Chiropractors & Osteopaths
The GCC requires members to complete 30 annual CPD requirements each year as a condition of registration. These requirements are compulsory and legally binding. Chiropractors will need to keep records of how they have met the requirements and their learning cycles. All GCC members will need to complete a summary sheet each year.
The College of Chiropractors provides resources and support for CPD, including the provision of statutory postgraduate training on behalf of the General Chiropractic Council (GCC)
BCOM offers training events to support CPD but does not specify the number of CPD hours to complete.
The GOsC CPD scheme requires osteopaths to complete a three-year CPD cycle of 90 hours of CPD, which is primarily self-directed. This must comprise a minimum of 45 hours of CPD ‘learning with others’. (This CPD should be undertaken at regular intervals throughout the CPD period so, for example, 30 hours of CPD, including 15 hours learning with others per year).
Dentists
Regulator: The General Dental Council (GDC)
CPD is a compulsory part of registration with the GDC. Dentists are required to do 250 hours (with 75 hours verifiable CPD) over a five year period. The GDC requires all registrants to undertake CPD to maintain their registration, to maintain standards and patient protection. All professional development needs to be relevant to individual practice or intended practice.
The British Dental Association (BDA)
The BDA provides support for CPD. For example through its CPD Planner, which helps individuals plan and assess their learning needs and record their CPD activities. They also have a CPD hub to help members with resources to complete their CPD.
The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN)
The BADN follows the CPD guidelines set by the General Dental Council (GDC) regarding CPD requirements and expectations. The BADN website lists CPD events and resources on their CPD page to support members.
British Dental Industry Association (BDIA)
The BDIA follows the guidelines set by the General Dental Council (GDC) regarding CPD requirements and all other guidance. BDIA provides a general code of practice that outlines what members can expect in terms of CPD.
Doctors
Regulator: General Medical Council (GMC)
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Regulator: General Medical Council (GMC)
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General Practitioners
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Gynaecologists & Obstetricians
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Midwives
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Nurses
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Optometrists
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Paediatricians
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Pathologists
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Pharmacists
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Physicians
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Physiotherapists
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Prosthetic & Orthotic Practitioners
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Psychologists
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Psychiatrists
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Radiologists
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Surgeons
Regulator: General Medical Council (GMC)
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Regulator: General Medical Council (GMC)
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Urologists
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X-Ray Technicians
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ENT Doctors/Audiologists
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Other
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CPD in the Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Industry
All about CPD requirements in the Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Industry
In the realm of Healthcare & Pharmaceutical, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the bedrock of excellence and patient care. This field is characterized by constant advancements in medical knowledge, technologies, and treatment options. Healthcare professionals, from doctors and nurses to pharmacists and researchers, must continually update their skills and knowledge to provide the highest standard of care and contribute to medical progress.
CPD accreditation in the Healthcare & Pharmaceutical industry has thus become a significant marker of excellence. CPD is more than a requirement; it's a commitment to the well-being of patients. It ensures healthcare practitioners stay current with the latest medical breakthroughs, treatment protocols, and patient care standards. By engaging in CPD, professionals can make informed
decisions, implement cutting-edge treatments, and maintain the highest ethical and safety standards.
Moreover, CPD in the Healthcare & Pharmaceutical industry goes hand in hand with patient trust. Patients expect their healthcare providers to be up-to-date and competent, and CPD is the vehicle that delivers on this expectation. In an ever-evolving field, CPD is the lifeline that safeguards not only individual careers but also the health and well-being of patients.
CPD is the cornerstone of healthcare excellence, enabling professionals to stay current, provide top-notch patient care, and earn patient trust in a field where knowledge and
expertise are paramount.
The CPD Requirements
From The Professional Bodies, Associations, and Institutes for Practitioners in the Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Industry
Chiropractors & Osteopaths
The GCC requires members to complete 30 annual CPD requirements each year as a condition of registration. These requirements are compulsory and legally binding. Chiropractors will need to keep records of how they have met the requirements and their learning cycles. All GCC members will need to complete a summary sheet each year.
The College of Chiropractors provides resources and support for CPD, including the provision of statutory postgraduate training on behalf of the General Chiropractic Council (GCC)
BCOM offers training events to support CPD but does not specify the number of CPD hours to complete.
The GOsC CPD scheme requires osteopaths to complete a three-year CPD cycle of 90 hours of CPD, which is primarily self-directed. This must comprise a minimum of 45 hours of CPD ‘learning with others’. (This CPD should be undertaken at regular intervals throughout the CPD period so, for example, 30 hours of CPD, including 15 hours learning with others per year).
Dentists
CPD is a compulsory part of registration with the GDC. Dentists are required to do 250 hours (with 75 hours verifiable CPD) over a five year period. The GDC requires all registrants to undertake CPD to maintain their registration, to maintain standards and patient protection. All professional development needs to be relevant to individual practice or intended practice.
