Licensing and revalidation

Over the next few years, the General Medical Council will be changing the way doctors within the UK are regulated to practise medicine.

On 16 November 2009 the GMC introduced the licence to practise. To practise medicine in the UK all doctors are required by law to hold both registration and a licence to practise.

This applies whether they practise full time, part time, as a locum, privately or in the NHS, or whether they are employed or self-employed.

Licensing is the first practical step towards the introduction of a new system called revalidation. This will require doctors to renew their licence to practise periodically. The purpose of revalidation will be to give patients regular assurance that doctors registered with a licence are up to date and fit to practise.

If you have a question about licensing or revalidation, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.

Tell me about

• The licence to practise
  Find information about the licence to practise and licensing.

• Revalidation
  Find information about the elements of revalidation including recertification, multi-source feedback, and our framework for appraisal and assessment.

• The UK Revalidation Programme Board
  The Programme Board oversees the practical delivery of medical revalidation across the four countries of the UK.