Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Doctors in the UK must complete ‘continuing professional development’ (CPD) throughout their careers. This helps improve patient safety and the quality of care.

To stay licensed, the General Medical Council (GMC) requires doctors to complete at least 250 hours of CPD every five years (average 50 hours a year). The specific CPD requirements depend on your medical specialty, and you can find more details on the Royal College websites.

CPD includes any learning outside of postgraduate training that helps you stay competent as a doctor. It covers skills, knowledge, and attitudes relevant to your work. CPD can be:

  • Formal learning (e.g., attending courses, regional teaching, giving lectures at seminars or conferences).
  • Informal learning (e.g., reading medical articles, reflecting on cases, teaching students informally, or shadowing a colleague).

 

You are responsible for identifying your CPD needs, planning how to meet them, and completing CPD to support your career. It’s important to reflect on what you learn and record it in an electronic portfolio (see our page on E-Portfolios for more details).

 

While CPD is important, it should not take over your life. You do not need to complete a vast number of CPD hours at the expense of time with family, friends, or hobbies. The goal of CPD is to keep you safe and up to date—not to cause burnout. Also, you don’t have to record every single learning activity.

Examples of CPD

Formal CPD

  • 🎓 Attending professional courses, seminars, conferences, and training events
  • 💻 Completing online learning (e-learning) with clear learning outcomes
  • 🗣️ Taking part in work-based teaching and seminars
  • 📝 Writing articles, reports, or guidelines for others
  • 📚 Studying for an academic course related to your role (e.g., a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education)
  • 👨‍🏫 Delivering formal teaching or training sessions with clear objectives

Informal CPD

  • 📰 Reading relevant articles, case studies, news, and listening to podcasts
  • 🤔 Reflecting on your learning and keeping a reflection log
  • 📈 Keeping track of your progress (always follow data protection rules and never include patient-identifiable information)
  • 🧠 Studying and revising for career-related exams
  • 📖 Writing books or book chapters
  • 👀 Shadowing colleagues to develop personal skills
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How to Manage CPD Effectively

The best approach is to log your CPD activities regularly so you don’t feel overwhelmed when revalidation is due. You don’t need to record everything—just aim to log a few activities per week.

Most CPD happens naturally as part of your daily work! For example, if you read a guideline to refresh your knowledge, you can log this as CPD in your reflection log.

CPD isn’t just about clinical knowledge—it also includes management, leadership, personal development, and non-clinical skills.

Take Control of Your CPD

CPD is for your benefit, so focus on what works best for you. The best place to log your CPD is in your electronic portfolio—click here for more info.

For more detailed guidance, check the GMC’s official CPD guidance:
👉 GMC CPD Guidance