Becoming and acting as a suitable person

This guide supports doctors interested in becoming (or who act as) a suitable person. A suitable person is a licensed doctor we have approved to make revalidation recommendations about a doctor’s fitness to practise in the absence of a connection to a responsible officer.

Typically suitable persons will be:

  • responsible for the clinical governance or appraisal processes in their connected doctors’ organisation
  • the responsible officer of a designated body their connected doctors work for but do not have a connection to.

This guide provides:

  • a checklist of the criteria you must fulfil if you wish to become a suitable person
  • the process for becoming a suitable person
  • the roles and responsibilities you will have once approved as a suitable person. 

Suitable persons must follow our revalidation guidance and instructions. Unless otherwise specified, these will be the same as for responsible officers.