Full list of revalidation frequently asked questions

General questions about revalidation

• What is revalidation?
• What is the purpose of revalidation?
• Isn't revalidation really all about catching the next Harold Shipman?
• Is it going to mean a huge burden of additional bureaucracy for the profession and the NHS?
• Do I have to take part in revalidation?
• How will revalidation work?

Relicensing v recertification

• I am on the specialist register and a practising consultant. Do I have to renew my licence to practise and then recertify? What do I need to do to get through the two processes and how does this relate to revalidation?
• How often will I need to revalidate?

Methods and evidence for revalidation

• Will I have to pass an examination in order to revalidate?
• Will my employer's existing appraisal process satisfy the requirements for revalidation?
• Must my appraiser be medically qualified and work in my specialty?
• I am self-employed, I work wholly outside the NHS and there is no local process through which I can be appraised. Will I be able to access an appraiser and Responsible Officer provided by my College/Faculty?
• I keep hearing about multi-source feedback from patients and colleagues being part of the requirements for revalidation. Will the GMC organise this for me?
• How many hours CPD will I need to complete in order to revalidate?
• What is the minimum number of clinical sessions that I would need to work in order to revalidate?

Work undertaken overseas

• I am on the specialist register and have worked for many years in the UK. I have moved to another country to work, but would like to return to the UK in a few years time. What can I do to maintain my licence to practise?
• I am intending to work abroad for a couple of years. If I give up my licence to practise will I need to revalidate or pass a test of some kind in order to re-gain my licence?
• If I am working outside the UK will I need a UK-based Responsible Officer?

Revalidation and training

• Are doctors in training expected to participate in revalidation? If so, can I use the documentation in my Specialty Training Record as evidence for Revalidation?

Different types of medical practice

• I work in an area of medical research in which I do not prescribe or see patients. Will I be able to revalidate given that I do not undertake any clinical work and cannot collect feedback from patients?
• I work in non-clinical medicine and don't currently see patients. Will revalidation prevent me from returning to clinical medicine later in my career?
• I am on the specialist register but have moved into commercial pharmaceutical research. Do I need to maintain my registration, my licence to practise or my certification?
• I am a retired GP who does sessions in dermatology clinics. How do I revalidate?
• I am a locum consultant and not on the specialist register. Do I still need to recertify?
• I am a specialty doctor (SAS grade) who has practised in my specialty for the last 10 years in the UK. I do not have the Fellowship and am not on the specialist register. Will I need to be recertified, and if so why and how?
• I work as an academic and a clinician. Will my revalidation have to be based on the same evidence (content and breadth) as a full-time clinician? What about the evidence from my university appraisal process?
• I am a senior manager in my Trust (associate medical director) but I still undertake a limited amount of clinical work. I hope to maintain my clinical role. How should I prepare for revalidation?
• I am a final year SpR and will get my CCT later this year. I understand that I will need to be revalidated in the future, but what do I need to do now?
• I am a European national and work in the UK occasionally for a few weeks a year. Do I need to be licensed and participate in revalidation?

Breaks in service

• I have been ill for over a year and have missed both my appraisal and much CPD activity during that time. What should I do to get revalidated?
• I took a career break a few years ago and during that time I did not hold a licence. Once I have restored my licence how soon will I need to revalidate and how will I meet the requirements if I don't have 5 years of work to draw on?

Retirement

• I am an NHS consultant and have just decided to retire but would like to work part-time for a few years. Do I need to revalidate and how long will it last for?

Work in the independent sector

• I am a doctor working solely in private practice in the UK. How can I be revalidated?
• I work in both the NHS and private sector. How will I revalidate?
• I am not a member of any Royal College or specialty association. How will I revalidate?

The timetable for and roll-out of revalidation

• The GMC introduced licences to practise for all doctors on 16 November 2009. When will my licence expire?
• What are the timescales for introducing revalidation?
• I thought that the GMC was going to decide everyone's revalidation date based on their GMC reference number. Is that still the case? If not, why not?

Doctors who do not revalidate

• What will be the consequences for my revalidation if there are concerns about my standard of practice?
• What happens if I do not provide any information to support my revalidation?

The Responsible Officer and making the recommendation to the GMC

• How will the responsible officer make a recommendation to revalidate?
• What if the Responsible Officer cannot make a positive recommendation?