To help dental care professionals (DCPs) prepare for the introduction of compulsory continuing professional development (CPD), the GDC has produced guidance on the requirements.

From 1 August 2008 all DCPs will need to start documenting their CPD. They will be required to complete and record a minimum of 150 hours of CPD every five-year cycle, 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 will be able to substitute radiography and radiation protection for materials and equipment (5 hours per cycle).

Further details are available in the booklet, ‘Continuing professional development for dental care professionals’, which is being sent to all DCPs currently registered with the GDC. It is also available on this website.

The GDC is currently consulting on the content of the procedural rules on CPD for DCPs. The consultation document is available on this website. The closing date for responses is 16 May 2008.

Ends

For media enquiries, please contact Rachel Lea on 020 7009 2782 or rlea@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.