Approved Practice Setting (APS) Supervision
Experienced, GMC-licensed supervisors for newly registered doctors and those returning to UK practice who already have a Designated Body in place.
What Is an Approved Practice Setting?
The Approved Practice Setting (APS) requirement is a GMC safeguard for doctors in their first period of UK practice after full registration, and for doctors restored to the medical register after a significant break in practice. A doctor subject to the APS requirement must maintain a prescribed connection to a UK Designated Body and practise under structured clinical supervision until their first revalidation.
The requirement applies until the doctor is revalidated for the first time, or until they join the GP or Specialist Register. At that point the APS restriction is lifted from their registration.
The APS framework is primarily about governance: the GMC expects the doctor to be working within a system of appraisal, clinical oversight and supervision that supports safe practice during the early or returning stage of a doctor's UK career.
Who Is Affected?
The APS requirement applies to UK medical graduates newly granted full registration after Foundation Year 1, to international medical graduates who have completed PLAB or equivalent, and to any doctor restored to the register following a significant practice gap. It continues until the first revalidation.
Why a Dedicated APS Supervisor?
Many doctors subject to the APS requirement work as locums, in private practice, or across multiple smaller organisations where dedicated clinical supervision is not readily available. A Designated Body connection satisfies the regulatory framework on paper — but it does not always come with a named, experienced clinical supervisor who meets the doctor regularly and documents that supervision.
The doctors who most commonly need an external APS supervisor:
- Doctors working primarily in the independent or cosmetic sector
- Doctors working as locums across multiple trusts or clinics
- IMGs who have recently completed PLAB and are establishing their UK practice
- Doctors returning to practice after maternity leave, sabbatical, health-related absence or overseas work
- Doctors whose Designated Body provides revalidation oversight but no clinical supervisor for APS purposes
What the APS arrangement typically requires:
- A named, GMC-licensed doctor acting as the clinical supervisor
- Regular, scheduled supervision meetings with documented agenda and outcomes
- A supervision record reviewable by the doctor's Responsible Officer
- Continuity of supervisor throughout the APS period
- Prior approval of the supervision arrangement by the doctor's RO
MYRO's APS Supervision Service
MYRO appoints an experienced, GMC-licensed doctor as a named APS supervisor for your use. Supervision is conducted monthly by secure video conference. A formal supervision record is completed at each meeting and shared with you and your Responsible Officer.
This service is available only to doctors who already have a Designated Body and Responsible Officer in place. It is designed to provide the clinical supervision that the APS requirement expects, where a Designated Body connection alone does not include a named supervisor conducting structured monthly meetings.
Named Supervisor
An experienced, GMC-licensed doctor appointed to you as your named APS supervisor, with continuity throughout your APS period.
Monthly Virtual Meetings
A scheduled 60-minute supervision meeting each month, conducted by secure video conference — no travel required.
Supervision Record
A formal supervision record is completed at each meeting, covering scope of practice, cases, CPD, significant events and actions agreed.
Shared With Your RO
The completed supervision record is shared with you and with your Responsible Officer — providing assurance to both.
UK-Wide Availability
Because supervision is virtual, the service is available to doctors practising anywhere in the United Kingdom, in any sector.
Fixed Monthly Fee
£200 + VAT per calendar month per doctor (£240 inclusive). No long-term commitment, no joining fee, no hidden charges.
Transparent, Monthly Fee
£200 + VAT per doctor, per month
(£240 per month inclusive of VAT)
Inclusive of the monthly virtual supervision meeting, completion of the supervision record, distribution to you and your Responsible Officer, and all administration.
- Billed monthly in arrears
- No minimum contract term
- No joining fee
- UK-wide, delivered virtually
- Separate from any Responsible Officer service — not a substitute for one
Conditions of Service
The supervised doctor must already have a prescribed connection to a UK Designated Body. The Suitable Person pathway is not an alternative while the APS requirement is in force. The doctor's Responsible Officer must approve the supervision arrangement in writing before it commences — we will prepare a supervision proposal document for the RO to review and sign.
How It Works
Initial Enquiry
Contact us with your GMC number, APS status, the name of your Designated Body and the contact details of your Responsible Officer.
RO Approval
We prepare a supervision proposal identifying the supervisor, their GMC number and the scope of supervision, for your RO to sign off.
Supervisor Appointment
We assign a named, experienced GMC-licensed doctor as your APS supervisor and introduce you both before the first meeting.
Monthly Supervision
A 60-minute virtual meeting each month. The supervision record is completed, signed and circulated to you and your RO within three working days.
Continuation
Supervision continues on a rolling monthly basis until you revalidate for the first time or the APS requirement is lifted from your registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Approved Practice Setting (APS)?
An Approved Practice Setting is the GMC's framework for doctors in their first period of UK practice after full registration, and for doctors returning to practice after a significant break. A doctor subject to the APS requirement must maintain a prescribed connection to a UK Designated Body and receive structured clinical supervision until their first revalidation.
Who needs an APS supervisor?
The APS requirement applies to UK medical graduates newly granted full registration after Foundation Year 1, to international medical graduates following successful PLAB clearance or equivalent, and to any doctor restored to the Register after a significant gap in practice. It continues until the doctor's first revalidation.
How much does APS supervision cost with MYRO?
MYRO APS supervision is £200 + VAT per month per doctor (£240 including VAT), inclusive of a 60-minute virtual supervision meeting, completion of the supervision record, distribution to the doctor and their Responsible Officer, and all administration. There is no minimum contract term; the fee is billed monthly and continues until the doctor revalidates or the APS requirement is lifted.
Does the supervisor need to be approved by my Responsible Officer?
Yes. The supervision arrangement must be approved in writing by your Responsible Officer before it commences. MYRO will prepare a supervision proposal document setting out the supervisor's name, GMC number and scope of supervision for the RO to review and sign. Once approved, the monthly supervision record is sent to both you and your RO.
Do I still need a Designated Body if MYRO supervises me?
Yes. MYRO's APS supervision service does not replace your prescribed connection to a Designated Body. A doctor subject to the APS requirement must have a prescribed connection to a UK Designated Body — the Suitable Person pathway is not available while the APS requirement is in force. MYRO provides only the clinical supervision layer that sits alongside the Designated Body's revalidation oversight.
Is the service available UK-wide?
Yes. All supervision meetings are conducted by secure video conference and are available to doctors practising anywhere in the United Kingdom. There is no requirement for the doctor and supervisor to be in the same region or employed by the same organisation.
How long does APS supervision continue?
The APS requirement remains in force until the doctor revalidates for the first time, or until they join the GP or Specialist Register. MYRO supervision continues throughout this period on a rolling monthly basis and ends automatically once the APS restriction is lifted from the doctor's registration.
What happens at each monthly supervision meeting?
At each meeting the supervisor reviews the doctor's scope of practice, recent cases or concerns, continuing professional development, significant events and complaints. The supervisor completes a structured supervision record documenting the discussion, any actions agreed, and confirmation that the doctor is practising safely. The record is circulated to the doctor and their Responsible Officer within three working days.
What if I don't have a Designated Body yet?
If you have an APS requirement but no Designated Body, contact us — we offer a full Responsible Officer service through MYRO. A doctor subject to the APS requirement must have a prescribed connection to a Designated Body; the Suitable Person pathway is not available while APS is in force. The APS supervision service described on this page is designed for doctors who already have a Designated Body elsewhere and only need the supervision layer.