TRAINEE doctors can now only hold provisional registration with the General Medical Council for three years and 30 days.
The regulator introduced a limit of 1,125 days on April 1.
Provisional registration is granted to foundation year one (F1) doctors and was previously held indefinitely. The GMC said the new limit will improve patient safety by minimising the risk of doctors working outside the scope of their registration.
Around 8,000 doctors have been informed of the changes which are not expected to negatively affect the majority of trainees. Statistics show most complete F1 training within 12 months and move to full registration.
Those who are currently provisionally registered will be automatically allocated 1,125 days to complete F1.
Doctors in less than full time training who meet specified criteria will be allowed up to one extra year to complete the programme. The GMC is also advising those looking to take a break from training to save their allocation of days by giving up their provisional registration and then applying to restore it when they are ready to restart.
Regular reminders will be sent out to F1s showing how many days they have left. Those who have not completed their training within the time limit will see their provisional registration expire and they will not be able to apply for it again in the UK.
Find out more on the GMC website
This page was correct at the time of publication. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.
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