Your professional home
At the RCGP we support each other so we can all achieve and maintain the highest standards in patient care, sharing knowledge and experience every step of the way, throughout your clinical career and beyond.
We ensure you're fully supported and protected, providing a safe space to practice.
We come together as a professional family, listening to each other, sharing a diverse wealth of knowledge, and speaking as one powerful voice for general practice.
As you move through your working life, we’re here to help build on your achievements, grow your career and develop your leadership skills. Our free clinical courses, learning hubs, and Essential Knowledge Updates keep you updated with the latest clinical developments.
Joining the RCGP gives you the opportunity to connect with 54,000 members who have similar needs and interests. This network can provide support and advice wherever you are in your career and wherever you're located.
Be part of our strong collective voice of over 54,000 GPs to help us lobby governments, influence change and find solutions to challenges and opportunities you face in general practice. We ask our members for input to direct and drive our conversation.
GP registrars
We’re always here to support you as you progress through your GP training journey.
Early career GPs
We’ll help build your confidence as you transition into your first five years of independent practice.
Established GPs
We’ll support your ongoing professional development, opening up new opportunities and experiences beyond your first five years of independent practice.
Life after practice
We’ll provide ways to share your knowledge and experience to support the next generation.
International membership
We’ll provide ways to demonstrate your commitment to achieving the highest standards in primary care.
Already a member?
Manage your membership online by logging into your MyRCGP account. From here, you can also manage your payment plan to spread the cost of your membership fee.
Returning to general practice in the UK
If you’ve had a break from working as a general practitioner in the NHS, you will need to discuss the tailored support you may need to return to practice safely with your local Returner team before applying for jobs in general practice.
You may be returning after a career break, raising a family, or a period of working overseas.
The returner process varies a little across the four nations of the UK. Wherever you plan to return to work, we can direct you to the information you need. All applicants to returner programmes must be on the GMC’s GP Register.
These 3 steps below stipulates your starting point.
1. Restore your GMC registration
When you restore your registration, you can only restore to the type of registration you last held.
You can apply to restore your registration with or without a licence. If you want to join the specialist or GP register, you'll need to apply to do this separately.
2. Return to RCGP members' forum
RCGP members' forum hosts various sub-communities and networks within the college; such as regional groups, special interest groups and forums tailored for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) or rural healthcare teams to find support and share resources.
3. Join RCGP free Associate membership
Returners are eligible for one year’s free Associate membership of the College, including free access to learning events, the online learning platform and discounts on books and courses.
Upcoming events
05 November 2026
Minor Surgery Skills | Entry Level (includes DOPS) | Bristol
This highly practical, joint injection course is aimed at those working with musculoskeletal patients who would like to improve their assessment, diagnosis and management of the conditions, including the role of, the theory behind and practical use of corticosteroid joint and soft tissue injections. The course is suitable for all skill levels.
05 November 2026
Faculty Induction webinar
Following the recent governance refresh, this online induction session will consolidate the recent changes to the Board structure, and provide an overview to Faculty Board operations and good practice guidance. Open to new and returning Faculty Board members.
05 November 2026
Earlier identification and improving palliative and end-of-life care: Using small changes to make a big difference in your practice
Join us for this free, practical and inspiring webinar to discover how small quality-improvement projects and everyday changes can make a meaningful difference for people living with advanced serious illness, those approaching the end of life, and their families and carers. Good palliative and end-of-life care is not delivered by one clinician or through one conversation alone. It is created by the whole general practice team through the people we notice, the questions we ask, the information we record and share, and the simple systems we put in place.
05 November 2026
Introduction to the SCA (free preparation webinar) - Part one
Join us for the first of a two-part series of FREE webinars on the SCA exam. This informative webinar introduces the SCA exam and is led by esteemed professionals Dr Roger Neighbour, Brigadier (Retd) Robin Simpson, Dr Pauline Foreman and Dr Meiling Denney. With extensive experience as examiners and facilitators of successful SCA prep courses for the RCGP, they bring a wealth of knowledge to guide you through this crucial examination.
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