Article

Supporting PAs and PAAs with preparation for regulation

Information to help employers to support PA and PAA staff to apply for regulation.

27 August 2025

Use this web page for information on the process of registration for physician assistants (PAs) and physician assistants in anaesthesia (PAAs) and how employers can support their staff to apply when regulation begins.

Preparing for regulation

The General Medical Council (GMC) legally commenced regulations of PAs and PAAs on 13 December 2024 with registration opening on the 16 December 2024.

Regulation is a vital step towards strengthening both patient safety and public trust of these professions and will help provide assurance that PAs and PAAs have the right level of education and training, meet the standards expected of regulated professions and can be held to account if concerns are raised.

For PAs and PAAs on the managed voluntary register (MVR)
For those currently on the MVR (for PAs or PAAs) the GMC will have issued invitations to apply for registration. Individuals should have received an invitation with a link to their GMC online account which included their verified qualification and assessment details.
This link will commence the process of registration.
For PAs and PAAs not currently on the MVR
PAs and PAAs not currently on the MVR will need to apply directly to the GMC. Applicants will need to complete an eligibility checker and set up a GMC online account before completing the application.
Individual PAs and PAAs will need to have contacted the GMC themselves to commence the process.

Supporting your PAs and PAAs to register

Employers should encourage those PAs and PAAs not on the MVR to apply directly with the GMC as soon as possible.

When PAs and PAAs apply for registration, they will need to provide a range of evidence to demonstrate the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviour needed to provide safe patient care. This will include an employer reference and an insurance and indemnity declaration.

Employers should support PAs and PAAs in their application by ensuring AAs, PAAs and their supervisors are aware of and prepared for this requirement.

As part of the application process you may be asked to provide an employer reference on behalf of PA or PAA colleagues. Guidance on how to complete this can be found on the GMC web page.

Employer reference
PAs and PAAs who are currently employed or who have practised within the past five years will need to submit an employer reference covering their most recent three months of employment.
There will be a form available from the GMC for their supervisor to complete. This reference will only be valid for three months so should be completed as close to the application submission date as possible.
Insurance and indemnity declaration
All applicants will have to sign a declaration that they have adequate insurance and indemnity arrangements in place. This must be in place by the time they apply for registration.
Most applicants will have indemnity cover under their employer’s scheme, but additional cover may be required depending on individual circumstances.

Regulation and employment

The Faculty of Physician Associates and the Royal College of Anaesthetists have confirmed that they will maintain a searchable version of their individuals MVRs until 31 March 2025.

Following the start of regulation (13 December 2024), there will be a two-year transition period before it becomes an offence to practice as a PA or PAA without GMC registration.

This transition period is designed to allow PAs and PAAs to complete all of the necessary steps for registration. All PAs and PAAs however are strongly advised to apply to join the register as early as possible.