Revalidation questions & answers

What is revalidation?

Why is it necessary?

It is a way to assure patients and the public that healthcare professionals are up to date and fit to practise. The government has asked all the healthcare professional regulators to develop proposals for revalidation. In addition, we know from our research that patients expect us to check regularly that registrants are up to date.

What are the benefits of revalidation?

Revalidation will make a contribution to assuring patients and the public that dental professionals are up to date and practising in accordance with our standards. It will also provide a focus for dental professionals to further develop their skills and knowledge throughout their career. 

When will revalidation be introduced?

A date has not yet been decided. The GDC and all the other professional healthcare regulators are doing further work to develop proposals for revalidation, including to ensure they are cost-effective and proportionate. It is unlikely that revalidation would be introduced for dentists before at least 2014. We will ensure that all dentist registrants have plenty of notice in order to prepare. We will determine our plans for the revalidation of dental care professionals (DPCs) after doing further work.

Do GDC registrants have to do anything now for revalidation?

No, there are currently no requirements for dentists or DCPs to revalidate. However, all registrants and stakeholders are recommended to keep up to date with our on-going work to develop revalidation proposals, through this website and the Gazette, so they know how our plans are developing.  

Will revalidation apply to all registrants?

At present we are working to further develop our proposals for the revalidation of dentists. We will be doing further work to determine our approach for DCPs.   

Will revalidation for dentists apply to those in primary and secondary care?

We are working to further develop proposals for revalidation for all dentists on the register. Our model of revalidation must be workable for all dentists and across all forms of practice and working environments. 

How are you working with other stakeholders to develop your proposals?

It is important that our proposals for revalidation are workable, proportionate and cost-effective. We will continue discussions with all our key stakeholders and we are committed to engaging with registrants and stakeholders at all key stages.

What was the outcome of the GDC’s recent revalidation for dentists consultation?

We received many constructive responses and we plan to issue a formal response to the consultation in the autumn.

How can registrants and other stakeholders contribute to the GDC’s thinking on revalidation?

We will be undertaking further research, consultation and engagement with registrants and stakeholders as our proposals develop further.    

When will the GDC know more about how revalidation for dentists will work?

Our plans for revalidation are in development and will continue to evolve. This means we are not yet able to answer all questions about how it will work.  We are committed to developing our proposals in the context of good research together with consultation and engagement with all key stakeholders. We will make more details available when they become known.