This section describes 10 steps every doctor will need to take to revalidate.

1. Register on GMC Online
2. Confirm your responsible officer
3. Get a date from the GMC
4. Find out the local appraisal format
5. Gather supporting information
6. Prepare for appraisal
7. Participate in appraisal
8. Sign-off appraisal
9. Repeat steps 5-8 every year
10. Receive your revalidation confirmation from the GMC

1. Register on GMC Online

• Set up your GMC Online account – if you need help doing this you can find it here

2. Confirm your responsible officer

• You can identify your responsible officer through your GMC Online account

3. Get a date from the GMC

• Your first revalidation will be sometime between April 2013 and March 2016. You should have received your date from the GMC by the end of January 2013. If you haven’t, please contact the GMC

4. Find out the local appraisal format

• You’ll need to take part in regular appraisal under the supervision of your responsible officer. Your responsible officer will clarify how appraisal will work for you and whether you need to use any particular forms.

5. Gather supporting information

• Begin gathering supporting information which shows how you are meeting the professional values set out in Good Medical Practice Framework for Appraisal and Revalidation. There are six types of supporting information you will need to collect, as explained in the GMC’s guidance Supporting Information for Appraisal and Revalidation.
• The organisation(s) where you work may also be able to help, for example by compiling clinical data about you or helping with the administration of patient and colleague feedback questionnaires.
• The process of gathering this information may take time, so starting this early is advised to avoid possible deferral of your recommendation decision.

6. Prepare for appraisal

• Reflect on how you are meeting the principles and values set out in the four domains of the Good Medical Practice Framework for Appraisal and Revalidation.

This will include considering your:

• supporting information
• scope and nature of work
• previous year’s personal development plan (PDP)
• achievements, challenges and aspirations.

For further detail, read the Medical Appraisal Guide.

7. Participate in appraisal

• Your appraisal meeting is a confidential discussion with a trained appraiser who will support, guide and constructively challenge you, having reviewed the supporting information and commentary you have provided.
• It should cover all your professional practice, and be based on the GMC Good Medical Practice Framework for Appraisal and Revalidation.

8. Sign-off appraisal

• After your appraisal meeting you and your appraiser will need to agree a new personal development plan (PDP) and a written summary of the appraisal discussion. Your appraiser will also make a series of statements to the responsible officer that will, in time, inform your revalidation recommendation. They should discuss this with you.

9. Repeat steps 5-8 every year

10. Receive your revalidation confirmation from the GMC

• Provided you have undertaken steps 1-9, and there are no unaddressed concerns about your practice, your responsible officer will make a positive recommendation about you to the GMC.

• Once the GMC has received a recommendation, it will decide whether to continue (revalidate) your licence, and notify you of this decision.