The General Medical Council has introduced a system of revalidating doctors every 5 years as a way of assuring the public that doctors are fit to practice. 
This started on 3rd December 2012.  

It is based on the GMC's Good Medical Practice.
The foundation of revalidation is annual appraisal, and so continued registration with the GMC and a license to practice will usually depend on the annual appraisals.
 All doctors are advised to read the two GMC documents which set out the requirements: Also recommended is the ​Guide to supporting information for appraisal and revalidation​ (RCGP, March 2016) or their 3 page brief introduction to this document (RCGP, March 2016).
The appraisal has a formal component in which certain compulsory items are checked, and a more informal element in which the GP and the appraiser discuss an agenda agreed between them.

These pages cover the formal components of the appraisal.
Locally the administration of appraisals for NHS General Practitioners is the responsibility of NHS England South (South West).
Revalidation: What you need to do (GMC 2014)


​Revalidation for doctors in training

The GMC has Information for doctors in training.

Appraisal and revalidation for GP trainees is managed by Health Education South West.


​​Senior academic GPs

The "Follet Principles" apply to the appraisal of senior academic GPs.

Doctors with non-clinical roles

Doctors who continue to have a clinical role as well as non-clinical roles should follow the advice in these pages. Their appraisals will cover both clinical and non-clinical aspects of their work.

Doctors who have no clinical role(s) should consider relinquishing their license to practice. 
In this case they will not need to be revalidated and the process described in these pages will not apply.

Appraisers who have no clinical roles will continue to be appraised annually although this will not count towards revalidation.
​Appraiser review form for non-clinical appraisers v4 (NHSE SSW, 2017)

Doctors returning to practice

Details of the GP Induction and refresher scheme including the new portfolio route are available from NHS England.


​GP retention scheme

Health Education England and NHS England jointly run a GP Retention Scheme.
​
The GP Retention Scheme is a package of financial and educational support to help doctors, who might otherwise leave the profession, remain in clinical general practice.