The GDC will be introducing compulsory continuing professional development (CPD) for all dental care professionals (DCPs) on 1 August 2008.

The introduction of compulsory CPD is in line with the GDC’s Standards Guidance which sets out the principles that all registered dental professionals should follow – this includes the maintenance of their professional knowledge and competence. CPD for dental care professionals is also an important first step in the planned introduction of revalidation, which will mean that all members of the dental team have to regularly show that they are still fit to be on our registers.

Under the requirements of the CPD scheme all dental care professionals will complete and record 150 hours of CPD every five years, a third of which should be verifiable CPD (50 hours). This should include verifiable CPD in the following core subjects:

• medical emergencies (10 hours per cycle)
• disinfection and decontamination (5 hours per cycle)
• radiography and radiation protection (5 hours per cycle)

Dental technicians may substitute radiography and radiation protection for materials and equipment (5 hours per cycle) as radiography is not within the dental technician curriculum.

In line with the dentists’ CPD scheme, we recommend that DCPs involved in the care of patients should undertake CPD in legal and ethical issues and complaints handling.

There are many ways for dental care professionals to complete CPD, ranging from team training, attendance at courses and lectures, to reading journals and private study.

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive and Registrar, said:

“Compulsory CPD maintains public confidence in the Dentists and Dental Care Professionals Registers by showing that dentists and registered dental care professionals keep up to date so that they can give their patients a good standard of care.

With only ten months to go until CPD becomes compulsory for all dental care professionals we would like to see greater availability of training courses in this area.”

The GDC will producing guidance for dental care professionals on the CPD requirements. This will be sent to all registered DCPs in the new year. Further information about CPD for DCPs is available on the GDC website.

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For media enquiries, please contact Jodie Ward on 020 7009 2746 or jward@gdc-uk.org.

Notes to editors:

1. CPD is defined as “study, training courses, seminars, reading and other activities under taken by a dental professional, which could reasonably be expected to advance his or her professional development as a dental professional.”

2. Verifiable CPD means the activity must have:

• concise educational aims and objectives – a clear purpose or goal;
• clear anticipated outcomes – you should know what you can expect to gain as a result of taking part in the activity;
• quality controls – you should have the chance to give feedback; and
• documentary proof (e.g. a certificate) – to prove that you took part in the activity.

3. From 31 July 2008 all dental nurses and dental technicians must be registered with the GDC to work in the UK. The GDC is encouraging dental nurses and technicians to join the register during the two-year transition period, which will enable dental nurses and technicians who have been working in their role for a number of years to join the register on the basis of validated experience.  Dental nurses and technicians joining the register after 30 July 2008 will need to have a GDC-recognised qualification.