The Verifera™ Encyclopaedia — Careers edition
Doctor
Verified reference for UK professional registers, credentials and career pathways. Every entry shows its sources and last-verified date — the “Verified by Verifera” mark appears only when all facts are in-window.
CCT — Certificate of Completion of Training
Awarded on completion of a GMC-approved specialty (or GP) training programme; it is the gateway to the GMC Specialist Register or GP Register, and to consultant or GP posts.
✔ Verified by VeriferaRegisterGeneral Medical Council (GMC)
The UK regulator that registers doctors, grants the licence to practise, and holds the medical register — the surface on which a doctor's registration status, licence and any conditions are verified.
✔ Verified by VeriferaPathwayHow to become a doctor in the UK — the training pathway
Medical school → UKMLA → provisional GMC registration → the Foundation Programme (FY1/FY2) → specialty training (run-through or uncoupled) → CCT → the GMC Specialist or GP Register.
✔ Verified by VeriferaGuideMedical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026
The 2026 Act (Royal Assent 5 March 2026) that prioritises UK medical graduates — and graduates of Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein — for Foundation Programme and specialty training places. A direct response to the resident-doctor jobs crisis.
✔ Verified by VeriferaCredentialThe Foundation Programme (FY1 / FY2)
The two-year, supervised first stage of a UK doctor's career after medical school — Foundation Year 1 (on completion of which full GMC registration is granted) and Foundation Year 2 — allocated through the UK Foundation Programme Office.
✔ Verified by VeriferaCredentialThe Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR)
The evidence-based route to GMC specialist (or GP) registration without a UK CCT — used by many internationally-trained specialists. It replaced CESR/CEGPR in late 2023.
✔ Verified by VeriferaCredentialUKMLA — UK Medical Licensing Assessment
The GMC's single licensing standard — the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) plus the Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA). UK graduates sit it directly; international medical graduates are assessed against the same MLA standard via the MLA-compliant PLAB exam (PLAB 1 meets the AKT requirements, PLAB 2 the CPSA).
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