The Bottom Line
- Plan your break with your RO/appraiser early (where possible).
- Deferral is generally neutral: your licence continues while you gather the required evidence/time.
- Move appraisal earlier if helpful and use it to plan the return-to-practice pathway.
- Keep CPD going lightly during the break (a small, coherent plan beats nothing).
Breaks happen for many reasons—training transitions, immigration logistics, family reasons, burnout recovery, research fellowships. The aim is not to ‘game revalidation’; it’s to prevent your admin from becoming a second job.
Pre-break checklist (do this early)
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1) Inform your RO / appraisal team
Tell them the dates and likely scope changes. They can advise whether to bring appraisal forward and what evidence to prioritise.
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2) Clarify your ‘whole scope’ before you pause
If you are stopping one role but continuing another (eg private work, research, remote teaching), state it clearly.
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3) Keep a lightweight CPD plan
One theme per month, one activity per theme, one reflection per activity. This keeps you current without overcommitting.
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4) Re-entry: document what changed
If your scope changes on return (new specialty, new system, new supervision), capture onboarding/induction learning as CPD with a short reflection.
Deferral in one line
Deferral is commonly described as a neutral act used when more time is needed to demonstrate continued competence; your existing licence continues while the timeline adjusts.
SourceAsk iatroX: save an RO/appraisal email plan as your CPD ‘need → action’ trail.
Open Link SourceRCGP: Deferrals and breaks from practice (planning guidance).
Open Link SourceRCGP: Appraisal & revalidation mythbusters (deferral explained).
Open Link