medical appraisal·hub
medical appraisal·hub

The appraisal handbook

The Appraisal Handbook

Understand the system, then work through your appraisal. Practical guidance from Dr Andrew Harborne for junior doctors, locums and international medical graduates.

21 guidesAll
01 / 9 guides

Appraisal Core

Nine guides to understanding the system and finding your own route through it.

  1. What is medical appraisal?Understand what annual medical appraisal is, what the GMC expects and how your portfolio, appraisal meeting and revalidation cycle fit together.
  2. Appraisal vs revalidationUnderstand the difference between annual medical appraisal and GMC revalidation, how they connect and who is involved in each process.
  3. Do I need an appraisal?Explore appraisal arrangements for NHS, locum, private and international doctors, including who arranges your appraisal in different circumstances.
  4. Designated bodies and responsible officersHow designated bodies, Responsible Officers, prescribed connections and Suitable Persons fit into appraisal and revalidation.
  5. FY3 / FY4 doctorsArrange your FY3 or FY4 medical appraisal after foundation training: who organises it, CPD, evidence, feedback, costs and the GMC no-connection route.
  6. Locum doctorsHow locum doctors can arrange appraisal, identify a designated body, organise evidence across placements and prepare a complete portfolio.
  7. International medical graduatesA practical UK appraisal guide for international medical graduates: clinical attachments, overseas experience, supporting evidence, PDPs and the no-designated-body pathway.
  8. No designated body / REV12How annual appraisal, the GMC Annual Return, REV10 and REV12 work when you have no Responsible Officer or Suitable Person.
  9. Complete a GMC annual returnA practical, step-by-step guide for doctors without a designated body. What to submit, how REV10 and REV12 fit together, and how to prepare before your deadline.
02 / 11 guides

Completing an Appraisal

Practical help with your portfolio, supporting information, meeting and GMC paperwork.

  1. Appraisal checklist & readiness checkerDownload a simple appraisal checklist or check your preparation and get a personalised version. Covers scope of work, CPD, QIA, supporting information and your PDP.
  2. Appraisal forms and templatesUnderstand which appraisal form to use and organise your preparation with a simple working template.
  3. Appraisal costsCompare published medical appraisal prices for 2026, including VAT, preparation support, software, training and REV12 fees.
  4. Scope of Work for Medical AppraisalDescribe your whole scope of work for medical appraisal, including clinical roles, locum placements, teaching and other professional activities.
  5. Mandatory Training for Medical AppraisalUnderstand how mandatory training fits into medical appraisal, what training evidence to keep and how it relates to your professional roles.
  6. CPD for Medical AppraisalA practical guide to building varied, relevant CPD evidence and reflecting on what changed.
  7. Quality Improvement for Medical AppraisalPractical ways to review your work, evidence improvement and show what you learned.
  8. Patient and Colleague FeedbackWhat formal feedback is required, how to collect it properly and how to reflect on the results.
  9. Significant Events and ComplaintsWhat to declare, what supporting information to include and how to reflect on significant events and complaints.
  10. PDP for Medical Appraisal: Complete GuideHow to review your previous PDP and agree specific, achievable development goals for the year ahead.
  11. The appraisal meetingWhat the meeting covers, how your PDP is agreed and what happens before the appraisal is formally completed.
03 / 1 guide

Improval

See how to prepare your appraisal in Improval, from creating your account to completing your personal development plan.