Enhanced CPD scheme 2018
The Enhanced CPD Scheme 2018 was introduced on 1 January 2018 for dentists and 1 August 2018 for dental care professionals (DCPs). Please take the time to read and become familiar with the requirements of the Enhanced CPD Scheme.
Please find the Guidance and the rules for the scheme below. The Guidance includes our definition of verifiable CPD.
Enhanced CPD Scheme 2018 Guidance (updated: 30 May 2018)
The GDC (CPD) (Dentists and DCPs) Rules Order of Council 2017
How many CPD hours do dentists need to complete?
Under the Enhanced CPD Scheme 2018 dentists need to complete a minimum of 100 hours of verifiable CPD every five years. You must also ensure that you complete at least 10 hours of verifiable CPD during any two-year period.
How many CPD hours do dental care professionals (DCPs) need to complete?
Under the Enhanced CPD Scheme 2018 dental nurses and dental technicians need to complete a minimum of 50 hours of verifiable CPD every five years. Dental therapists, dental hygienists, orthodontic therapists and clinical dental technicians need to complete a minimum of 75 hours of verifiable CPD. You must also ensure that you complete at least 10 hours of verifiable CPD during any two-year period.
Spread your hours across your CPD cycle
As a dental professional, you will need to complete a minimum of 10 hours of verifiable CPD every two consecutive years. You can go a year without completing any CPD, but if this is the case, you need to complete 10 hours of CPD in either the previous year, or the year that follows.
Even if you have not completed any CPD hours in any given year, you still need to make an annual CPD statement. In these circumstances, please submit a zero hours CPD statement.
How do I record and submit my CPD?
Visit the relevant page for information on recording and submitting your CPD.
Enhanced CPD Scheme 2018 supporting documents
You will find below a number of sample documents and templates developed to help you to meet the new requirements of the Enhanced CPD Scheme 2018.
You will need to keep a log of all verifiable CPD undertaken. We have developed an activity log template that covers the minimum requirements to help you.
You will need to produce a personal development plan (PDP). We have developed a PDP template that covers the minimum requirements. We have also produced PDP examples to show how to utilise your PDP depending on your title, roles and the patients you see.
To demonstrate that your CPD activity was verifiable, you will need to retain a CPD certificate that meets the requirements of the Scheme. We have produced a sample CPD certificate to demonstrate the requirements. CPD course providers can also use this sample as guidance for developing their own certificates. (Please note that verifiable CPD completed under the CPD Scheme 2008-2017 will continue to be accepted for CPD completed before 2018, but the record requirements for verifiable CPD differ. See the CPD Scheme 2008-2017 Guidance for further information.)
For CPD to count as verifiable, it must comply with our verifiable CPD requirements. If your foundation or vocational provider, or your CPD provider, is unable to provide certificated evidence, in line with the requirements for verifiable CPD, you might be able to use the verifiable CPD mapping document.
Main changes introduced by the Enhanced CPD Scheme 2018
The Enhanced CPD Scheme was introduced in 2018 for all dental professionals. The main changes introduced were:
- The need to have a personal development plan (PDP).
- An increase in the number of verifiable hours for most professional titles, and the requirements to spread the hours across the five-year CPD cycle (see above).
- Removal of the need to declare non-verifiable CPD, although you are encouraged to continue to engage with non-verifiable CPD (e.g. reading a journal relevant to your field of practice) if it contributes to your PDP.
- The need to make an annual statement of CPD hours completed, even if you have not completed any CPD during the year (i.e. you need to make a zero hours statement).
- The need to align CPD activity with a GDC development or learning outcome(s) (see below).
- The need to plan CPD activity according to your field(s) of practice.
Development outcomes
The four development outcomes encourage you to link your learning activity more closely to the standards for the dental team, and support you to embed the principles further in your working life. As stated in the CPD rules, you must link each of your planned and completed activities to at least one development outcome. CPD providers must also give an indication of the anticipated learning outcome(s) in the evidence they provide to participants.
Development outcomes | Example of CPD content |
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AEffective communication with patients, the dental team and others across dentistry, including when obtaining consent, dealing with complaints, and raising concerns when patients are at risk.
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BEffective management of self and effective management of others or effective work with others in the dental team, in the interests of patients, providing constructive leadership where appropriate. |
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CMaintenance and development of knowledge and skill within your field(s) of practice.
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DMaintenance of skills, behaviours and attitudes which maintain patient confidence in you and the dental profession and put patients’ interests first. |
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CPD enquiries
Further information on recording and submitting CPD is also available, along with recommended topics for CPD.
If you have any questions about the Enhanced CPD Scheme 2018, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below. Or, if your question is personal to your circumstances, please get in touch using the contact us form.
If your question is about transition, please check the section CPD cycles spanning both schemes. Please also note that your eGDC account will include personalised information on the number of CPD hours you will need to complete during your current CPD cycle.
Guidance for providers of CPD courses and activities
We have also created CPD Provider Guidance for providers of courses and activities.
Frequently asked questions
I haven’t completed the minimum number of CPD hours over my five-year cycle, can I have an extension?
Can my participation in clinical audit or peer review count as verifiable CPD?
Do I need to do any non-verifiable CPD?
What if I’m registered under more than one professional title?
Am I allowed to create or complete my own documentary evidence for the verifiable CPD I have completed?
I’m a CPD provider, do I need to change my certificates?
- The CPD subject, learning content, aims, and objectives.
- The anticipated GDC development outcome(s) of the CPD.
- The date that the CPD was undertaken.
- The total number of hours CPD undertaken.
- The name of the practitioner who participated in the CPD activity.
- Confirmation that the CPD provided has been quality assured, including the name of the person or body responsible for completing quality assurance.
- Confirmation that the information is complete and accurate.
- It should also include the participant’s registration number.