The BDA provides support for CPD. For example through its CPD Planner, which helps individuals plan and assess their learning needs and record their CPD activities. They also have a CPD hub to help members with resources to complete their CPD.
The BADN follows the CPD guidelines set by the General Dental Council (GDC) regarding CPD requirements and expectations. The BADN website lists CPD events and resources on their CPD page to support members.
The BDIA follows the guidelines set by the General Dental Council (GDC) regarding CPD requirements and all other guidance. BDIA provides a general code of practice that outlines what members can expect in terms of CPD.
Doctors
The GMC stipulates that its members are responsible to do enough appropriate CPD to remain up to date and fit to practice in work and to be able to demonstrate this at appraisals, but do provide guidance. Most medical royal colleges and faculties have developed CPD schemes or guidance to support doctors in maintaining and developing their professional standards in their specialty. The colleges and faculties require doctors participating in these schemes to obtain a specified number of CPD credits over five years.
CNHC registrants who are registered for only one discipline must complete a minimum of 15 hours CPD each year, of which 10 hours must be directly relevant to the discipline for which they are registered. The other 5 hours may be more general learning to support their overall development as professional practitioners.
The HCPC has 5 standards that all members must meet. If a registrant cannot prove they have kept up their CPD, they may be removed from the Register. The 5 standards are: maintain a continuous up-to-date record, demonstrate a variety of learning, assurance that CPD has contributed to the quality of practice, seek to ensure that CPD benefits the service user and upon request be able to provide a written profile to show commitment to CPD.
Regulator: Royal College of Anaestheticts (RCoA)
The College recommends that doctors should complete a minimum of 50 hours of CPD per year, but most doctors exceed this. Of the 50 hours per year, the RCOA recommends that a minimum of 20 hours per year should be completed in each of external and internal activities.
The RCEM follows the GMC guidelines for CPD. Historically RCEM, together with other Colleges and Faculties, considered an average of 50 hours (50 CPD credits) of relevant CPD per year, or 250 hours over 5 years, to be the recommended minimum requirement for emergency physicians.
FOM members no longer need to attain a set number of CPD points over a year or during the revalidation cycle. Instead, doctors simply need to demonstrate to their appraiser that they are undertaking CPD relevant to their scope of practice and their Personal Development Plan (PDP), and reflecting on how it has influenced their practice.
FPH members must undertake at least 50 credits of CPD each year, at least 25 of which must be linked to their PDP. All credits claimed must be supported by a reflective note, and a maximum of 5 credits may be claimed in any one reflective note. A minimum of 40 credits must be supported by a reflective note that is assessed to be ‘satisfactory’ or ‘good’.
The College of Paramedics supports the HCPC CPD guidelines and provides CPD principles and resources. Their CPD Hub, which is free to members, is a fast-growing resource of contemporary learning, with over 250 videos featuring a wide range of speakers and key topics for paramedic practice and development.
FMLM is responsible for the quality assurance and awarding of CPD credits to learning activities in medical leadership and management that meet the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ guidance for CPD. A clinician in a full-time leadership role would be expected to achieve a minimum of 50 CPD credits every year.
All FSRH members are required to recertify each year. No hours are specified but CPD must be undertaken to be able to recertify. They provide lots of CPD resources on their website to help members meet requirements.
FSEM Physicians’ credit requirements are a minimum of 50 educational credits in any one year, of which 25 must be External. No more than 10 of the 50 credits can be Personal. There is no minimum requirement for Internal CPD.
Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (FFLM)
The FFLM was established to promote the advancement of education and knowledge in the field of legal and forensic medicine. It provides professional development resources and supports the GMC's CPD revalidation and appraisal system.
General Practitioners
The RGCP requires members to undertake CPD each year covering a broad range of general practice topics over 5 years. All credits are self assessed and verified at appraisal. The ROGP recommend creating a Personal Development Plan (PDP) to set a learning agenda including the CPD members intend to take for the coming year. PDP's should promote reflective practice, learning by examining what each individual does in their practice.
BMA is the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK. The BMA has a section on their website which lists CPD events and webinars to attend.
In order to remain on the register, all CNHC registered practitioners are required to participate in CPD. CNHC registrants who are registered for only one discipline must complete a minimum of 15 hours CPD each year, of which 10 hours must be directly relevant to the discipline for which they are registered. The other 5 hours may be more general learning to support their overall development as a professional practitioner. Multi-disciplinary registrants must complete at least 10 hours CPD directly related to each discipline for which they are registered and another 5 hours of general learning.
Gynaecologists & Obstetricians
RCOG members are required to achieve 250 CPD credits over a 5 year period, undertaking a minimum of 50 credits per year. Participants are required to attach evidence for some of their CPD activities in their ePortfolio. The programme requires members to stay up to date in their current areas of practice and develop the areas in which members would like to progress.
