The revalidation process

This guide sets out the revalidation process for doctors with a responsible officer or approved suitable person.

It covers:

  • the information your responsible officer or suitable person will base their recommendation upon
  • the timing of recommendations
  • the recommendations your responsible officer or suitable person can make
  • our decision-making process.

It is important that you fulfil the requirements outlined in this guide and in our step-by-step processes for doctors with a connection to a responsible officer or suitable person.

Your responsible officer or suitable person can tell us at any time if you’re not sufficiently engaging with revalidation. They do not need to wait until your revalidation submission date to do this.

If you do not begin to sufficiently engage with the requirements for revalidation, we may bring forward your revalidation submission date to allow your responsible officer or suitable person to make a recommendation of non-engagement.

If you're not sure whether this guide applies to you, please use our connection tool.

The legal background to this guide

This guide includes extracts from Section 3 and 6 of our Guidance for doctors: requirements for revalidation and maintaining your licence (published under section 29G of the Medical Act 1983) and explains your responsibilities and our powers in the General Medical Council (Licence to Practise and Revalidation) Regulations 2012.

You can find all the relevant legal references in the full guidance. 

Who is this guide for?
This guide is for doctors who have a connection to a responsible office or suitable person, who hold registration with a licence to practise in the UK.
Why you need to read this guide
It is important that you understand the processes outlined in this guide, as if you fail to engage with revalidation without a reasonable excuse, we will begin the process of withdrawing your licence to practise.
  1. Summary
  2. The timing of recommendations
  3. Making the recommendation to the GMC
  1. The recommendations
  2. The GMC decision-making process
  3. The decisions we can make
Next The timing of recommendations

Related content

Revalidation with a connection to a designated body How to revalidate as a doctor with a connection to a designated body.
Revalidation with a connection to a suitable person How to revalidate as a doctor with a connection to a suitable person.