Your first GMC appraisal: what to expect and what to bring

A first appraisal can feel daunting, especially when you have little history to show. This guide sets out what the GMC says.

The GMC says that as soon as you hold a licence to practise you must start to engage with revalidation, even if you are not yet working as a doctor in the UK. Keep your connection details up to date in GMC Online. Your connection to a designated body normally begins once your contract of employment has started. See designated body and responsible officer explained.

The GMC says your annual appraisal must have Good medical practice as its focus, cover all of your UK medical practice, and be with an appropriately appointed and trained appraiser. Your appraiser will confirm whether any supporting information is missing, and if so, why. If something is outstanding, you agree a plan with your appraiser for collecting it.

You collect and reflect on six types of supporting information over your revalidation cycle. The GMC’s requirements for how often are:

• CPD: every year, covering your whole practice.
• Quality improvement activity: at least once in your revalidation cycle.
• Significant events: every one you were involved in since your last appraisal. If none, you declare that.
• Patient feedback: at least once in each cycle, through a formal exercise.
• Colleague feedback: at least once in your cycle.
• Complaints and compliments: all formal complaints since your last appraisal.

The GMC says it is not always necessary to collate and reflect on each type every year. At a first appraisal you may have little or nothing for some types, and that is normal for types that are only needed once in a cycle. Say so, and agree with your appraiser when you will collect them. See our revalidation checklist.

• A description of your practice: the organisations, locations and roles you have held since your last appraisal, including private or locum work.
• Your personal details, including your GMC number.
• Your personal development plan, if you have one. If not, you will agree your first one at the appraisal. See personal development plan for appraisal.
• Thought about your probity and health statements. See scope of practice, probity and health statements.

Be honest. The GMC says you must make sure your supporting information is honest, accurate and comprehensive. If you have been in practice only a short time, bring what you have and explain the position. For doctors with no patients or no recent work, the GMC says to reflect on feedback from others you provide services to, or agree with your RO or suitable person.

If you have a responsible officer, your designated body arranges your appraisal, and you must use the system provided unless your RO asks you to use an alternative. If you have no designated body or suitable person, you arrange your own. See how to revalidate without a responsible officer.

1. Check your connection in GMC Online.
2. Gather what you have for each of the six types.
3. Write a short list of your roles and settings.
4. Note questions for your appraiser.

See how the appraisal meeting works and how online appraisals work.

GMC, Revalidation requirements for doctors; Guidance on supporting information for revalidation; Revalidation for doctors: questions and answers.