Revalidation

In order to maintain their licence to practice, doctors must meet standards set by the GMC (General Medical Council). These standards apply to all doctors registered to work in the UK, regardless of which medical branch they work for; NHS and private doctors alike must affirm to the GMC that they are up to date and fit to practice. The GMC standards that individual doctors must follow vary slightly in relation to their speciality.

This process by which doctors confirm they are fit for practice is called revalidation. Though the GMC only requires all doctors to receive a full revalidation every five years, annual appraisals are also required in the interim.

In order to receive your revalidation and yearly appraisals, the GMC requires that you connect with your designated body. Your designated body is the Trust, organisation or agency which you have worked with the most over the last 12 months or who you are currently employed full time with.

If you currently work – or have worked – with more than one organisation within the last 12 months, you have to consider carefully who your designated body should be. To make this clearer, it may be useful to list out the organisations you have worked with and consider for each: the length of your employment, the amount of clinical practice gained, and the basis of your employment (if you were employed, held practising privileges or had a different type of contract).

If in doubt about your employment status or designated body, then it may be a good idea to speak to these organisations yourself.

Further information is available on the GMC website.