Giving up your GMC licence to practise: breaks, working abroad and revalidation

Every licensed doctor must revalidate, whatever their plans. If you aren’t practising in the UK for a while, you may not need your licence. This guide summarises what the GMC says about giving it up, and what to check first.

• Registration shows you have the qualification or training to practise as a doctor.
• A licence to practise gives you legal authority to do certain activities in the UK, such as prescribing and signing statutory certificates.

You can give up your licence only, or your whole registration.

The GMC says every licensed doctor must revalidate, whether or not they plan to retire or take a break, and whatever date their revalidation falls on. If you don’t hold a licence, you don’t have to revalidate. The GMC notes that some doctors find revalidation difficult because they keep a licence they don’t need.

• Licence only. You can still prove your good standing to other organisations, you pay a reduced annual fee, and you can’t practise medicine in the UK.
• Registration. You pay no annual fee, and you can’t practise medicine in the UK.

• Career break. The GMC usually advises doctors who are taking a break of longer than 12 months and doing no work to give up their licence. If you do any work during the break, however little, check whether it needs a licence.
• Working wholly overseas for more than 12 months. You don’t need a licence, which gives rights and privileges in the UK only. You must meet the rules of the country where you work. If you still hold a contract with a UK employer or organisation, speak to them before giving up your licence.
• Maternity or paternity leave. The GMC says you should normally keep your licence, and many employers require it for benefits. Speak to your responsible officer or suitable person about revalidation during your leave.
• Doctors in training. You need a licence to keep your national training number, so speak to your deanery or LETB before giving it up.
• NHS GPs. You’re removed from any performers list if you give up your licence. Talk to NHS England or your Health Board first.
• Signing certificates. If you sign death certificates, cremation forms or other medical certificates, you need a licence.
• Appraisers. To appraise a doctor who has no connection to a designated body, you must hold a licence.
• Voluntary and medico-legal work. Whether you need a licence depends on the nature of the work. Check with the organisation and your indemnity provider.

• Does any work you’ll do need a licence?
• Do your employer, deanery, performers list or indemnity provider need you to hold one?
• What will it mean for your revalidation date when you return?

The GMC says it can’t tell you whether you need a licence for your work, and its advice isn’t legal advice.

The GMC says restoring a licence is relatively straightforward, and gives you a new revalidation submission date based on your history. In exceptional cases, it may ask you to revalidate first. For example, if you haven’t revalidated in the five years before applying, or it has reasonable grounds to think you gave up and restored your licence to avoid revalidation.

You’ll need your annual appraisal as usual. If you have no designated body, see how to revalidate without a responsible officer, and book through the fees page.

GMC, Licence to practise top tips; Revalidation and the licence to practise; Change your status on our medical register of doctors; Restoring a licence to practise.