The registration and qualification check standard outlines the mandated requirements NHS organisations must carry out to verify the professional registration of healthcare professionals, and qualification checks that should be carried out for all prospective employees in the NHS. This standard is one of the six documents which make up the NHS Employment Check Standards which were published in March 2008.
The NHS Employment Check Standards were further revised in June 2010 following consultation with key partners to assure they fitness for purpose.
If you have any queries which are not already covered in the frequently asked questions section below, please email employmentchecks@nhsemployers.org
Frequently asked questions
What changes came into effect in relation to registration with the GMC from 16 November 2009?
From 16 November 2009 doctors are required, by law, to hold both registration and a licence to practise in order to undertake any form of medical practice in the UK (this will include writing prescriptions or signing death or cremation certificates and holding certain medical posts such as working as a doctor in the NHS).
How will doctors be informed of their new GMC status?
The GMC has writen to all registered doctors to confirm their new GMC status. This will confirm whether they hold registration with or without a licence to practise.
How can employers check that a doctor has a licence to practise?
The GMC is required, by law, to issue doctors will a certificate to verify that they have either been granted with provisional or full registration, this remains the case from November 2009 however, these certificates will not state whether or not a doctor holds a licence to practise.
Employers can now check a doctor's licensing status via the GMC's on-line Register (the List of Registered Medical Practitioners) and entering a doctor's GMC reference number.
Employers are able to distinguish whether or not a doctor is:
- registered with a licence to practise; or
- registered without a licence to practise
The on-line Register allows a multiple search facility to allow employers to check more than one doctor at a time. Users of ESR can use this system to verify their doctors' new GMC status from 16 November 2009.
It is important to stress that certificates or letters do not offer any guarantee that a doctor is currently registered or licensed with the GMC, nor do they provide proof of identity, employers should therefore refer to the GMC's on-line Register for the most accurate information.
What do employers need to do if a doctor does not have a license and needs one?
Refer the doctor to the GMC immediately because they will need to apply for a licence to practise by law from 16 November 2009. The GMC have a 'fast track' service in place to process their application. There is no charge for the 'fast track' service. The GMC will require the doctors application to be accompanied by a declaration from their current or previous employer and a certificate of good standing if the doctor has been working outside the UK.
What happens if a doctor has not informed the GMC that they require a license?
All registered doctors are entitled to a licence to practise. This means that where a doctor has not informed the GMC about whether or not they want to take a license to practise, this will be provided automatically as long as they remain registered at the time licensing is introduced.
When will revalidation be introduced?
The GMC held a consultation which ran from 1 March to 4 June 2010, entitled 'Revalidation: the way ahead', which focused on the following four themes:
- How revalidation will work
- What doctors, employers and contractors of doctors' services will need to do
- Patient and public involvement in revalidation
- How and when revalidation will be introduced
The medical revalidation pilot has been extended for a further year and will now continue throughout 2011. Employers should refer to the GMC website for further details about the pilot and introduction of revalidation.
Should we verify all qualifications disclosed by the applicant on their application form?
Employers are only required to verify qualifications which are a specified requirement or are relevant to the position being applied for i.e. professional qualification.
Do we need to further verify qualifications where the regulatory body has already carried out these checks?
Where the checks have already been made by a regulatory body, it should not be necessary to verify qualifications separately. Employers must have the consent of the healthcare professional and obtain their registration number in order to verify that they are registered, that there are no restrictions to their registration and no pending investigations on their fitness to practice.
How can I check if a qualification gained overseas is equivalent to a UK qualification?
If the applicant has gained their qualification overseas, employers will need to check that this qualification exists, if there is an equivalent UK qualifications and that the individual does actually hold that qualification. Where possible, checks should be carried out directly with the awarding body. Where this is not possible, further advice may be sought from the relevant country's UK embassy, consulate or high commission. Further advice can be found on the Security Industry Authority website and the Foreign and Commonwealth website.
Who should I contact if I have any doubt about a qualification being genuine?
If there is any doubt about whether a qualification is genuine, you should contact the National Academic Recognition Centre (NARIC). NARIC are a national agency responsible for providing information and advice on vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications from over 180 countries worldwide.