GP Specialty Training in Scotland

How to apply for GP specialty training

The application for GPST is part of a national recruitment process. To succeed, you need to navigate five key steps:

• Check your eligibility—You must meet the national person specification. This includes having a recognised medical degree, full GMC registration, and evidence of foundation programme competencies.
• Apply on Oriel—Submit your application through the national online recruitment portal during the official application window.
• Take the MSRA—The Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment is a computer-based exam that tests your clinical problem-solving skills and professional judgment.
• Rank your posts—After the MSRA, you will rank your preferred GPST posts in Scotland via Oriel.
• Accept your offer—Offers are made based on a combination of your MSRA score and your post preferences.

Preparing for the MSRA

A great way to prepare is with the British Medical Journal's Guide to the MSRA. It offers advice, sample questions, and a demo of the online exam platform.

Prepare for the MSRA on the BMJ website.

The GPST programme structure

A major benefit of training in Scotland is the balance of your rotations. Unlike some other programmes, all GP training rotations in Scotland feature 18 months in General Practice and 18 months in hospital specialties.

This gives you significantly more time in a community setting to build your confidence and patient relationships.

You will track your progress throughout the 3 years using the RCGP Trainee Portfolio, which is reviewed annually by an ARCP panel.

Your training programme will vary depending on the region you are in, but the core structure and curriculum are the same across Scotland. You’ll track your progress throughout the 3 years using the Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) trainee portfolio. Your portfolio is reviewed annually by an ARCP panel.

Find out more about the MRCGP trainee portfolio.

The Timeline (ST1 - ST3)

ST1 - Building core GP skills—Your first year builds on your Foundation Training. It typically includes rotations in relevant hospital specialities (like paediatrics or psychiatry) alongside your first placement in a GP practice. You will have dedicated educational sessions to help connect your hospital learning to the community context.

Check out the Royal College of General Practitioners' 7 steps to ST1 success.

ST2 - Gaining confidence—You'll continue with a mix of hospital and GP placements, taking on more responsibility. This year focuses on increasing your clinical competence. You'll also complete workplace-based assessments (WPBAs). Many GP registrars begin preparing for their MRCGP Applied Knowledge Test (AKT).

ST3 - Independent practice—Your final year is spent almost entirely in a GP practice. You'll manage your own patient workload and complete your final assessments, preparing you for independent work as a qualified GP.

Training regions in Scotland 

Each regional deanery offers a unique blend of clinical experiences, from remote and rural medicine in the North to diverse, multicultural communities in the West.

• North of Scotland—Offers unparalleled experience in remote and rural medicine, including the dedicated Scottish Rural Track GP training programme.
• East of Scotland—Provides a mix of city-based practice in Dundee with training in surrounding towns and rural areas.
• South-East of Scotland—Centred around Edinburgh and the Borders, offering experience in both urban and suburban settings.
• West of Scotland—Based around Glasgow, this is the largest scheme, providing experience in diverse, multicultural, and deprived communities.

You can find detailed descriptors for each of these programmes on the Scottish Medical Training website.

Find a detailed breakdown of all GP training programmes.

Assessments and exams (MRCGP)

To become a qualified GP, you must pass all parts of the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) assessment.

Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) 

This computer-based exam tests your medical knowledge. It can be taken from your ST2 year onwards.

Simulated Consultation Assessment (SCA) 

This live, remote assessment uses simulated consultations to test your clinical, professional, and communication skills. It is usually taken during your final year.

Workplace-based Assessments (WPBAs) 

These are completed continuously throughout your training and recorded in your portfolio. They include:

• case-based discussions (CBDs)
• direct observation of your skills (Mini-CEXs)
• feedback from colleagues and patients.

Find out more about MRCGP exams.

Completing your training and working in Scotland

Successfully finishing your GPST programme marks your transition from trainee to qualified GP. This final stage involves 2 key parts: 

1. Receiving your Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)
2. Completing the necessary registrations to start working in NHS Scotland.

Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) 

When you successfully complete GPST and your MRCGP exams, the General Medical Council (GMC) will award you a CCT. This is the official document that qualifies you as a GP.

Learn more about CCT.

Working as a GP in NHS Scotland 

With your CCT, you must complete 2 final steps to work as a GP in Scotland:

1. Join the GMC’s GP Register—The official list of all doctors eligible to work as a GP in the UK.
2. Join the NHS Scotland Performers’ List—A list for your local Health Board confirming you have the qualifications and skills to practise independently.

Learn about GMC registration and the Performers’ List.