A general practitioner is a medical doctor or veterinarian (a doctor that sees non-human animals) who has a general practice. General practice is an old term for a medical practice in which all types of medical problems are seen. General practitioners have been replaced by family practitioners, because they generally have broader training.

Other reasons that general practitioners were replaced by family practitioners are because training opportunities in general practice became limited after graduation from medical school. Also, there was no way to become board certified in general practice, unlike in family practice. Board certified means that one has been recognized by a board of peers (other doctors in one's area of study) that he/she has met the rigorous standards necessary to practice in a specific field of study.