As a CPSA member, you’ll have access to a discount code for your application with ShootCert. Make a note/copy the code provided by the CPSA and type/paste it into the application form field example as shown below. Click the Apply button, and you’ll see your CPSA Member Discount applied. Then enter your CPSA membership number in the field as shown below.
FAQs
Last updated: 27 August 2025
Yes – it’s worth asking your GP first. Some practices will provide the report for you, though many either decline or charge a high fee.
If your GP can’t help, or their fee is unreasonable, you can apply with ShootCert, where a GMC-registered doctor will complete your medical certificate quickly and efficiently.
A Subject Access Request (SAR) is simply the legal term for asking to see the personal data an organisation holds about you. In this case, it’s how we obtain a copy of your full medical notes from your GP.
A third-party SAR is when ShootCert submits that request on your behalf—with your written permission. Learn more.
Under UK data protection law, you have the right to access this information.
No – we’ve got that covered. We’ll provide everything the police need: the signed medical consent form and our completed ShootCert medical pro forma (the last four pages of the Form 201). You simply attach these to your firearms application.
Don’t leave it to the last minute. For renewals, apply about 3–5 months before your current licence expires. This gives your GP plenty of time to send us your medical notes and keeps everything on track.
Tip: If your renewal is still a way off, sign up for our Renewal Reminder Service.
No phone line – and that’s deliberate. To keep everything clear, accurate and traceable, we handle all enquiries in writing. This means you’ll always have a record of what’s been said, and we can quickly locate previous conversations if needed.
Use the contact form on this site to get in touch – it’s the fastest way to reach us. We’ll reply by email, and in rare cases (for example, to clarify something complex) our admin or doctor may call you or your GP directly.
Almost – but not everything. You’ll need to make sure your GP acknowledges the Subject Access Request (SAR) and confirms your ID and registration with the practice.
Once that’s done, we usually handle things directly with your GP. If they need anything else – extra consent or information – we’ll email you clear instructions so you know exactly what to do.
No problem – we’ve got two easy options:
- Option 1 – Print yourself: We’ll email you pre-written letters. Just print them and hand-deliver them to your GP (recommended).
- Option 2 – We print for you: No printer? We’ll print everything – letters, reminders, the lot – and post them to your home. You then take them to your GP.
Tip: Always take some ID with you – your practice may need to confirm who you are.
Yes – if you can’t give us a GP email address and you don’t have a printer, we’ll print your pre-written consent letters and send them to your home.
You’ll then need to hand-deliver them to your GP practice. Why? Because it gets the best results, it encourages your practice to engage with the request, and it lets them confirm your identity if needed. Take some photo ID with you just in case.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/find-nhs-number/
You should also be able to find your NHS Number on any letter or document you have received from the NHS, including prescriptions, test results, and hospital referral or appointment letters. If you cannot find your NHS Number in these ways, use the link above or you can ask your GP practice to help you.
- Our application fee is £79+VAT
- If you require our print and postal service (optional for people without a printer) +£20+VAT
- If you require your medical certificate posted to you as a hard copy, +£5.95+VAT (this is included in our print and post service).
- If you require your hard-copy medical notes to be returned to you, the admin and postage fee is £12.75+VAT.
- We can only take payments from your debit or credit card via our website.
- We cannot accept card payments over the phone, cheques, bank transfers, or PayPal.
- All card payments are processed by Stripe. You do not need an account with Stripe.
Find a territorial Police force:
Opens in new window: https://www.shootcert.co.uk/police-firearm-contacts/
No – we can’t accept medical notes by email. Scans or photos can’t guarantee the records are complete and unaltered. We can only use original, sealed copies sent directly from your GP (or handed to you, still sealed).
Most practices cooperate without issue – but occasionally a GP may try to charge a high fee. The BASC legal team and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) are clear: a full set of notes is not considered excessive, and charges should only apply if a request is “manifestly unfounded or excessive.”
If your GP demands an unreasonable fee, we’ll push back. We have a proven process, backed by ICO guidance, to challenge unfair charges. We’ll give you ready-made complaint letters and handle the evidence for you. It can take time, but we don’t give up – and neither should you.
Yes – but there are strict rules.
- Direct from your GP: The safest route is for your GP to send the notes straight to us by tracked Royal Mail to:
ShootCert
PO Box 1700
NORTHAMPTON
NN2 1LE
(Couriers like DHL, DPD or Evri can’t deliver to PO Boxes.)
- Collected by you: If your GP hands you the notes, they must stay sealed in the GP’s original envelope. Don’t open them. Your GP may ask for ID or a quick consultation before release.
Breaking these rules can stop our doctor from completing your certificate.
Already holding a hard copy? [See this answer instead.]
No, because you are not registered with an NHS GP service, we won't be able to obtain your medical notes. Learn more about Defence Medical Services (DMS).
Absolutely. Every ShootCert doctor is GMC-registered and holds a current licence to practise – either as a GP or on the GMC Specialist Register. This isn’t just our standard; it’s a Home Office requirement for firearms medical certificates. Learn more.
