The GMC introduced revalidation in 2012 as a process for all doctors to maintain a licence to practice. Annual appraisal is central to this process, allowing doctors to demonstrate they are up to date and fit to practise.
Appraisal is a formative, structured review of a doctor’s work across their whole practice (whole practice appraisal), focusing on achievements and future development needs. It forms part of an ongoing cycle of reflection and professional growth rather than a one‑off event.
Revalidation decisions are made approximately every five years and are based on annual appraisals and the absence of significant concerns. Both processes are grounded in the GMC’s Good Medical Practice.
In Wales, NHS doctors use the Medical Appraisal Revalidation System (MARS) to collate information and evidence for their appraisal. The system provides doctors with an allocated quarter in which to undertake their appraisal, e.g., January-March, April-June etc. More information is available on the MARS page.
Several key roles support the appraisal and revalidation processes in Wales, ensuring they are robust and run smoothly. These roles are outlined below and are referenced throughout this site.
| Role | Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Doctor | It is your responsibility to undertake annual appraisals and include all the GMC revalidation supporting information as required. |
| Appraiser | They will undertake your appraisal, encouraging you to reflect and consider how your learning and experiences have improved your practice. They will also help plan your Personal Development Plan (PDP) to focus your learning for the next 12 months. |
| Appraisal Co‑ordinator / Lead (AC/AL) | They are usually an experienced appraiser who provides advice and support to a team of appraisers within their organisation/area. They provide a route for appraisers to discuss any concerns they have outside of the formal clinical governance structure and provide support to the Revalidation team and Responsible Officer (RO). |
| Designated Body (DB) |
Your DB is the organisation that will appoint your RO. In NHS Wales this will be your health board, and your RO will be the Medical Director of that health board. If you work wholly outside NHS Wales, your DB is most likely to be your employer, and they have a duty to provide you with access to annual appraisals. If you are in a training grade post in NHS Wales, your RO is the Medical Director of HEIW. You should have a connection to your RO through GMC Connect. |
| Revalidation Team | The team within your DB that will be able to support you with appraisal and revalidation. They may contact you to find out further information for your revalidation if necessary. |
| Responsible Officer (RO) | Your RO is responsible for making your revalidation recommendation to the GMC, they also have a responsibility in quality assuring appraisal and revalidation processes within their DB including clinical governance. |
| Suitable Person | If you do not have a connection with an RO, then you may be able to have a connection with an identified Suitable Person. A Suitable Person must be approved by the GMC. They would make your revalidation recommendation to the GMC. |
| Revalidation Support Unit (RSU) |
The Revalidation Support Unit sits within Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) and has several responsibilities including:
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| GMC |
The GMC are the regulator for the medical profession and revalidation is governed by them. The GMC will make your final revalidation decision after receiving a recommendation from either your RO or a Suitable Person. If doctors do not have any connection elsewhere, they can connect directly with the GMC, in which case an annual process for appraisal and assessment must be undertaken in order to revalidate. |