GMC guidance on the Approved Practice Setting (APS) scheme for newly registered/PLAB cleared doctors
If you are newly registered with the GMC or returning after a long break, the Approved Practice Setting (APS) requirement means you must keep a connection to a designated body to practise in the UK until your first revalidation. Below is the GMC's guidance, followed by answers to common questions.
The Approved Practice Setting - APS scheme requires all UK and international medical graduates who are new to full registration, and all those applying for restoration after a significant break in practice, to work with appropriate supervision and appraisal arrangements (or assessments).
We recognise all designated bodies – the organisations that support doctors with their appraisal and revalidation – as approved practice settings for doctors who are connected to them. Most licensed doctors will have a connection to a designated body.
You will be meeting the APS requirement as long as you hold and maintain your connection to a designated body. This does not mean you are restricted to working physically only in that organisation. You can work in any organisation as long as you hold and maintain a connection to a designated body.
Your connection to a designated body means you are:
- meeting the approved practice setting requirement
- supported with appraisal and revalidation
working in an environment that monitors and supports you in delivering quality care, regardless of how or where you practise in the UK.
Doctors on a UK training programme who want to practise outside their substantive employment (for example as a locum doctor) may do so, but must ensure their educational supervisor is aware of this and comply with any reporting requirements set by their RO or training body.
Other than in exceptional circumstances subject to the discretion of the Registrar, doctors granted full registration in APS from 2 June 2014 can only practise medicine in the UK when they have a prescribed connection to a designated body, until they revalidate for the first time. Doctors with an effective APS requirement on their registration will not be able to practise if they connect to a suitable person.
Doctors who were granted full registration in APS before 2 June 2014, but who have not yet revalidated, continue to be subject to the APS requirement. These doctors can continue to practise wholly in their current APS organisation until they revalidate. However, if they hold a prescribed connection to a designated body they can also practise in other organisations while they have this connection.
This limits doctors who are newly registered or recently restored to the register to practising in circumstances where they have a prescribed connection to a designated body. However, it enables a doctor to practise in an organisation, regardless of whether it has been granted APS status.
What does the APS wording on your GMC record mean?
If your registration says it was granted subject to the requirements of the approved practice setting (APS) scheme, an APS restriction applies to you. You can check your record on the medical register: open your entry, go to "More details", and select "View information for employers".
Frequently asked questions
What is the APS requirement at the GMC?
It requires newly registered or restored doctors to hold a connection to a designated body in order to practise in the UK until they revalidate.
What is a practice setting?
It is an organisation that provides supervision, governance and appraisal for doctors. All designated bodies count.
Does APS mean I can only work in one hospital?
No. You can work in any organisation as long as you keep your designated body connection.
What does "full registration in APS with a licence to practise" mean?
It means you hold full registration and a licence, and the APS requirement still applies until your first revalidation.
How do I get the APS restriction removed?
By revalidating for the first time.
Need help with your designated body connection?
Our team supports doctors with designated body connection, appraisal and revalidation. Contact us or watch our YouTube channel for more guidance.
Source and further reading: the GMC's page on approved practice settings. This article is general guidance and not official GMC advice. Last reviewed: 29th Sep 2016.