CPD Requirements.
Continuing Professional Development is defined as anything from studying and reading journals to training courses and seminars which help advance your development as a dental professional.
Continuing Professional Development is a compulsory part of registering with the General Dental Council. CPD certification ensures that the dental team is properly trained to a high standard. It is also a way of making sure all members of the team update their knowledge and skills; giving patients confidence in dental treatment and care in the UK.
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- All dentists must complete and keep records of 250 hours of CPD over five years with a minimum of 75 hours verifiable CPD
- All dental nurses must complete and keep records of 150 hours of CPD over five years with a minimum of 50 hours verifiable CPD
- You must keep your CPD records for at least five years after the end of the period in which they were completed
- Dentists must maintain their own CPD records (The Deanery is not responsible for keeping dentists CPD records)
- Dentists must submit an annual statement of their completed CPD hours each year
- The GDC will monitor compliance by random sampling of dentists' CPD records
- Failure to comply with the requirements may lead to erasure from the Dentists Register
- All dentists taking time off the Register must demonstrate compliance with CPD when they re-apply
- From the start of a dentist’s second CPD cycle, the GDC is recommending that they carry out CPD in core recommended subjects
For CPD to be classed as verifiable, it must have concise educational aims and objectives, clear anticipated outcomes, quality controls, and documentary proof. Examples of verifiable CPD are:
- Publicly-funded courses organized by Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors
- Other courses including educational components of British Dental Association (BDA) and specialist society meetings; conferences and events approved or provided by such bodies as the BDA, the General Dental Practitioners Association (GDPA), the Royal Colleges, the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK) and members of the Council of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors
- Vocational Training or General Professional Training study days
- Interactive distance learning with verifiable outcomes
- Postgraduate courses leading to degrees and diplomas.
This list is not exhaustive. Some of you may already be involved in beneficial activity that is not listed. For further clarification, please contact us and we can give you advice.
The GDC recommends you complete a minimum number of verifiable hours per CPD cycle in three core subjects.
- Medical Emergencies (at least 10 hours per CPD cycle)
- Disinfection & Decontamination (at least 5 hours per CPD cycle)
- Radiography & Radiation protection (at least 5 hours per CPD cycle)
In addition, the General Dental Council (GDC) recommends that dental professionals working in a clinical environment carry out CPD (verifiable or general) to make sure they are up to date in Legal and Ethical Issues, Handling Complaints and Oral Cancer: Improving Early Detection.
The GDC also recommends the use of a Personal Development Plan (PDP) so that all members of the dental team benefit as much as possible from their CPD. For more information see the section on Dental Team Development or contact Terry Brown, Personal Development Plan tutor.
For more information on CPD, such as the dates when your CPD cycle starts or how to keep record of your CPD activity, go to the General Dental Council’s website www.gdc-org.uk.