Appraisal and revalidation: a guide for junior doctors

If you are a doctor and want to practise in the United Kingdom, you need registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) and a license to practise. An annual appraisal is essential to be able to demonstrate fitness to practise for revalidation. However, many doctors do not know this, or the process whereby they can fulfil their obligations to the GMC. Junior doctors in training are able to provide evidence for re-validation through the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) process. Junior doctors who have taken, or are taking time out, of training posts for a variety of reasons need to be aware of the need to provide evidence of having participated in the appraisal process in order to revalidate. Similarly, junior doctors who are leaving foundation training but not entering another training post, such as clinical teaching fellows, clinical surgical fellows, working overseas or locum doctors, need to be aware of their revalidation responsibilities. The professional regulation of doctors has taken great strides forwards since 2012 when revalidation was launched. The General Medical Council (GMC) framework is based on core guidance for doctors contained within 'Good Medical Practice'. All licensed doctors in the UK now have to have an annual appraisal and need to demonstrate with supporting information how they meet the values set out in Good Medical Practice. All doctors who wish to hold a licence to practise are legally required to be revalidated every 5 years to prove they are up to date and fit to practise. Revalidation provides the link between core guidance for doctors, Good Medical Practice and regular appraisal.