Submit CV

Explore new opportunities in healthcare.

How Easy Is It to Register as a Locum Doctor?

Whether you're registering as a locum doctor for the first time or returning after a break, understanding what's involved can help you get started more quickly.

This guide explains registration process, what documents you'll need, what can affect registration times and how our compliance team supports you throughout each stage.

Why choose Medacs Healthcare?

Medacs Healthcare has supported doctors with locum and permanent opportunities for more than 35 years.

As an approved supplier on major healthcare frameworks, including Crown Commercial Service (CCS), HealthTrust Europe (HTE) and NHS Scotland, we support doctors working across a wide range of NHS and private healthcare organisations throughout the UK.

Our dedicated compliance team manages the registration, vetting and safeguarding checks required by healthcare organisations, regulators and framework providers. They guide doctors through each stage of the process, helping to ensure everything is completed accurately and efficiently.

Working as a locum with us means you'll have access to experienced recruitment and compliance specialists who can answer questions, explain requirements and support you throughout your registration journey.

What affects how quickly you can start work?

One of the most common questions doctors ask when registering with Medacs Healthcare is how quickly they can complete registration and start working.

The answer depends largely on how quickly documents can be gathered and verified. For doctors with up-to-date compliance documents, current mandatory training and an active DBS Update Service subscription, the process can often move more quickly.

This guide explains what the registration process involves, the documents you'll need, common causes of delay and the practical steps that can help you get cleared and ready for work sooner.

What support will I receive during registration?

Every doctor who registers with Medacs Healthcare is supported by a dedicated compliance contact and has access to our Compliance Hub.

Your compliance contact will explain what's required, answer any questions and help you track progress throughout the registration process.

The Compliance Hub allows you to upload documents securely, see what has been completed and understand what is still required before you can start wor

What can help speed up registration?

Registration is often quicker when key compliance documents are already in place.

The things that most commonly help doctors complete registration more quickly include:

An active DBS Update Service subscription (or PVG membership in Scotland)
Up-to-date mandatory training certificates
Recent clinical references
A current CV with a complete employment history
Current GMC registration and licence to practise

If any of these are missing, don't worry. Your recruiter and compliance contact will explain what's required and support you through the process.

Looking for a step-by-step guide? Read our guide on How to Register as a Locum Doctor.

How to Register as a Locum Doctor

Frequently Asked Questions

Compliance is thorough because patient safety is always the priority. Every check is there to help protect patients, healthcare organisations and you as a doctor.

In our experience, registration is often much quicker when key documents are already in place, such as current mandatory training certificates, clinical references and an active DBS Update Service subscription.

Most delays are linked to gathering and verifying documentation rather than the compliance process itself. That's why our compliance team works closely with you throughout registration, helping you understand what's needed, tracking progress and identifying anything that could slow things down before it becomes a problem.

At Medacs Healthcare, our focus is on helping doctors complete registration safely, compliantly and as efficiently as possible, so you're ready to start work with confidence.

The quickest registrations are usually completed by doctors who already have:

An active DBS Update Service subscription (or PVG membership in Scotland)
Current mandatory training certificates
An up-to-date CV
Clinical referee details ready to share
Current GMC registration and licence to practise

Having these items available from the start can help reduce delays and keep the registration process moving smoothly.

Useful resources:

DBS Update Service
https:/https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing

Not necessarily.

If your Enhanced DBS certificate is registered with the DBS Update Service, organisations can often check whether it remains current without requiring a new DBS application. This can save time when registering for new opportunities.

If your DBS is not on the Update Service, or if a different level or type of check is required, a new application may be needed.

Useful resource:

DBS Update Service

Medacs Healthcare supplies through major healthcare frameworks, including:

Crown Commercial Service (CCS)
HealthTrust Europe (HTE)
NHS Scotland procurement frameworks

Frameworks help healthcare organisations source temporary staff through approved suppliers that meet specific governance, compliance and quality standards.

Read more: Framework Approvals

Some compliance requirements vary depending on where you work.

For example, doctors working in Scotland will usually require PVG scheme membership through Disclosure Scotland rather than an Enhanced DBS certificate. Other local processes and requirements may also differ between healthcare organisations and nations.

Your compliance contact will explain exactly what's required for the locations and organisations you plan to work with.

Useful resources:

Most doctors will need:

An up-to-date CV and employment history
Proof of right to work in the UK
GMC registration and licence to practise
Enhanced DBS or PVG membership
Occupational health clearance
Current mandatory training certificates
Clinical references
Appraisal and revalidation information (where applicable)

The exact requirements can vary depending on your specialty, grade and where you plan to work.

Read more: How to Register as a Locum Doctor

Every doctor who registers with Medacs Healthcare is supported by a dedicated compliance contact.

You'll also have access to our Compliance Hub, where you can securely upload documents, track your progress and see what is still required before you can start work.

Whether you have questions about references, DBS checks, GMC registration, occupational health clearance or mandatory training, our recruitment and compliance teams are available to help.

Ready to get started?

If you're ready to register, we're here to help.

Whether you want to discuss your options, understand what's required or start the registration process, our recruitment and compliance teams can guide you through the next steps.