs.
• Career mentor—Providing guidance and support to other GPs at any career stage.

There are also roles within the Scotland Deanery, such as a training programme director, who manages a local GP training programme.

In the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), there are national roles such as being an examiner for the MRCGP clinical skills assessment. You could also become an assessor or help develop the GP curriculum.

All of these roles are vital for maintaining high standards in General Practice.

The benefits of becoming a GP educator

Taking on an educator role is a fulfilling way to develop your career and give back to your profession. It offers many personal and professional rewards.

Find new job satisfaction

Teaching and mentoring can be incredibly rewarding. It can re-energise your own practice. You will see learners grow in confidence and skill because of your guidance. This brings a different kind of satisfaction to your working week.

Shape the future of patient care

As an educator, you directly influence the quality of future GPs. You help to instil the values and skills needed for excellent patient care. This has a lasting impact on the profession and the health of communities.

Develop your own skills

Teaching others forces you to reflect on your own knowledge. It sharpens your communication, leadership, and feedback skills. This learning makes you a better doctor and colleague in your own practice.

Receive financial recognition

Practices receive payments for hosting registrars and students. These training grants recognise the time and resources needed to provide high-quality education. This can be an important additional income stream for your practice.

What to expect in your role

Becoming a GP educator is a significant but manageable commitment. It will be formally included in your job plan.

Key activities often include:

• holding regular one-to-one tutorials with your registrar
• reviewing their learning portfolios and providing feedback
• observing them in clinic and assessing their skills
• preparing and delivering teaching sessions on clinical topics

These responsibilities require dedicated time in your working week. You will receive full training to help you develop the skills and confidence to be an effective educator.

Working in a GP out of hours service

For a GP educator, working in OOH is an excellent way to maintain your urgent care skills. It offers a different clinical environment away from your teaching duties. Some services also offer opportunities for you to supervise registrars.

Before you start GPOOH work

Working OOH in Scotland is straightforward. You just need to be aware of a few practical points:

• Performers’ List—To work in any GP role in Scotland, you must be on a health board's Performers' List.
• Indemnity cover—GPs who hold a contract with a health board and who are working in Scottish OOH services are covered by the state-backed CNORIS indemnity scheme for that work.
• Flexibility—OOH shifts offer flexibility, particularly for work during evenings and weekends.

Find out more about GPOOH services in Scotland.

Remote and rural opportunities for GP educators

As an educator, you can play a vital role in training the next generation of rural doctors. This is a rewarding opportunity to mentor trainees in a unique setting. You will help them develop the specific skills needed for rural practice.

Discover more about working in remote and rural areas:

• GP Jobs: Rural practice
• Scottish Rural Medicine Collaborative
• Rural GP Association of Scotland

Find out more about the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care.

Is an educator role right for you?

This career path is a great choice if you enjoy helping others to learn and develop.

An educator role could be a good fit if you:

• have a passion for teaching and sharing your knowledge
• are an excellent communicator and an active listener
• are patient, supportive, and enjoy encouraging others
• can manage your time effectively and are well-organised
• are committed to your own learning and development

If these qualities describe you, exploring an educator role is a great next step.

How to become a GP educator

The pathway to becoming a formal GP trainer as an Educational Supervisor is a clear, structured process.

The main steps in Scotland are:

1. Gain clinical experience—You’ll usually need to be at least 2 years post-CCT.
2. Speak to your colleagues—Talk to existing trainers and your local Training Programme Director.
3. Contact NHS Education for Scotland (NES)—NES oversees all GP training in Scotland and will guide you. Potential new educators must complete the “Trainer Workshop”, which is run by the Trainer Development Collaborative. GPs who complete this one-session workshop can support Foundation Year doctors in practice or complete the GPTEC course to support GP registrars in practice.
4. Complete the required training—If you wish to become an educational supervisor, you must complete the GPTEC. This course is completed and facilitated using a blended learning approach, including:
   • online learning
   • virtual interactive sessions delivered on Adobe Connect
   • a face-to-face workshop delivered in various locations across Scotland
5. Prepare your practice—Following completion of GPTEC, your practice must also be assessed and approved for training.

This process helps to make sure that all trainers and practices meet the necessary high standards.

More information about courses and resources for new trainers can be found on Turas Learn.

Related content

The following resources provide official information on becoming a GP educator in Scotland:

• The Scotland Deanery: For information on trainer courses and accreditation
• RCGP: For the GP training curriculum and educational standards
• Medical Schools Council: For information about medical schools in the UK
• Medical Schools Council: For helping to keep UK medical education high-quality and up to date

These resources provide essential guidance for your journey into delivering medical education.