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Licences to Practise and Revalidation

Overview

Medical revalidation is the system in the UK by which doctors have to periodically re-license so that they can remain on the medical register maintained by the General Medical Council (GMC) and update their licence to practise. The process of revalidation involves doctors demonstrating to the GMC that they are up to date, fit to practise medicine and complying with all relevant professional standards.

A system of revalidating professional registration also applies to nurses and midwives. Under the system all nurses and midwives on the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) register are required to revalidate every three years at the point of their registration renewal.

This topic sets out the practical details of revalidation for both doctors and nurses. Related information can be found in the Staff Supervision and Appraisal topic.

Licences to Practise and Revalidation: Quick Facts

  • If a doctor wishes to work in the UK they need to be registered with the General Medical Council and hold a licence to practise. Doctors Licence to Practise

  • Medical revalidation is the system in the UK by which doctors have to re-license every five years. Revalidation Requirements

  • The GMC states that the purpose of revalidation is to assure patients, employers and other healthcare professionals that licensed doctors are up-to-date and are practising to the appropriate professional standards. The Purpose of Revalidation

  • Medical revalidation is based on each doctor having an annual appraisal and collecting a range of “supporting information” to demonstrate their fitness to practise and their compliance with GMC standards. The Revalidation Process — Doctors

  • Doctors must collect a range of information over a five-year cycle to support their annual appraisal and five-yearly revalidation. Supporting Information

  • A Responsible Officer will make a recommendation to the GMC about whether a doctor should be revalidated. The Responsible Officer

  • A similar system of revalidation administered by the Nursing & Midwifery Council applies to nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Nursing Registration

  • Under the revalidation system for nurses and midwives, all those on the NMC register are required to revalidate every three years at the point of their registration renewal. The Revalidation Process — Nurses