As a GP, you have the opportunity to shape our future primary care workforce. Becoming an educator allows you to guide and equip aspiring GPs and primary care healthcare professionals with the skills and confidence to shape the future of primary care.
As a GP educator, you will:
Find out how to apply to become a GP educator today.
Foundation supervisor – can provide supervision to foundation doctor.
Clinical supervisor (CS) – this is the GP or hospital consultant who oversees a single post. They are responsible for the day-to-day experience and the assessments (though other senior clinicians may perform individual assessments). The resident doctor should have a formal meeting with their clinical supervisor at the start of their post, at the midpoint and at the end. At the final meeting, the clinical supervisors report (CSR) should be completed.
Educational supervisor (ES) – this will normally be the resident doctor’s GP “trainer” who will meet them at regular intervals throughout the 3-year programme to advise and support their training. The resident doctor will need a formal educational supervisors review (ESR) every 6 months of training, where their progress towards a certificate of completion of training (CCT) will be assessed using evidence in their Portfolio.
Training programme director (TPD) – this is a GP who organises the tracks and placements and the structured teaching programme. The TPD or their administrator should be the first point of contact for any queries about the resident doctors overall programme.
Primary care medical educator (PCME) – this is a GP who will be involved in delivering the structured teaching programme. They may also undertake some duties delegated by the TPD.
Every resident doctor must have a named educational supervisor and clinical supervisor who are trained and GMC-approved educators.
Your role as an educator directly contributes to delivering better, more accessible healthcare in local communities. You'll help prepare professionals who are equipped to meet the evolving needs of our growing and ageing population, strengthening the care provided closer to where people live.
You are needed now more than ever to shape the future of primary care.
Becoming a GP educator brings personal and professional rewards:
I was concerned the educational role would detract from clinical practice, but it doesn’t. It's kept me on my toes, up to date and enthusiastic. I am constantly motivated to keep up to date with guidelines and pathways. The best way to learn something is to teach it."
Dr Andy Bracegirdle, a GP in Manchester since 1995 and Associate Dean for primary care in the North West since 2019.
Interested in becoming a GP educator but want to know more about how it works in practice? Read our case studies to discover the benefits for you, your service and patients, and see where the role could take your career.
Find out more about what the GP educator role involves and funding available for GP educators, the applications steps to become a GP educator and the approved learning environment processes in the North West below:
If you have any questions about becoming a GP educator or the approval process, please contact the NHS England North West GP Team: england.gptraining.nw@nhs.net.
Information can be found on foundation programme directors (FPDs) and foundation programme administrators (FPAs)/postgraduate centres webpages.