Mandatory training

November 2025

The RCGP's principles for mandatory training, advocating for proportionality, relevance, flexibility, efficiency, accessibility, and evidence-based design.

RCGP principles for mandatory training

The following principles have been agreed by RCGP Council and are intended to inform discussions with those involved in the delivery of mandatory training, as well as to shape member support and resources in this area:

Relevance: Training should be demonstrably linked to patient safety and professional practice. Whether training should be once or repeated, and how often, should be professionally led.

Proportionality: Requirements must balance safety with the realities of GP workload.

Flexibility: Standards should allow reflection and a range of learning approaches, not just repeated courses.

Evidence-based design: Training requirements should be informed by educational theory and adult learning principles.

Efficiency: Duplication of training should be avoided, with recognition of prior learning and transferable competencies.

Accessibility: Resources should be easy to access and available in formats that fit into busy clinical schedules.

Based on these principles, the RCGP would like to see the following:

  • Recognition of the College role in setting the standards for relevant aspects of mandatory training
  • No expansion of the amount of training mandated for GPs in any of the four nations, in accordance with the GMC's focus on quality not quantity in learning
  • Consensus on core requirements around mandatory training to reduce varion across all parts of the UK, both within and between nations
  • GPs and educators to co-design mandatory training resources that are relevant, including addressing unnecessary repetition
  • Patient outcome and patient case-based reflection models, instead of time or hours based requirements, where appropriate
  • Protected learning time for all GPs allocated for mandatory training
  • Any new training developed to be focused on the principles of adult learning.