CPD Is On The Way, Says General Dental Council, UK

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 09 Jun 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Continuing professional development for dental care professionals - CPD for DCPs - is almost here, the GDC reminds registrants.

The key date is 1 August 2008, when all DCPs should start gathering evidence that they are keeping up to date.

Under the GDC requirements, DCPs must complete at least 150 hours of CPD every five years. At least 50 of these hours need to be "verifiable" - be independently documented, quality controlled, and have a clear purpose and outcomes. DCPs should record all CPD hours they do - both verifiable and general - and keep certificates of activities they want to count towards their verifiable CPD.

CPD gained before 1 August 2008 cannot be counted towards the 150 hours.

DCPs should include a number of core areas in their verifiable CPD. The GDC recommends everyone covers medical emergencies, disinfection and decontamination, and radiography and radiation protection, except dental technicians who can substitute materials and equipment for radiography and radiation protection.

DCPs will need to submit a statement each year showing how many hours of CPD they have completed in the last twelve months. At the end of year five, the GDC will carry out an audit.

If you have any questions about CPD, visit http://www.gdc-uk.org (where there is a guidance booklet, frequently asked questions section and a sample CPD recording form) or call 0845 222 4141.

CPD requirements for dentists have been in place since 2002. Dentists need to submit a statement each year showing how many hours of CPD they have completed in the last twelve months. At the end of year five, the GDC carries out an audit.

General Dental Council