Reasons for licence withdrawal

Every licensed doctor must revalidate to show they are up to date and fit to practise. Registration shows that you have gained the appropriate qualifications or training to practise medicine. A licence gives you the legal authority to do certain activities in the UK.

If you do not fulfil the requirements of revalidation outlined in our guidance for doctors, provide fraudulent information or fail to provide any information or evidence we reasonably request, we can legally withdraw your licence.

The following table gives some of the reasons we might withdraw your licence, and the actions you can take to avoid this.

Reason for withdrawal

Action needed

Timeframe

Not updated connection details Update your GMC Online account to show your designated body or suitable person or to confirm if you don't have one. You don't need to contact us when you have done this. 

If you're not sure of your connection, please use our connection tool.
As soon as possible and within 28 days
Notification of non-engagement from your responsible officer or suitable person We will send a form for you to complete and return along with robust and objective evidence of either:
  • how you have been complying with our guidance for revalidation
  • why you have been unable to comply.

We may share your evidence with your RO or SP, so we can obtain further information to help us make our decision.

Within 28 days
Failure to pay a fee  You must:
  • pay us the amount owed
  • provide an acceptable reason as to why you cannot pay.
Within 28 days
Providing fraudulent information Contact us for further advice. Within 28 days
Not providing a satisfactory annual return or any evidence that we have asked for You must either provide us with: Within 28 days

Not undertaking an assessment

You must either: Within 28 days
Failure to meet the required standard in the assessment You must either: