New guidance for dentists on continuing professional development (CPD) has been published by the General Dental Council (GDC). The guidance, revised to include recommendations on core subjects for dentists’ CPD, will be distributed to all dentists this week.
‘Continuing professional development for dentists’ explains what dentists need to do to meet the requirements of the GDC’s compulsory CPD scheme. The GDC is recommending that all dentists carry out verifiable CPD in the following core subjects from the beginning of their next CPD cycle:
- medical emergencies (at least 10 hours per CPD cycle),
- disinfection and decontamination (at least 5 hours per CPD cycle), and
- radiography and radiation protection (at least 5 hours per CPD cycle).
In addition, the GDC recommends that dentists working in a clinical environment carry out CPD (verifiable or general) to make sure that they are up to date in:
- legal and ethical issues, and
- handling complaints.
GDC President Hew Mathewson said:
“Thanks to the new guidance, it will be clear to dentists how to make use of the core recommended subjects within their CPD framework. These core subjects are fundamental to good practice and are areas on which any dentist should be competent.
“It is vital that dental professionals plan their CPD so that it provides the maximum benefit to their patients and their own professional development.”
Dentists should start incorporating these core subjects into their CPD when they begin their second CPD cycle (see table below). Those who are not yet registered with the GDC as a dentist, or who first registered with us in 2006, should incorporate these core subjects into their CPD from the beginning of their first CPD cycle, which will begin on 1 January in the year following the year in which they first register (i.e. a dentist who registered with us in 2006 will begin their first CPD cycle on 1 January 2007).
The GDC’s new CPD guidance is available from the GDC website (www.gdc-uk.org) or by contacting the GDC on 0207 887 3800.
Ends
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Notes to Editors
1. The Council consulted on proposals to enhance the dentist CPD scheme from January to March 2006. The key proposal was that all dentists should undertake CPD in core areas, including medical emergencies, disinfection and decontamination, radiography and radiation protection, legal and ethical issues, and handling complaints. Comments were also invited on the current CPD hours requirement, the split of verifiable and non-verifiable CPD hours, and the suitability of the current CPD scheme for dental care professional (DCP) groups. Further information about this consultation is available on the GDC website at http://www.gdc-uk.org/News+publications+and+events/Consultations/Closed+consultations/Revalidation+consultation.htm
2. 2nd CPD cycle start dates:
| Date of first registration |
Start-date of 2nd CPD cycle |
| Between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2001 and on the Register at 31/12/01 |
1 January 2007 |
| Between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2001 but not on the Register at 31/12/01 |
1 January 2008 |
| Between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1989 |
1 January 2008 |
| On or before 31 December 1979 |
1 January 2009 |
| 2002 |
1 January 2008 |
| 2003 |
1 January 2009 |
| 2004 |
1 January 2010
|
| 2005 |
1 January 2011 |
3. Every dentist must carry out CPD by law to keep his or her name on the UK Dentists Register. They must do and keep records of, 250 hours of CPD over every five-year cycle. At least 75 of the 250 hours must be verifiable CPD; the rest can be general CPD. If dentists do not meet the legal requirements of CPD, they risk being taken off the Dentists Register. More information about CPD requirements for dentists is available on the GDC website at http://www.gdc-uk.org/Current+registrant/CPD+requirements/
4. CPD is defined as “study, training courses, seminars, reading and other activities under taken by a dentist, which could reasonably be expected to advance his or her professional development as a dentist.”
5. The GDC recommends that all dentists use a personal development plan. This organisational tool will enable both patients and dentists to benefit as much as possible from CPD.
6. The GDC monitors compliance with the CPD scheme by undertaking random sampling of dentists’ CPD records after the completion of a five-year cycle. At the end of this year the GDC will conduct its first CPD audit. A number of dentists whose annual declarations show that they have met the requirements of the CPD scheme will be selected at random to take part in the audit. Those selected will need to send in all their records.
7. All dental professionals are expected to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. The GDC plans to introduce a formal CPD scheme for dental care professionals in 2008, when registration is compulsory for all groups.