Doctors need to undertake and maintain professional development activities, including an annual Professional development Plan. Ongoing learning means staying on top of new and updated treatments and research, so you can continue to develop your skills and knowledge to give your patients the best possible care.
In this article, we look at the changes to continuous professional development (CPD) requirements and how you can make sure you stay up-to-date and current with your training and avail yourself of opportunities to develop your career plans and nonclinical skills.
CPD requirements you cannot ignore
Have you completed your CPD for this year? If not, time is running out.
The rules changed on 1 January, 2023. Instead of completing 150 hours of CPD within a three-year period, you now have to complete 50 hours per year. That means you have just over three months left this year to complete 50 hours of training.
The rules also allow organisations other than colleges to have a CPD home, with accredited courses and workshops. The CPD requirements are set out here.
The new CPD rules require all doctors to:
- Have a CPD home by the beginning of 2024 (although you can choose one earlier)
- Prepare and review a personal development plan (PDP) which is a plan to make sure that the CPD you undertake is relevant and useful
- Undertake 50 hours of CPD per year, split across a range of activities: 25 hours of reviewing performance and measuring outcomes, 12.5 hours of traditional learning such as reading and attending conferences, and 12.5 hours of free choice activities selected from these same categories
There’s more to CPD than clinical training
Each year the pressure on doctors increases, with longer hours, shorter/no breaks, lack of sleep, less time to spend with family and friends. Your wellbeing is just as important as your clients’, and making time to work on you at a personal level is crucial to avoid things like burnout.
When working on your professional development plan, consider non-clinical training that focuses on you. Professional development such as leadership, communication, planning your career, understanding your motivations, goals and values, can be a refreshing change and will give your career a boost at a personal level.
Search online for wellbeing courses that are CPD-accredited.
Tips to fit in CPD training time
We know it can be a struggle trying to fit in training each year, especially 50 hours, so we’ve broken it down into something more manageable.
Assuming you have 50 CPD hours to complete by 1 December (because Christmas time can be very busy with holidays and family time):
- 50 hours over 10 weeks = 5 hours per week; 5 hours per work week = 1 hour per day
- 50 hours over 8 weeks = 6 ¼ hours per week (gives you some buffer); 6 ¼ hours per work week = 1 ¼ hours per day
Do you think 1 ¼ hours per day is manageable? Or do you prefer to do the training in one day? Whichever works best for you, make sure you can stick to the schedule.
Here are some tips to help you stay focused and remove distractions, so you can get through your training efficiently:
- Block time in your calendar to establish a routine
- Turn your phone off
- Turn notifications off on your computer
- Set a timer
- Keep your desk clear and uncluttered
- Stay hydrated
Don’t leave it until the last minute and risk affecting your career – make sure your CPD hours are completed in time.
If you need help identifying which courses to select, book in for a free consultation.