Normally, we send the certificate straight to you. You then attach it to your shotgun or firearm application and send it to your police firearms department.
In rare cases, if our doctor believes the report needs police attention, we may send a copy directly to the firearms department as well.
For both first-time and renewal applications, police firearms departments now expect your entire medical history to be checked – even for renewals. To keep things consistent and avoid delays, ShootCert requires your full record for every application.
If you’ve used ShootCert before, we only need records back to your last consultation date, plus a reasonable overlap to ensure nothing’s missed.
Our pre-written consent letters explain this clearly to you and your GP once you apply and pay.
The biggest variable is your GP – they can legally take up to 30 days to send us your notes. That’s why we always say: apply early, especially for renewals.
Once we have your notes and they’ve been checked, we’ll aim to send your certificate within 5–10 working days.
For a step-by-step timeline, see our How It Works page
Usually, no. Police guidance says our doctor must get your notes directly from your GP, so we know they’re complete and authentic.
But there are a few exceptions:
- Hard copies: If you have them in your possession, they must be in the GP’s original sealed envelope, unopened. Put the sealed envelope in a sturdy padded bag and send by tracked Royal Mail to:
ShootCert
PO Box 1700
NORTHAMPTON
NN2 1LE
(Couriers like DHL, DPD, Evri can’t deliver to PO Boxes.)
- Digital files: We cannot accept PDFs or emailed files from patients – they can’t be verified as complete. If this is all you have, we must note to the police that the files came from you, which could cause delays or rejection.
- Physical media (CDs/USB): Occasionally GPs issue digital records on discs or USB sticks. These are acceptable only if still sealed by the GP. Send them in the same way as hard copies.
Your notes must always be the latest full record, not just a summary.
Medical conditions that could be relevant include:
- acute stress reaction or an acute reaction to the stress caused by trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder
- suicidal thoughts or self-harm or harm to others
- depression or anxiety
- dementia
- mania, bipolar disorder or a psychotic illness
- a personality disorder
- a neurological condition: for example, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or Huntington’s diseases, or epilepsy
- alcohol or drug abuse
- any other mental or physical condition, or combination of conditions, which may affect the safe possession of firearms or shotguns.
ShootCerts doctors require sight of your full medical record to enable the doctor to confirm whether you are or have been, diagnosed or treated for any relevant medical conditions, including mental health conditions. You do have the right to withhold certain information from the medical history provided, however, you acknowledge that in doing so, the completed medical proforma certificate may be considered unfit for purpose. For example:
- Child Protection Letters (these will often mention various family members including very sensitive information)
- Letters about crime such as reports and police interventions
- Letters about mental health
- Letters about pregnancy and sexual life
We usually get an acknowledgement from your GP when they receive your Subject Access Request (SAR), and we’ll let you know when we do.
If there’s no acknowledgement within 10 days, or if we still haven’t received your notes by day 25, you’ll get an email from ShootCert to prompt you to follow up with your GP.
If another 5–10 days pass without progress, tell us. We’ll provide you with a formal reminder letter for your GP, highlighting their legal obligation to respond.
If you hear back from your practice at any stage, please let us know so we can update your case file.
You can use our GP Practice Finder to locate your NHS practice name and address.
We work hard to keep our emails secure and reliable. All notifications from shootcert.co.uk are sent via SendGrid to protect our domain reputation and improve delivery.
Sometimes, though, email providers can be extra cautious, and our messages may land in your spam or junk folder.
If you still can’t find them, get in touch via our contact form and we’ll happily resend anything you’ve missed.
You’ll need a medical certificate every time you apply, whether it's your first application, a renewal or a variation to your licence. According to the Home Office and BASC, a medical proforma is mandatory for all shotgun or firearm licence applications
Most firearms and shotgun certificates are valid for five years, so expect to submit a fresh medical certificate at each renewal
Since 2021, the Home Office guidance has made this requirement clear and non-negotiable: applications must be accompanied by a medical report from a GMC-registered doctor, or the application will not proceed
A firearms medical certificate doesn’t have an official expiry date, but the police expect it to be recent – usually no more than six months old when you submit it with your application.
You’ll need a new certificate every time you apply for a shotgun or firearm licence, including at renewal (normally every five years). Older certificates can’t be reused, even if nothing has changed.
Check with your local firearms department for their guidance.
Refunds are rare, but here’s how it works:
If we can’t issue a certificate because your medical history is unusually complex, we’ll refund you in full – no problem. Please see our full Terms (Section 8) on what options are available to you in this situation.
If you change your mind after paying, we can’t refund you. As soon as your payment is made, the process starts instantly – letters go out, your GP is contacted, and multiple parties are notified. Once this happens, it can’t be reversed.
We handle your data with care and security at every stage:
- Digital records: Your medical notes are stored securely for around 10 years so we can respond if the police ever need to check a certificate.
- Hard copies: Paper notes are kept for about 1 month, then securely shredded.
- Application data: Your application details are archived securely in line with our Privacy Policy