Midwives
As a condition of professional registration at the NMC, all Nurses and Midwives must undertake their annual 35 CPD hours of learning relevant to their practice every 3 years. Each member should document each learning activity undertaken in the three years prior to renewing their registration. The NMC audits compliance with the Prep (CPD) standard.
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) provides courses and events to support the NMC's CPD policy.
The ARM's mission is to provide support, information, leadership and practical assistance for midwives, student midwives and others so that maternity services are woman-centred, compassionate and human-scaled. As a charity they do not have a different CPD policy to the NMC.
Nurses
As a condition of professional registration, all Nurses and Midwives at the NMC must undertake their annual 35 CPD hours of learning relevant to their practice every 3 years. Each member should document each learning activity undertaken in the three years prior to renewing their registration. The NMC audits compliance with the Prep (CPD) standard.
The RCN requires all members to undertake CPD hours per year. This needs to be relevant to their scope of practice as a nurse or midwife over the three years in line with their revalidation date.
The purpose of BANCC is to provide a forum for communication, professional development and national representation for all nurses in the UK who are involved in the care of cardiovascular patients. The BANCC supports the NMC CPD policy.
Optometrists
As a condition of registration at the GOC, dispensing opticians and optometrists need to achieve "36 CET points", known as continuing education and training rather than CPD per annum. Practitioners on a specialist register need additional points. Different activities merit different points.
The RCOPHTH's CPD scheme follows a 5 year cycle of CPD activity and a specific number of credits that need to be accumulated. Individuals are expected to tailor their CPD activity to meet the objectives of their PDPs.
The College of Optometrists offers resources and a voluntary online scheme to promote professional development in the profession, but does not stipulate the amount of hours.
Paediatricians
The RCPCH's CPD output scheme provides a framework to assess educational needs and to identify and plan appropriate learning activities on a continuous basis. The scheme is consistent with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges CPD guidance. It helps ensure members are meeting GMC requirements for revalidation and CPD, and covers clinical and non-clinical topics.
At BAPS, all surgeons in non-training grades who have a licence to practice and wish to remain on the GMC register must participate in CPD activities to meet the requirements of revalidation. The GMC will require documented proof of CPD as an essential part of successful appraisal and revalidation.
Pathologists
The College offers a CPD scheme which provides a framework by which pathologists maintain their knowledge and skills. The scheme provides access to an easy-to-use system for storing and cataloguing all the activities pathologists undertake to improve and enhance their practice, providing a tool for use for appraisals and in order to revalidate. Professionals must achieve 250 credits over a 5 year period, with a minimum of 50 credits per annum.
Pharmacists
As a condition of registration a the General Pharmaceutical Council, registrants must keep a record of planned and unplanned CPD and submit upon request, formatting at least 9 CPD entries per year. This needs to reflect the context and scope of the registrant’s practice, and record how their CPD has contributed to the quality or development of their practice using the Council’s CPD framework.
Revalidation at the RPS is the educational assurance framework for pharmacists and registered pharmacy technicians that requires the annual submission of CPD records, covering activities from the last 12 months.
At the NPA, it is a mandatory requirement for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to complete a minimum of 9 CPD entries per year to remain on the General Pharmaceutical Council's (GPhC) register.
The FMP provides support for Pharmaceutical Physicians undertaking CPD regardless of whether or not they are undertaking re-validation and whether they are members of the Faculty. To assist Faculty members in the recording of their CPD, the Faculty encourages all its members to register for the PReP system.
Physicians
All physicians who are registered with the RCP to use the online CPD diary scheme are required to complete minimum of 50 CPD credits per year. The CPD diary runs on an annual cycle, from 1 April to 31 March, and the college provides a wealth of CPD courses and resources.
The Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK (Edinburgh, Glasgow and London) provides Members, Fellows, and all other registered post-training physicians with an online CPD Diary. This helps members to maintain a personal and validated record of their CPD activities on an annual basis, where they are expected to achieve 50 CPD credits per annum.
All Fellows and Members at the RCPSG have free access to the online CPD diary offered by the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK as part of its CPD scheme for all post-training physicians. The CPD diary helps members to maintain a personal and validated record of their CPD activities on an annual basis. All their events are CPD-approved.
Physiotherapists
Members are expected to undertake regular CPD, and record their portfolio with the tools provided.
CPD is a requirement of professional membership of APCP, with 30 hours of CPD expected As a member of APCP, members must participate in a minimum of ONE APCP training event per annum and demonstrate that they have engaged in the minimum recommended CPD hours if they are practicing in the field of counselling or if they are training or recognized as a practitioner in Psychotherapy.
