General Practice Assistant (GPA) Training Program

NHSE are happy to announce that the contract for our region has been awarded to the training provider ARU Writtle who will deliver NHSE funded spaces on the GPA programme for the East of England region.

Funded course for GP Assistants

GPAs, book your place now! Your funded course starts in October 2025.

‘Fundamental Skills for GP Assistants’ builds the knowledge, understanding and experience you need to work as a safe, effective GPA.

GPA Helen said: “This course has definitely made me feel more confident and shown me what potential I have”.

Build Your Skills

To take part, you won’t need any prior knowledge or experience, just an enthusiasm to learn.

Over the 36-week course, you’ll learn to contribute to a more effective working environment, for both staff and patients, via five key areas:

Care
Administration
Clinical
Communication
Managing Health Records

Your £2,400 fees are covered by NHS England. Once you successfully complete the course, your practice will also receive a financial contribution of £675, in acknowledgement of the support GPs provide during the learning process.

Learn Online

Most of your learning will take place online, or through simple, workplace-based tasks. You’ll study for around three hours per week, including online activities and virtual, tutor-led group discussions.

Halfway through the course, you’ll have the opportunity to meet your peers and tutors in-person, at a hands-on training session at ARU’s Chelmsford campus.

ARU’s friendly, experienced team will support you throughout the programme, and your practice will allocate a GP to serve as your workplace ‘mentor’. Other colleagues, such as nurses or secretaries, may also provide guidance on non-clinical tasks.

For more information and to request your place for Monday 13 October 2025 or Monday 19 January 2026, click here to reach Anglia Ruskin University’s website.

Send any questions to GPAssistant.writtle@aru.ac.uk – we’re here to help!

Practices are eligible for an additional £675 in recognition of clinical and administrative time provided to support the learner.

This payment will be split into 3 payments:

£200 per learner for mentor’s participation in mentor’s training webinar
£200 per learner when named mentor is assigned and confirmed for each learner
£275 on submission/completion of learner’s e-portfolio of evidence for assessment.

Please also see below a link to the GPA programme on the e-learning for health website that has plenty of information on the GPA role, training programme, guides and much more.

https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/general-practice-assistant/

Support and develop those in your practice!

It is expected that all GPAs are trained in practice, with on-the-job training and development led by GP mentors, in line with the role outline and national competency framework.

The GPA Competency Framework sets out the standards required for GPAs working in practice or across Primary Care Networks (PCN’s). The core competencies cover clinical and non-clinical elements spanning across 5 domains:

Care
Clinical
Managing Health Records
Communication
Admin

The Framework provides an opportunity for GPAs working in GP practices or across PCN’s, to develop and evidence the competencies applicable to their role, i.e. the knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to the GP practice or PCN. Whilst completing the GPA programme GPAs are supported with on-the-job training by a GP mentor and other healthcare professionals.

Whilst accreditation is not a mandatory requirement to practice as a GPA (see next section), it can help to increase the individual’s confidence, will support future progression, validate their learning, and demonstrate their commitment to achieving optimal standards of practice and improving patient outcomes.

GPAs wishing to receive accreditation must develop a comprehensive, evidence-based portfolio supported by research, practical application, and reflection. Upon successful completion and verification, the GPA will be awarded with a ‘GPA Skills Certificate’ equating to 10 credits at Level 4.

Training and Development Routes

Non accredited route (in house competency development): GPAs will undertake activities aligned to job description and competency framework, under the guidance and supervision of a GP, as with other ARRS The GP practice/PCN must then deem them competent. GPAs will operate under the contract, guidance and supervision of GPs, as with other ARRS roles. GPs hold responsibility for services delivered under their contract.

However, to encourage best practice GPs/PCNs may request that GPAs create evidence aligned to the competency framework for them to sign off as competent in practice. If so, there are documents and resources to support them on General Practice Assistant – elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk) including ‘how to build evidence’ and ‘supporting resources’ plus the GPA learner and mentor guides. They may also wish to use the competency framework as a spreadsheet to upload and record their information.

Accredited route – start of employment: Upon recruitment into the trainee role, the GPA is supported with on-job training in practice led by a GP. From the start of employment, the GPA will join the accredited programme and receive support and guidance to create an evidence portfolio at is assessed locally and verified by an education provider. Upon successful completion/verification, the GPA will be awarded with a certificate and accreditation (e.g. credits at Level 4).

Dependent on local need, there may be learners who undertake only the three non- clinical elements only. This would still require completion of an evidence-based portfolio. Upon completion and verification, GPAs would be awarded with a ‘Certificate of Attendance’ or similar, with an option to complete the clinical domains within two years.

For additional information on the GPA role and training, guides and FAQs please see NHSE E-learning for Health:

VISIT WEBPAGE

For additional information and video on the role of a GPA visit the HEE webpage: