GP Training Glossary
ARCP, WPBA, UKMEC, QOF… GP training comes with a lot of acronyms. Here’s what they all mean.
Search or browse 43 common terms used in GP training, the MRCGP and everyday general practice, with links to our free interactive guides.
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AKT Applied Knowledge Test
The MRCGP computer-based exam of 200 questions, mostly clinical medicine, with some on evidence interpretation and NHS administration. See our Exam & Career guide →
ARCP Annual Review of Competence Progression
The yearly review of a trainee’s portfolio that decides whether they can progress to the next stage of training. See our Exam & Career guide →
BNF British National Formulary
The standard UK reference for prescribing, including doses, cautions and interactions. See our Prescribing guide →
CAT Care Assessment Tool
A WPBA tool: a structured discussion of real cases a trainee has managed, exploring their clinical reasoning. See our Exam & Career guide →
CCT Certificate of Completion of Training
Awarded at the end of GP training, allowing entry to the GMC’s GP Register. See our Exam & Career guide →
CHA2DS2-VASc Stroke risk score in atrial fibrillation
Used to decide whether to offer anticoagulation to people with atrial fibrillation. See our Prescribing guide →
CKS Clinical Knowledge Summaries
NICE’s concise, practical summaries of how to manage common conditions in primary care. See our Primary Care guide →
COT Consultation Observation Tool
A WPBA tool where a supervisor assesses a trainee’s consultation, live, on video or by audio. See our Exam & Career guide →
CPD Continuing Professional Development
Ongoing learning that doctors record and reflect on for appraisal and revalidation. See our Reflective Practice guide →
CSR Clinical Supervisor’s Report
A report from a trainee’s clinical supervisor on their progress during a post. See our Exam & Career guide →
DOAC Direct Oral Anticoagulant
Anticoagulants such as apixaban and rivaroxaban, offered first line for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. See our Prescribing guide →
ESR Educational Supervisor Review
A regular review of a trainee’s progress against the RCGP capabilities. See our Exam & Career guide →
FeverPAIN Sore throat scoring tool
A score from 0 to 5 that helps decide whether antibiotics are likely to help in a sore throat. See our Prescribing guide →
First5 RCGP First5
The RCGP’s support network for GPs in their first five years after CCT. See our Exam & Career guide →
FSRH Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
The UK body that publishes guidance on contraception and sexual health, including UKMEC. See our Reproductive Health guide →
GAD-7 Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7
A seven-question tool for measuring the severity of anxiety symptoms. See our Mental Health guide →
Gillick competence Under-16s consenting to treatment
Whether a young person under 16 has enough understanding to consent to their own treatment. See our Safeguarding guide →
GMC General Medical Council
The UK regulator for doctors, responsible for registration and revalidation. See our Reflective Practice guide →
ICB Integrated Care Board
The NHS bodies that plan and fund health services for an area in England.
ICE Ideas, Concerns and Expectations
Exploring what the patient thinks is going on, what worries them and what they hope for. A core consultation skill. See our Consultation Skills guide →
IUD / IUS Intrauterine device / system
Long-acting contraception placed in the womb. The IUD is copper and hormone-free; the IUS releases a progestogen. See our Reproductive Health guide →
LARC Long-Acting Reversible Contraception
The implant, injection, IUD and IUS. The most effective methods because they don’t rely on remembering. See our Reproductive Health guide →
LTC Long-Term Condition
A health condition that can’t currently be cured but can be managed, such as diabetes or COPD. See our Long-Term Conditions guide →
MCA Mental Capacity Act 2005
The law in England and Wales on assessing capacity and making decisions for people who lack it. See our Safeguarding guide →
MHRA Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
The UK regulator for medicines and medical devices, which publishes drug safety updates. See our Prescribing guide →
MRCGP Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners
The qualification GP trainees must achieve, made up of the AKT, SCA and WPBA. See our Exam & Career guide →
MSF Multi-Source Feedback
A WPBA tool collecting feedback on a trainee from clinical and non-clinical colleagues. See our Exam & Career guide →
NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
The body that produces evidence-based guidelines for health and care in England. See our Primary Care guide →
PCN Primary Care Network
Groups of GP practices in England working together to provide services for their local population.
PDP Personal Development Plan
A plan of learning goals, reviewed at appraisal. See our Reflective Practice guide →
PDSA Plan, Do, Study, Act
A quick, repeated cycle for testing changes in quality improvement work. See our Reflective Practice guide →
PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire 9
A nine-question tool for measuring the severity of depressive symptoms, scored from 0 to 27. See our Mental Health guide →
PSQ Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire
A WPBA tool collecting patient feedback on a trainee’s consultations. See our Exam & Career guide →
QIP Quality Improvement Project
A structured project to measure and improve an aspect of care, often part of GP training. See our Reflective Practice guide →
QOF Quality and Outcomes Framework
The voluntary scheme in England that rewards GP practices for quality of care in areas like long-term conditions. See our Long-Term Conditions guide →
SADMANS Sick day rules mnemonic
Sulfonylureas, ACE inhibitors, Diuretics, Metformin, ARBs, NSAIDs and SGLT2 inhibitors: medicines to pause in dehydrating illness. See our Prescribing guide →
SCA Simulated Consultation Assessment
The MRCGP clinical exam of 12 simulated consultations, marked on data gathering, clinical management and relating to others. See our SCA Preparation →
SEA Significant Event Analysis
A structured team review of an event that went well or badly, to learn and improve. See our Reflective Practice guide →
ST1 to ST3 Specialty Training years
The three years of GP specialty training, usually split between hospital and GP posts. See our Exam & Career guide →
TPD Training Programme Director
The person who organises a local GP training scheme and supports its trainees. See our Exam & Career guide →
UKMEC UK Medical Eligibility Criteria
FSRH categories (1 to 4) showing how safe each contraceptive method is for different medical conditions. See our Reproductive Health guide →
VTS Vocational Training Scheme
A local GP training programme, including the regular teaching sessions trainees attend. See our Exam & Career guide →
WPBA Workplace-Based Assessment
The ongoing assessment of a trainee’s work through their portfolio, using tools like CATs, COTs and MSF. See our Exam & Career guide →
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