Continuous Professional Development

 

Recertification: Lifelong Learning

Background

The introduction of mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) has been largely welcomed by the dental profession. It has been strongly promoted by the Government and is supported by the leading dental organisations. By requiring all dentists to keep their knowledge and skills up-to-date throughout their careers, Lifelong Learning offers both greater protection for the public and increased professional satisfaction for dentists.

Recertification will ensure that all dentists update their knowledge and acquire new skills in order to benefit their patients and also enhance the quality of their own professional lives.

For full details please see the GDC Web Site: http://www.gdc-uk.org

 

The Key Facts

 

  • All dentists must complete 250 hours of CPD every five-years to remain on the UK Dentists Register
  • Dentists must maintain their own CPD records (the deanery is not responsible for keeping dentists CPD records)
  • Dentists must submit an annual statement of the CPD hours they have completed each year
  • The GDC will monitor compliance with the requirements by random sampling of dentists' CPD records
  • Failure to comply with the requirements may lead to erasure from the Dentists Register
  • All dentists taking time off the Register must demonstrate compliance with CPD when they apply to restore.
  • From the start of a dentists second CPD cycle the GDC is recommending that they carry out CPD in core recommended subjects.

 

Verifiable CPD

 

  • Publicly-funded courses organised by Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors
  • Other courses including educational components of BDA and specialist society meetings; conferences and events approved or provided by such bodies as the BDA, GDPA, the Royal Colleges, the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK) and members of the Council of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors
  • Vocational Training or General Professional Training study days
  • Interactive distance learning with verifiable outcomes
  • Postgraduate courses leading to degrees and diplomas.

The list is not intended to be exhaustive and some dentists may already be involved in beneficial activity that is not listed. Local CPD tutors should be consulted for further information and clarification.

 

Recommended Core Subjects

The GDC is recommending that all dentists carry out verifiable CPD in three core recommended subjects from the beginning of their next CPD cycle.

The recommended core subjects and suggested minimum number of verifiable hours per CPD cycle that dentists should spend on them are:

 

  • Medical Emergencies (at least 10 hours per CPD cycle)
  • Disinfection & Decontamination (at least 5 hours per CPD cycle)
  • Radiography & 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 they are up to date in:

 

  • Legal and Ethical Issues
  • Handling Complaints

The GDC is also recommending that all dentists use a Personal Development Plan (PDP) so that patients and dentists themselves benefit as much as possible from their CPD (please see staff directory for our PDP Tutor contact details).