Special Instructions for Doctors Applying to Practice in the United Kingdom

Applicants to the General Medical Council (GMC) of the United Kingdom who hold a primary medical qualification awarded outside the UK need to have certain medical qualifications independently verified by ECFMG before the GMC will grant registration. This applies if you:

• qualified at a medical school outside of the UK
  
• 
  AND
  
  
• do not already hold provisional registration.

Important Note: There are several factors that contribute to the length of the verification process, including the time it takes for the medical school to verify your qualification(s). We strongly recommend starting the verification process well in advance of submitting your application to the GMC, as the GMC will close your application after 90 days.

Before you start the verification process, it is very important that you:

• Check your registration route. Visit Apply for registration on the GMC’s website. Only those who hold non-UK medical qualifications need to use EPIC.
• Check whether the GMC accepts your qualification.
  • If you hold a primary medical qualification (PMQ), specialist, or GP qualification awarded in the European Economic Area (EEA) you can check whether the GMC accepts it as a Relevant European Qualification (REQ).
  • If you do not hold a Relevant European Qualification, create a GMC online account and check whether the GMC accepts your PMQ and/or postgraduate qualification (PGQ).

If your medical school is:

• on the GMC’s list of qualifications that are not acceptable
• on the GMC’s list of qualifications that may be acceptable
• not in the list of medical schools on GMC Online

you should contact the GMC before starting the verification process.

The GMC cannot grant registration if your PMQ does not meet their criteria, even if it has been verified by ECFMG.

If you hold refugee status in the UK and are applying to the GMC for registration with a license to practice medicine in the UK, you may be able to get help with your EPIC fees. Please contact the GMC before using EPIC.

For additional information on the GMC’s requirement to have your qualifications primary-source verified, see Primary source verification for international medical graduates.

Once you have determined that your qualifications are acceptable to the GMC, you can proceed with the process of having your qualifications verified through EPIC.

To have your qualification(s) verified through EPIC, complete the following steps:

• Step 1 – Read all applicable registration information on the GMC website and check which qualifications you need to have primary-source verified.
  
  

  The documents you need to have verified depend on the type of registration you are applying for, and where you gained your qualifications.

  

  Registration Type and Document Verification Overview (PDF)

  
  
  Applying for provisional or full registration through the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB), acceptable postgraduate qualification, or Sponsorship routes
  
  If you’re applying for provisional or full registration through the PLAB, postgraduate qualification, or Sponsorship routes, you will need to have your PMQ verified. If you’re applying because you hold an acceptable PGQ, you will also need to have your PGQ verified. Please note that this also applies if you are applying with a PGQ awarded in the UK.
  
  Applying for provisional or full registration with a Relevant European Qualification (REQ)
  
  If you’re applying for provisional or full registration and you hold an REQ, you will need to have your REQ verified. If you are applying for full registration and have graduated from an EEA member state that issues an accompanying certificate, you will also need to have your accompanying certificate verified. Check the European Economic Area country qualifications pages on the GMC website for information on which qualifications have an accompanying certificate.
  
  Applying for Specialist/GP registration with a Relevant European Specialist or GP qualification
  
  If you’re applying for full registration and entry onto the Specialist or GP registers and hold a Relevant European Specialist or GP qualification, you will need to have the following verified:
• • Primary medical qualification (if awarded outside the UK), and
  • Accompanying certificate (if you graduated from an EEA member state that issues an accompanying certificate; check the European Economic Area country qualifications pages on the GMC website for information on which qualifications have an accompanying certificate), and
  • Specialist or GP qualification
  
  If you already hold full registration and are applying for entry onto the Specialist or GP register and hold a Relevant European Specialist or GP qualification, you will need to have the following verified:
• • Primary medical qualification (if awarded outside the UK) if it hasn’t been verified already, and
  • Accompanying certificate (if you graduated from an EEA member state that issues an accompanying certificate; check the European Economic Area country qualifications pages on the GMC website for information on which qualifications have an accompanying certificate) if it hasn’t been verified already, and
  • Specialist or GP qualification
  
  Qualifying Swiss applicants
  
  If you are a qualifying Swiss applicant, please visit the GMC website for further information.
  
  Applying for Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) or Certificate of Eligibility for General Practice Registration (CEGPR) with full registration
  
  If you are applying for CESR with full registration or CEGPR with full registration, you will only need to have your PMQ verified.

  Important Information on Qualifications

  Primary Medical Qualification (Final Medical Diploma in EPIC):
  The PMQ that the GMC requires is your Final Medical Diploma. The Final Medical Diploma is issued by your medical school or university after you have completed all necessary requirements and have been awarded your medical degree. The Final Medical Diploma may also be referred to as the Primary Medical Qualification, Carton Degree, Conferral Certificate, Decorative Degree, or Diploma that is used for framing and wall-hanging purposes.

  If you do not have the Final Medical Diploma as defined above, and you fall into one of the categories below, you may submit an alternate graduation document in lieu of the final diploma.

• • Doctors who recently graduated and whose diploma is not yet issued may submit a graduation certificate or letter issued by the medical school or university that must confirm that the doctor met all the requirements to receive the medical degree and the expected degree issue date.
  • Doctors who lost their diploma may obtain a duplicate diploma from the medical school or university and submit for verification to EPIC.
  • Doctors with refugee status may submit a duplicate diploma, a graduation certificate, or a letter issued by the medical school or university that must confirm that the doctor met all the requirements to receive the medical degree and the degree issue date.

