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Professionalism and Professional Standards for Doctors

Good Medical Practice, Revalidation and Professional Conduct in UK Medicine

  • About 2 hours estimated learning time
  • 5 sections, 20 lessons
  • Checkpoints and a 15-question final assessment
  • Online, self-paced, any device

About this course

Professionalism is what patients, colleagues and the public see of a doctor every day: how they communicate, how they work in a team, how they respond when something goes wrong, how they keep their skills up to date and how they behave inside and outside work. For UK doctors, these expectations are set out in the GMC's Good medical practice, which was substantially updated in January 2024, and they are checked through annual appraisal and revalidation.

This course explains what professionalism means in modern medicine, the GMC's role, the core principles of medical professionalism, what Good medical practice 2024 changed, professional boundaries with patients and colleagues, and what happens when standards are breached. It includes a practical guide to the GMC fitness to practise process and to remediation, for doctors who are facing a concern or want to understand the process.

CPD Value and How to Record It

This course is designed to provide approximately 2 hours of learning, including reading, the reflection points, the reflective account and the assessment. In the UK, CPD is generally recorded as the time actually spent learning, so you should record the time you genuinely spend, which may be more or less than the estimate.

How the course fits your revalidation or CPD requirements depends on your regulator. For example, the NMC asks nurses, midwives and nursing associates to record 35 hours of CPD over three years, of which at least 20 must be participatory; self-directed online learning such as this course usually counts as individual learning unless you complete it with others. The GMC expects doctors to reflect on CPD for appraisal and revalidation rather than setting a fixed number of hours. The HCPC, GDC, GPhC, GOC, GOsC and GCC each set their own CPD requirements, so check the current rules that apply to you. Always keep your certificate together with your written reflection.

What you will learn

  • Define medical professionalism and explain why it matters.
  • Describe the GMC's role, including registration, licensing and revalidation.
  • Apply the core principles of professionalism in clinical and team settings.
  • Explain the four domains of Good medical practice 2024 and what changed.
  • Maintain boundaries with patients and colleagues, and professional conduct online.
  • Understand the GMC fitness to practise process and how to respond to it.
  • Plan remediation that demonstrates insight and sustained change.

Who it is for

Doctors registered with the GMC in all specialties and grades, including those responding to a concern or preparing for appraisal

Standards and law covered

GMC Good medical practice (2024); registration, licensing and revalidation; GMC guidance on raising concerns, boundaries, leadership and social media; the GMC fitness to practise process

Course content

Lessons open one after another as you work through the course. They unlock once you enrol.

1Overview of Professionalism for Doctors3 lessons
  • 1.1 What Professionalism Means
  • 1.2 Why Professionalism Matters
  • 1.3 The GMC's Role in Ensuring Professional Standards
  • 1.4 Summary Points and Quiz for Section 1
2Core Principles of Medical Professionalism8 lessons
  • 2.1 Patient-Centred Care
  • 2.2 Honesty and Integrity
  • 2.3 Accountability and Responsibility
  • 2.4 Privacy and Confidentiality
  • 2.5 Effective Communication
  • 2.6 Treating People with Dignity and Respect
  • 2.7 Teamwork and Collaboration
  • 2.8 Reflecting on Practice
  • 2.9 Key Points and Knowledge Check: Section 2
3GMC's “Good Medical Practice”1 lesson
  • 3.1 Overview of Good Medical Practice
  • 3.2 Key Points and Knowledge Check: Section 3
4Professional Boundaries and Ethical Conduct2 lessons
  • 4.1 What Boundaries Are For
  • 4.2 GMC Guidance on Boundaries
  • 4.3 Summary Points and Quiz for Section 4
5Breach of Professional Standards, Its Consequences, and Remediation5 lessons
  • 5.1 Professional Conduct Outside Work and Online
  • 5.2 Outcomes When Standards Are Breached
  • 5.3 Regulatory Actions
  • 5.4 Responding to a GMC Investigation
  • 5.5 Steps for Remediation
  • 5.6 Summary Points and Quiz for Section 5
6Conclusion and Summary1 lesson
  • 6.1 Bringing It Together: Key Messages
Reflection and final assessment3 steps
  • Your reflective account
  • Final assessment: 15 questions, 80% to pass
  • Certificate of completion
2 hours

Estimated learning time

This covers the lessons, section checkpoints, your reflective account and the final assessment. Everyone works at a different pace, so record the time you actually spend in your CPD log. The player shows the time you have spent in the course to help you.

Your certificate of completion

When you pass the final assessment you can download a certificate showing your name, the course title, the estimated learning time, your completion date and a certificate number that anyone can check on this website. Keep it with your reflective account in your CPD records.

Questions about this course

How long does the course take?

The estimated learning time is about 2 hours, including the lessons, section checkpoints, your reflective account and the final assessment. People work at different speeds, so record the time you actually spend in your own CPD log.

How do I access the course after buying it?

Log in to your FTP Courses account and open the course from My Courses. The course runs in your web browser on a computer, tablet or phone, and your progress is saved to your account so you can stop and continue later.

How is the course assessed?

Each section ends with a short checkpoint. At the end there is a final assessment of 15 questions; you need 80% (12 correct) to pass. If you do not pass, you can review the course and try again after a short wait.

What do I receive when I finish?

You can download a certificate of completion showing your name, the course title, the estimated learning time, your completion date and a certificate number that can be checked online. You can also download your reflective account for your CPD portfolio.

Is this course linked to my regulator?

No. FTP Courses is an independent education provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any UK regulator. The course is CPD-aligned: it is written to help you learn and reflect against your regulator's published standards, and on completion you receive a certificate of completion stating the estimated learning time. Record the time you actually spend in your own CPD log, and decide how the course fits your CPD or any remediation plan, ideally with advice from your defence organisation, union or legal adviser.

Will completing the course guarantee a particular outcome in a complaint or investigation?

No course can guarantee an outcome. Decision-makers look at genuine insight, reflection and sustained change in your practice. The course is designed to support that learning; it does not replace it.