Frequently asked questions on revalidation

Q: What is revalidation?

A: Revalidation will have two components: relicensing and recertification.

    1. Relicensing will be required for all doctors who hold a licence. This process will be largely undertaken through local clinical governance processes with the responsibility for final relicensing resting with the General Medical Council

    2. Recertification will be required for specialists who are on a specialist register (GMC specialist register or GDC specialist list or UKPHR).

The vast majority of public health professionals are practicing to a high standard. Revalidation should be a process that will support continuous quality improvement in standards and practice for both public health professionals and the public alike.

Q: Who will need to revalidate?

A: As public health is a multidisciplinary specialty, the Faculty of Public Health expects all of its members with specialist registration to revalidate in a similar manner. All doctors registered with the GMC will be legally required to revalidate. All other PH specialists registered with the GDC or the UKPHR are very strongly encouraged to maintain similar portfolios of evidence, even if they are not FPH members.

Q: Do I need to take up a GMC license to practice?

A: If you are medically qualified, you will have received communication from the GMC explaining that you need to make a choice between simply staying on the register or taking up a licence to practise. It is essential that all practising public health doctors take up a licence to practise. This is because the licence will cover your professional practice which is not limited to clinical activity. Without a licence to practise, public health doctors will not be able to take up a consultant post in the UK, advise local authorities on health-related matters, conduct or oversee clinical trials, act as a medical member on the HPA board or at NHS tribunals, sign cremation certificates or inspect premises for community care. These are only a few examples, with a full list of 400 activities available defined by statute. Taking up your licence can be done simply and quickly online and FPH advises all of its practising members to do this at the earliest opportunity. Once revalidation begins you will need to be licensed to be revalidated.

Q: Can I still revalidate through the FPH even if I am not a FPH member?

A: Yes, the FPH will have a scheme in place to help revalidate all specialists in public health, both members and non-members (similar to the existing CPD scheme)

Q: What happens if I don’t work in the NHS?

A: Revalidation is based on registration, not employing organisation. Regardless of employer, you will still be required to revalidate.

Q: What if I am not in active PH practice, but maintain professional registration?

A: Discussions are ongoing around the professional needs of those members who are not in active public health practice. The needs will be different for fully retired members than those who are taking a sabbatical or career break, on long term sick leave or maternity/paternity leave.

Q: When will I need to start collecting information for revalidation?

A: As soon as possible. You will already have much of the information needed, such as CPD information, annual appraisal information, any MSF information, etc.

Q: What if I am overseas?

A: If you do not have specialist registration with a UK specialist register (i.e. GMC, GDC or UKPHR) you will not be required to revalidate. If you do hold UK specialist registration, you may be required to revalidate. Discussions on this are ongoing and more information will be published as soon as it is available.

Q: Will I need to sit an exam?

A: The exact procedures for revalidation have not yet been decided. However, it is extremely unlikely that regular examinations would form a part of revalidation in public health.

Additional FAQs can be found on the Revalidation section of the GMC website.