THE cost of training qualifications is being cut as part of a package of GMC fee reductions for doctors.
From December 15, 2011, junior doctors will pay less for a CCT (certificate of completion of training) which has been cut from £500 to £390. The Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration or GP Registration (CESR or CEGPR) will also drop from £1,600 to £1,500.
Doctors with current open CCT, CESR and CEGPR applications on December 15 also benefited from the reduction. All other certification-related fees will be frozen at 2010/2011 levels.
From April 2012, practising doctors will pay £390 a year instead of £420 – a saving of £2.50 per month. Registered doctors who don’t have a licence to practise will pay £140 instead of £145 – a saving of 42p per month. Doctors in foundation years one and two will make a similar saving, paying £95 instead of £100.
The move follows a decision last year by the GMC to freeze its annual fees.
The regulator will also increase the earnings threshold entitling doctors to a 50 per cent fees discount from April. Any doctor whose total gross annual worldwide income from all sources is less than £30,000 will qualify, compared to the current threshold of £26,000.
The GMC agreed a package of cuts at a recent council meeting. It said the reductions were possible thanks to £8million of efficiency savings made in 2011. These include an expansion of the in-house legal team, a cut in the number of panel members from five to three and greater use of e-communication rather than paper.
GMC chief executive Niall Dickson said: “We have a responsibility to provide value for money and, as far as we can, to control our costs. As a result of further efficiencies achieved across the organisation, we are able this year to pass on savings to all doctors.
“We are making these reductions at the same time as facing increasing demand on our services and delivering major initiatives that will benefit doctors and patients, including the introduction of revalidation, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, and the roll-out of employer and regional liaison teams.”
This page was correct at the time of publication. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.
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