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Enhanced CPD for DCP’s

All dental care professionals (DCPs) will be now required to move to Enhanced CPD on 1 August 2018 to maintain their General Dental Council (GDC) registration.

For those professionals who reach the end of their five-year CPD cycle this year, the new cycle will be started on the Enhanced CPD scheme.

Why the changes?

After consultation with dental professionals about developing a new enhanced continuing professional development (ECPD) system, a plea was heard for CPD to achieve much more than it has in recent years. This included recognising the importance of professionals driving their own development and learning. We listened to what registrants felt would be a good fit for their developmental needs and applied this to how we formulated ECPD.

What are the main changes being introduced?

Central to the new system is the introduction of a Personal Development Plan (PDP). This is designed to help professionals plan and record their CPD activities, and their associated GDC developmental outcomes. It also aims to provide a framework for professionals to reflect on their learning and how it applies to their work.

The move to the new system will also mean important changes to the number of hours and types of development activities that can be undertaken. For some registrant types, there will be an increase in the number of verifiable hours. For all registrant types, there is a requirement to spread these hours more evenly over the five-year cycle.

From 1 August, the Enhanced CPD requirements will be 75 hours of verifiable CPD for dental therapists, dental hygienists, orthodontic therapists and clinical dental technicians and 50 hours of verifiable CPD for dental nurses and dental technicians.

There is now a requirement to make an annual statement of CPD hours completed, even if zero hours have been completed for that year, but non-verifiable CPD no longer has to be declared.

What if I’m not at the end of my CPD cycle?

As previously mentioned, around 50% of all DCPs will reach the end of their five-year CPD cycle this year and will start a new cycle on the Enhanced CPD scheme. Others, who are mid-cycle, will need to complete CPD based on both the 2008 and the Enhanced CPD schemes. A pro rata hour-based approach is being applied to those in transition.

Specific information has been created for those transitioning to Enhanced CPD, including a transition tool to help you calculate your required hours.

When their current CPD cycle ends, the next cycle will be solely based on Enhanced CPD.

What if I need further help?

As Enhanced CPD requires significant changes to the way you plan, do, reflect and record CPD, we want to support you as much as we can. You will find plenty of resources to help you including detailed guidance, a PDP plan template, an activity log template and plenty of examples in the Enhanced CPD section of our website.

If more information is needed, there is an extensive list of FAQs on Enhanced CPD available on our website.

Please remember, it is the responsibility of all DCPs to calculate CPD in line with the new Enhanced CPD requirements. You can use your eGDC account to see a personalised hours calculation for your cycle. You will need your ID verification code to use eGDC, this can be found on all correspondence from us. A request for your ID verification code can be made when signing up to eGDC.

Visit eGDC for further information or to sign up.

What do I need to remember about Enhanced CPD?
Please remember the requirements of Enhanced CPD from 1 August, you will need to:

  • Meet the hourly requirements.
  • Do it regularly, at least 10 hours every two years.
  • Keep a personal development plan.
  • Keep a record of CPD completed.
  • Make an annual statement.

And, please visit our website if you need further guidance or support