The Revalidation Wales website contains information on all aspects of appraisal and revalidation which will help support you through this process.
If you are new to working in Wales as a doctor, have recently gained your CCT or are working as a clinical fellow or other non-training grade post (e.g. F3) there are some key points regarding appraisal and revalidation that you will need to know and some actions you need to take:
Familiarise yourself with the GMC appraisal and revalidation guidance
If you are new to practice then you will want to familiarise yourself with the GMC appraisal and revalidation guidance, further information can be found on our Supporting Information page.
Ensure you were revalidated at point of CCT
If you obtained your CCT during the suspension of the revalidation process (March 2020 - March 2021) it will not have been possible to recommend revalidation at that time. Once you have left training your Responsible Officer will change to the one associated with your employer or Health Board that holds your registration on the MPL. Your training Deanery should provide you with a letter stating that, at the point of CCT you would have revalidated. Your new RO will need to consider your position and relay to you what action they will take in your case.
If you have just received your CCT, in most cases your Deanery should process a revalidation recommendation for you. You will then receive confirmation from the GMC and be given a new revalidation date in 5 years’ time. If you have not been revalidated you should contact your Deanery revalidation team for more guidance.
Establish a prescribed connection for the purposes of revalidation
If you have not already done so your first step will be to establish a prescribed connection for the purposes of revalidation with a designated body, suitable person or directly with the GMC. Your prescribed connection should reflect your primary employment and for those working within NHS Wales will be your Health Board’s Medical Director. Please see the GMC’s connection guidance for further information.
You will need to create a GMC Online account in order to establish and manage your prescribed connections.
Register with MARS as the single appraisal system in Wales
GP appraisal in Wales is managed by the Revalidation Support Unit (RSU) within Health Education Improvement Wales (HEIW) on behalf of the Health Boards.
All NHS doctors use the Medical Appraisal Revalidation System (MARS) to collate and organise their annual appraisal, you will need to register with the system as soon as you are working in Wales and no longer in a training post.
If you change your prescribed connection for revalidation with the GMC, you must also update your professional details on MARS.
F3 or Clinical Fellow posts and appraisal
If you are working or planning to work as an F3, Clinical Fellow or other non-training post you need to engage with annual appraisal and revalidation. This site gives comprehensive information on appraisal and revalidation in Wales as well as links to the single appraisal system we use, MARS. It is essential that you register with MARS as soon as you start your post and engage with appraisal. Please see further information on how to prepare for appraisal on the How to prepare for appraisal page.