Appraisal year
How the Appraisal year is calculated for doctors appraisals
NHS England manages the appraisal and revalidation process for doctors in England. Doctors would normally expect to have one appraisal in each appraisal year.An appraisal year runs from 1st April to 31st March.
For example:
- An appraisal meeting on 4 June 2026 falls in the 2026/27 appraisal year.
- An appraisal meeting on 4 February 2026 falls in the 2025/26 appraisal year.
What period does my appraisal cover?
Your appraisal year is not the same as the period of work you are reflecting on.Your appraisal will usually cover the period since your previous appraisal meeting.
For example, if your last appraisal meeting was on 4 June 2025 and your next appraisal is on 4 June 2026, you would normally reflect on your work and supporting information from 5 June 2025 onwards.
This means your supporting information can span parts of two different appraisal years - that's completely normal.
Exceptions
There can be circumstances where you don't have an appraisal in a particular appraisal year, or where an appraisal takes place late but is still treated as part of the previous appraisal cycle. If you find yourself in or you anticipate circumstances like this or you are not sure you should speak to your Responsible Officer (RO) or appraisal team.Updated 12 October 2026
