Continuing professional development (CPD) – a continuing learning process that enables doctors to maintain and improve their performance across all areas of their professional work – is a key part of revalidation.
The RCP provides physicians with the following resources.
- The RCP’s guidance for physicians on supporting information for revalidation, which details the CPD requirements.
- The Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians’ CPD diary, which includes a page summarising your annual activity.
We recommend that you include a wide variety of CPD and ensure that a balance of different types of educational activity is maintained.
About your CPD
CPD may be clinical (including any specialty requirements) or non-clinical (including training for educational supervision, training for management or academic training). Your CPD activity should cover all aspects of your professional work and should include activity that covers your agreed PDP objectives.
We recommend that you include a wide variety of CPD and ensure that a balance of different types of educational activity is maintained.
Documentation of CPD activity should include a reflection on the learning gained and the likely effect on your professional work. You should present a summary of your CPD activities through the year for your annual appraisal, together with a certificate from your college or faculty if applicable. For revalidation, a cumulative 5-year record of your CPD activity should be provided.
What are the CPD requirements?
You are required to undertake a minimum average of 50 hours of CPD per year, documented as 1-hour 'credits'. A minimum of 25 of these must be external (category 1) credits, where the learning takes place with others outside the place of employment.
Other CPD activities should also be undertaken, and may include:
- a record of 'open book' knowledge assessments related to e-learning or other knowledge assessments
- training, assessment or re-assessment of practical and other skills carried out at work
- evidence of compliance with employer mandatory training, but only if relevant to your professional work.
Please also see the GMC's guidance on CPD and the CPD guidance framework for appraisers and appraisees published by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.