Practice Managers are integral to the smooth and effective running of a GP practice. Depending on the size of the practice, the manager will be involved with a wide range of activities, such as strategic business planning, finance, HR, training and IT.
Although it is not necessary to hold a qualification in health care management or have experience within the health service before taking on this role, most practice managers have experience of management in some context and in particular experience of finance and of managing people.
Practice Managers are not required to hold a registerable qualification, however, the Institute of General Practice Management are working towards a formal accreditation process that is recognised nationally.
NHS England has appointed the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) to lead a project with the Faculty of Medical Leadership & Management (FMLM), and the Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) to create a new NHS Management and Leadership Framework.
The new multi-disciplinary framework will provide clear expectations of managers and leaders working across the service. A Code of Practice for all NHS and social care managers and leaders will also be developed through this work.
Further reading:
Other registration bodies that provide both membership and training pathways –
- AMSPAR Education & Health Academy
- Institute of Leadership & Management
- Chartered Management Institute
- Institute of Health & Social Care Management
- HFMA
- Diploma in Advanced Primary Care Management – National Association of Primary Care . A one year online masters level programme designed for individuals managing primary care locally and at scale.
- PMA Senior Manager – Practice Manager Association, ILM Level 7 Diploma in Leadership and Management. This is for aspiring senior managers and those who are well established in the practice management role.
Leadership and Management qualifications can also be obtained through apprenticeships–
- Level 5 – Operations/Departmental Manager
- Level 6 – Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship
- Level 7 – Senior Leader Apprenticeship (Public funding for level 7 apprenticeships will be removed for people aged 22 and older from January 2026)
The NHS Leadership Academy, also has programmes that are designed to help everyone in the NHS discover their full leadership potential.