The ACPRC is the professional network of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists. Each year, the ACPRC publish the only journal dedicated to Respiratory Physiotherapy, a Respiratory Review and a monthly e-Newsletter with all of the latest updates in Respiratory Care. The committee also deliver a wide range of short courses, educational support, a bi-annual conference and support members with a wide range of general enquiries. However, they do not advise on the number of hours required per annum.
Prosthetic & Orthotic Practitioners
The BAPO was established to encourage high standards of prosthetic and orthotic practice. It is committed to CPD and education to enhance standards of prosthetic and orthotic care.
The BSSPD hosts webinars that are delivered by key speakers and opinion leaders in all areas of prosthodontics which are all verifiable CPD. This provides good revision opportunities as well as the chance to keep up to date with current techniques and dilemmas in prosthodontics and restorative dentistry.
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists aligned to RCPSYCH must undertake 50 annual CPD hours of peer group-approved educational activity, over a rolling 5-year period.
The WPA is an association of national psychiatric societies aimed to increase the knowledge and skills necessary for work in the field of mental health and the care for the mentally ill. The association promotes education and lifelong learning but does not have a formal CPD policy.
Psychologists
The BPS recommends that members undertake 1/2 to 1 day of CPD a month. The Health and Care Professions Council by law requires psychologists registered with the HPC to keep a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of a variety of CPD activities. These activities must contribute to the quality of their practice and service delivery.
Professional practitioners should continually seek learning experiences to maintain, improve and broaden their competence, knowledge and skills, ensuring they can practice safely, effectively and legally within an evolving scope of practice. Registered members are expected to undertake 30 hours of CPD a year.
AEP follow the Health Care Professions Counsel (HCPC) guidelines for CPD. They recommend keeping any records or certificates of attendance for CPD courses attended as well as a copy of the handouts or notes.
Radiologists
The RCR requires all members and Fellows to complete the General Medical Counsel's (GMC) annual CPD requirements of 250 credits over a 5 year period. Individuals must record their CPD activity for performance appraisal and revalidation.
The BIR provides an education programme open to health professionals to assist with their CPD, and includes a variety of online activities. Members undertaking any BIR educational activity are encouraged to reflect upon the learning undertaken, identify the benefits they have gained in relation to their professional development objectives, and use this self-reflection towards the CPD requirements of their professional and regulatory bodies.
The SoR supports the GMC and HCPC's CPD policies. To assist members with recording CPD, the Society offers an online CPD Now tool which enables easy planning and recording of CPD activities.
Surgeons
All Surgeons must be registered with the regulator - the General Medical Council (GMC) - who expect CPD to be undertaken over a 5 year revalidation cycle. Each individual must accrue 50 hours of CPD per annum, and at least 250 hours over the course of the revalidation cycle. These hours should cover clinical, academic and professional (including mangerial) topics.
Pediatric surgeons must take additional exams and training in order to qualify, however they are still subject to the General Medical Counsel's (GMC) CPD requirements for surgeons.
ASGBI is an association representing general surgery and all its related specialties throughout the UK and Ireland.
The BIDST has been established for over 70 years and exists to provide a vehicle for the continuing education of technicians within the spheres of dental and surgical technology. It supports the GMC, and General Dental Councils CPD policies.
The RCSENG supports the GMC's CPD policy and provides a range of resources and events suitable for Surgeons CPD.
The RCSED also supports the General Medical Counsel's (GMC) CPD policy, and the college delivers various courses, events and education programmes in technical and non-technical subjects appropriate for surgeons CPD.
All of the College's events are CPD-approved and continually strive to offer an improved CPD service. Fellows and Members have free access to the Surgeon's portfolio. This enables all Surgeons to record all of their professional development activities.
Urologists
BAUS has issued a document which sets out the principles of CPD, and references the GMC (General Medical Council) guidelines. The Association has CPD requirements set out for Urologists, this can be found on their website.
The aim of BSUG is to maintain and raise the standards in Urogynaecology and assist in producing clinical guidelines and standards. The Society helps its members with education, audit and advice.
X-Ray Technicians
All Radiologists who have a license to practice and wish to remain on the General Medical Counsel's (GMC) register are required to provide documentation that they are participating in CPD to keep up to date for revalidation. The RCR provide a CPD record for Members and Fellows to keep a log of their CPD activities.
The Society of Radiographers is the trade union and professional body for the diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy workforce in the UK.
ENT Doctors/Audiologists
BSHAA members can access a range of CPD activities throughout the year, and strongly recommend being committed to CPD. Members can use the online CPD portal to record professional development activities and reflections.
The BAA follows the CPD guidelines from the Science Council. They aim to help their members to develop in their professional skills, provide a benchmark for quality and professional standards and promote audiology as an autonomous profession.
Other
AFPP undertake vital work to support theatre staff working in the NHS and private hospitals. Their goal is simple – to improve and enhance the safety of all patients who have operations in the UK. The AFPP provides an online CPD tool which helps to keep track and up to date.
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