Frequently Asked Questions

Sources of Information

The main sources of information involve practical experience of appraisals and submitting revalidation recommendations of Doctors with different clinical backgrounds.

It also includes liaising with regulatory authorities and organisations carrying out appraisal and revalidation work in UK, and attending relevant meetings i.e. appraiser and Responsible Officer (RO) induction and refresher trainings, peer review meetings, Responsible Officer (RO) network meetings, GMC ELA meetings etc.
  • What is Revalidation?

    Medical revalidation is the process by which the General Medical Council confirms the continuation of a doctor's license to practice in the UK. The purpose of revalidation is to assure patients and the public, employers and other healthcare professionals that licensed doctors are up to date and fit to practise. 

  • What is Appraisal?

    Medical appraisal is a process of facilitated self-review supported by information gathered from the full scope of a doctor’s work. It is to be undertaken annually using relevant evidence and developed using a plan for future development. 

  • How many appraisals are required in a Revalidation cycle?

    Appraisals are a yearly activity. The recommended appraisal cycle runs from 9-12 months.

  • How much supporting evidence is required?

    There are six types of supporting information that you will be expected to provide and discuss at your appraisal:

    • Continuing professional development 
    • Quality improvement activity
    • Significant events
    • Feedback from colleagues
    • Feedback from patients
    • Review of complaints and compliments
  • Non-UK and foreign supporting evidence:
    • Can a Doctor get revalidation if he/she has not worked in UK at all or worked very less during their revalidation cycle?
    • Can a Doctor get revalidation if he/she does not have any UK based supporting information in their portfolio?
    • Do Quality Improvement activities (QIAs) and feedback from colleagues and patients necessarily need to be from UK?

    During my work as an appraiser and Responsible Officer, I came across many Doctors working abroad; they intend to maintain their licence to practise in UK and engage in appraisals and revalidation process. 


    In this regard, on regular basis I remained in contact with all relevant regulatory bodies and organisations. The information I received was that doctor’s supporting information must be drawn from the UK practice. In this regard, please refer to

    https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/rt---supporting-information-for-appraisal-and-revalidation---dc5485_pdf-55024594.pdf

    GMC will not be able to revalidate a doctor without a connection if they have not collected and reflected on supporting information from UK practice. 


    Doctors who are registered without a licence are still registered and remain in good standing with the GMC. Doctors registered without a licence are not required to revalidate, but they are still bound by the standards outlined in GMC core professional guidance, Good medical practice, and their registration remains subject to GMC fitness to practise jurisdiction. The process for obtaining a new licence has been designed to be as straightforward as possible, as GMC is aware that doctors will want to be licensed without unnecessary delay. Once they are licensed again, they will of course become subject to the ongoing requirements of revalidation. 


    If a doctor decides to keep their licence, and they are wholly working overseas, then they will need to meet the same requirement for revalidation as every other licensed doctor. This means having an annual appraisal where they reflect on all the required supporting information they have collected. 

  • Maintaining and Relinquishing License to Practice

    If a doctor is wholly working outside the UK, it follows that all the supporting information could be based overseas practice. GMC recommends a doctor to give up their licence to practise if they are wholly working outside the UK. This is because the legal privileges associated with holding a licence only apply to the UK and doctors do not need a UK licence to work in other countries. When they are ready to return to the UK, they could apply to restore their licence to practise.

  • Direct submission to the GMC

    Direct submission is applicable to the doctors who are not connected to any designated body. Their annual returns need to be submitted directly to GMC via Revalidation 12 (Rev 12) form.

  • Assessment to show up-to-date medical knowledge

    Doctors who do not have prescribed connections with any designated body, will need to complete and submit a revalidation annual return to give GMC evidence of their practice and participation in annual appraisals. They will also need to take part in an assessment to show their medical knowledge is up to date.

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