Apply to become a GP educator
If you are interested in becoming an educator, also known as clinical supervisor - tier 2b educators and educational supervisor - Tier 3 educators in the East of England, whether you work full time or part time, please first contact your local Training Hub who are able to support and guide you through this process. The Training Hub can facilitate backfill for time needed to complete the training and provide help and advice on completing application forms. Please also contact your local out of hours clinical director and local training programme directors so that they are aware of your intentions.
Being a GP educator is both rewarding and stimulating - we look forward to you joining our team of GP educators across the East of England.
This page provides more information about the process involved in seeking recognition as a:
- tier 2a educator - an out-of-hours (OOH) supervisor, also known as a clinical supervisor
- tier 2b educator - an associate trainer (AT), also known as a named clinical supervisor
- tier 3 educator - a trainer, also known as an educational supervisor
If you want further information on the training required to become any of the above, please contact your local Training Hub. Further information is available on the FAQ pages of this site.
How to apply
Having completed your training, you need to apply for recognition as an educator. If you are not already working within a recognised learning environment, you may also need to apply for the recognition of your current organisation. The short video below explains the educator approval process:
Application form
Applications for recognition and ongoing quality monitoring are administered through the local Training Hubs, these are linked to each ICB area and accountable to NHS England through the primary care school and the postgraduate dean.
Please make contact with your local Training Hub for further help and support regarding new applications and ongoing quality monitoring.
The form, will be provided by the local Training Hub team, must be completed electronically.
Educators should only complete the relevant sections for the tier for which they are applying.
There is no need to supply any attachments or embed any documents. All the information should be typed into the form.
Individual organisations may apply to become approved learning environments (also know as approved learning organisations in the East of England), although where possible it is encouraged that organisations should apply as a locality, for example, a primary care network. In order to apply for recognition as a training environment, for more information can be found on the approved learning environment webpage.
What do I need to know before I complete the form?
Whether you are applying to be a multiprofessional educator or a learning organisation, you must speak with the local Training Hub first. They will be able to provide you with all of the information needed to get you started, including:
- details of the training pathway
- support with completing application forms
- linking you to the local training programme if you have not already done so
Learning environments will need to ensure that all prospective sites are aware of the implications of becoming a recognised learning environment. Having learners within an organisation will require input from administrative as well as clinical staff. The local Training Hubs have a network of practice manager champions that can provide help and information on what to expect and prospective organisations should access this support.
When applying, consideration should be given to all primary care learners that the organisation feels able to support, for example, nurses, pharmacists, advanced care practitioners and so on. The application form should be completed in such a way that it applies to all the learners that the organisation wishes to host.
We would encourage organisations to apply at scale, for example, primary care networks (PCN). This will reduce the number of forms needing to be completed. Please note that current non-training practices may be recognised within a PCN approval with the support of their colleagues.
Route 1 applications are where an existing learning environment wishes to accommodate a wider group of learners within the organisation. In order to do so, organisations will need to complete the learning environment application form rather than a self-declaration.
What domains is the application form linked to?
The form has been redesigned to reflect the new 6 quality domains which map to the existing GMC domains:
- Learning environment and culture
- Educational governance and leadership
- Supporting and empowering learners
- Supporting and empowering educators
- Delivering curricula and assessments
- Developing a sustainable workforce
What evidence do I need to provide for my first-time recognition for each Tier?
Tier 2a
If you are applying for first time recognition, we would like to see evidence across a number of areas:
- evidence that you have contacted your OOH provider and attended your local OOH clinical supervisor support group with reflection on learning
- evidence of your ability to consult with patients
- evidence that you can do a COT/audio-COT
- evidence of an ability to debrief
- evidence that you have obtained MRCGP (or an equivalent qualification)
The evidence may come in several forms:
- from the eLearning modules you complete
- from the study days you attend
- from observed practice in your study groups
- through observation by other educators
Tier 2b
If you are applying for first time recognition, we would like to see evidence across a number of areas:
- attendance at trainers’ workshops and a reflection on your learning (we expect you to attend at least one before your first application)
- evidence of your ability to consult with patients
- evidence that you can do a CBD/COT
- evidence that you can navigate the eportfolio
- evidence of an ability to debrief
- evidence that you have obtained MRCGP
The evidence may come in several forms:
- from the eLearning modules you complete
- from the study days you attend
- from observed practice in your study groups
- through observation by other educators
Tier 3
If you are applying for first time recognition, we would like to see evidence across a number of areas:
- attendance at trainers’ workshops and a reflection on your learning (we expect you to attend at least one before your first application)
- evidence of your ability to consult with patients
- evidence that you can do a CBD/COT
- evidence that you can navigate the eportfolio
- evidence of an ability to debrief
- if tier 3, evidence that you have attended a session on ESRs (and perhaps observed an ESR taking place)
- evidence that you have obtained MRCGP
The evidence may come in several forms:
- from the elearning modules you complete
- from the study days you attend
- from observed practice in your study groups
- through observation by other educators
Ongoing quality monitoring
The national quality monitoring approach means that multiprofessional educators and learning environments are no longer “reapproved.” Instead, a risk-based ongoing quality monitoring approach will be used to ensure that standards are being met by both educators and learning environments.
The local Training Hubs perform this function for NHS England, collecting evidence from a variety of sources to assess whether there are any quality concerns.
Find out more on the ongoing quality monitoring webpage.