New curricula and guidance for physician and anaesthesia associates

The General Medical Council (GMC), the Faculty of Physician Associates and the Royal College of Anaesthetists have published several documents about the physician associate (PA) and anaesthesia associate (AA) roles.

GMC guidance

These roles will come under GMC regulation in late 2024, at the earliest. To help course providers, students and employers to prepare and plan for the future, the GMC has published two documents:​​​

PA and AA generic and shared learning outcomes

This document set out the knowledge, skills and behaviours that new PAs and AAs must have when they start work.

Achieving good medical practice: interim guidance for PA and AA students

This guidance outlines the standards and behaviours expected of them and shows how, the principles and values of the GMC’s interim standards for PAs and AAs, apply during their studies.

The Faculty of Physician Associates and the Royal College of Anaesthetists curricula

Draft curricula for PAs and AAs graduating from 2025 onwards has been published:

• Physician associates draft curriculum and associated documents.
• Anaesthesia associates draft curriculum.

More information

For more background information about PAs, AAs and the other medical associate professions please see our web pages.