  Important Notes
  A graduation certificate or letter can be verified as an Alternate Graduation Document through EPIC. Duplicate diplomas may be verified through EPIC as either a Final Medical Diploma or an Alternate Graduation Document depending on the issuing institution.

  If you have submitted an Alternate Graduation Document instead of the Final Medical Diploma as evidence of your PMQ, you will not be able to proceed with the GMC online application and must contact the GMC to request a hard copy application.

  Postgraduate Qualifications:
  See Acceptable postgraduate qualifications on the GMC website for information on which qualifications are acceptable.

• • If your qualification was issued by a medical school, university, hospital, or other institution confirming your completion of a clinical medical training program begun after you obtained your medical degree, please upload as a Postgraduate Medical Education Credential in EPIC.
  • If your qualification is a specialty board certification, board registration as a specialist, membership/fellowship of a specialist college, or diplomate certificate, please upload as a Specialist Qualification in EPIC.

  Accompanying Certificate for Applicants Holding a Relevant European Qualification:
  If you graduated from an EEA member state that issues an accompanying certificate, you will also need to have your accompanying certificate verified if you are applying for full registration. Check the European Economic Area country qualifications pages on the GMC website for information on which qualifications have an accompanying certificate.

  The accompanying certificate must be uploaded to EPIC separately in the appropriate category. For more information on document categories and their specifications see Medical Credentials on the Using EPIC page.

  Relevant European Specialist or GP Qualification (Specialist Qualification in EPIC):
  Your specialist/GP qualification must be listed on the European Economic Area country qualifications page on the GMC website. If you have a specialist qualification you can check whether the GMC accepts it as a Relevant European Qualification.

  For more information on the credentials verified through EPIC, see Using EPIC.

  The GMC does not require you to have medical school transcripts or evidence of pregraduate internships verified in support of your application. In particular, you should not submit a Certificate of Good Standing through EPIC; this should be sent directly to the GMC.

  If you require assistance uploading your qualifications, please contact us at info@ecfmgepic.org or +1 (215) 966-3900. Telephone service is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Eastern Time in the United States.

• Step 2 – Set up an on-line account (EPIC Account).
  
  For information on setting up your account, see Getting Started. Setting up your account will include confirming your identity with ECFMG. Once your EPIC Account has been fully set up, you will be able to upload the required qualification(s) for verification.
• Step 3 – Log in to your EPIC Account and upload the required qualification(s) for verification. As you upload each qualification, select the General Medical Council to receive an EPIC Report for that qualification. This will ensure that the GMC is updated once the qualification has been verified.
  
  When you upload a qualification to EPIC, it will first be checked by ECFMG. If the qualification is acceptable, ECFMG will send it to the issuing institution for verification. ECFMG will also send you an e-mail confirming that the qualification has been sent. You can monitor your EPIC Account throughout the verification process to check the status of your qualification(s). Once your qualification has been sent for verification, you may proceed to Step 4.

  Important Notes

  Make sure you select the General Medical Council as you upload each qualification. By doing so, the GMC will automatically receive an update when your qualification has been verified. If you don’t do this, it could cause a delay.

  If you did not select the GMC to receive an EPIC Report when you uploaded your qualification, you will need to log in to your EPIC Account and request an EPIC Report for the GMC after your qualification has been verified.

  Also, please note that your verification report will not be processed by the GMC until after you submit your application for registration to the GMC and supply your EPIC ID to the GMC (Step 4 below).

Note on Qualifications Previously Verified by ECFMG

• Step 4 – Submit your application for registration to the GMC and provide your EPIC ID to the GMC.
  
  You won’t be able to submit your application to the GMC until you have confirmation that your PMQ has been sent for verification. ECFMG will send you confirmation via e-mail. You can also check the status by logging in to your EPIC Account. If you prefer, you can wait until after the qualification has been verified to submit your application, as it can take some time for the verification to be completed.

  Please note that you will not be able to proceed with the GMC online application and must contact the GMC to request a hard copy application if you have submitted an Alternate Graduation Document instead of the Final Medical Diploma as evidence of your PMQ.

  Your EPIC ID can be found in e-mails that you receive from ECFMG. It is also on the right-hand side in your EPIC Account, just underneath the main menu bar. You can also find it if you click on the "My Profile" tab and then the "Biographics" tab.

  Once verification of a qualification has been received from the issuing institution and ECFMG has confirmed that the qualification is authentic, ECFMG will confirm this with the GMC. ECFMG will also notify you by e-mail that your qualification has been verified.

Please also read the general Frequently Asked Questions in the For Physicians section of the website.

About Applying to the General Medical Council (GMC)

I am applying to the GMC for registration with a license to practice; do I need to get my qualifications verified?

Which qualifications do I need to get verified?

How far in advance of applying for registration do I need to upload my qualifications to EPIC?

What happens if ECFMG is unable to verify my qualifications?

About Using EPIC

Will I have access to my medical qualifications after I apply to the GMC?

Will qualifications that I upload to EPIC be sent to the GMC automatically?

Will the GMC have access to my EPIC Portfolio?

Once my qualification has been verified, how do I know if the GMC received an EPIC verification report and a copy of my qualification?

Do I need to use EPIC when applying to the GMC if my qualification has already been verified by ECFMG?

What information is shared between the GMC and ECFMG?

If I have questions or problems regarding EPIC, should I contact EPIC or the GMC?