50 Norwegian doctors selected at random from the population of general practitioners who were neither recognized specialists nor enrolled in the specialist training programme, were interviewed by telephone about their own postgraduate training and their attitude towards the system of specialist training for general practitioners. Their educational activities and needs differed very little from those described in previous surveys among Norwegian practitioners. All the younger doctors were determined to enroll in the specialist training programme, but many thought that this might be difficult for family reasons. Most of the doctors above the age of 40 lacked the motivation for specialist training. The doctors expressed a variety of different attitudes towards the system of specialist training, including certain conflicts of loyalties and values.