Reference/Features

Continuing professional development essentials

6 mins read CPD requirements
Next year, it will be five years since dental nurses first had to register with the General Dental Council, which means that they may have to demonstrate they have completed continuing professional development. Diane Bell sets out what this involves

Dental care professionals (DCPs) with the title of dental nurse or dental technician have had to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) since 2008. Other DCPs—hygienists, dental therapists, clinical technicians and dental surgeons—have been registered before then.

More than 43 000 registrants will end their first five-year cycle of registration in 2013 and, of these, 19% have not yet declared any continuing professional development hours to the GDC and 33% have declared CPD hours for their first year only (Watts, 2012).

Taking part in CPD is a legal requirement of GDC registration. Failure to meet the 150 hours required in every five-year period could result in practitioners being removed from the register and unable to practise at the end of the five-year cycle.

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