Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a compulsory component of every Allied Health Professional’s life and all HCPC registrants must ensure that their CPD is ongoing.
HCPC registrants renew their registration on a recurring two-year cycle at a fixed point for set professions. For podiatrists this falls on even numbered years. At each cycle, 2.5% of registrants are selected at random to submit a profile of their CPD for audit. New graduates and those who have recently returned to practice are exempt from the audit selection process at their first registration renewal to allow time to adjust to practising life and undertaking CPD. More information on preparing for the audit process can be found on our HCPC CPD audit page.
HCPC standards for CPD
The standards of CPD are set by the HCPC and all UK registrants are required to adhere to them to as a condition of their ongoing registration. Find out more on the HCPC website
RCPod requirements for CPD
The RCPod requirements are:
- CPD per year: 30 hours of CPD (15 hours clinical*/15 hours self-directed learning)
- Members must keep an up-to-date record and portfolio of their CPD activities
- Mandatory updates:
- Basic Life Support: annually
- Local Anaesthetics: every three years (only if annotated with POM-A)
- Prescription Only Medicines: every three years (only if annotated with POM-S)
- Independent Prescribing: every three years (only if annotated with IP)
*Clinical update topic examples are: basic life support, chronic wounds, Diabetes, infection control, neurological assessment, pharmacology, vascular assessment and basic biomechanics
Members are also expected to remain up-to-date in all areas of practice. Where the update frequency for an area of practice is not specified, you should update your skills and knowledge as and when learning needs are identified, or as a refresher if you’ve not updated over the last couple of years. If selected for audit, the assessors will look to see that all integral areas of your practice have been covered at some point within the period since the last registration cycle.
In terms of mode of learning, a variety is always best. For example, your CPD will almost certainly involve attending courses, but it is also wise to ensure that you are recording other activities such as meetings, networking, reading or research, mentoring, writing articles and any other activity that counts towards CPD. Recording a variety of activities whilst also reflecting on your learning is strongly advised. Download our Examples of CPD Activity.
Assistant Practitioner
Those working at an Assistant Practitioner level are also expected to continue their professional learning journey. Assistant level workers can also apply for Professional Registration as a Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) via the College to demonstrate that they are meeting set levels of updates and professional development. Find out more here.
Retaining your CPD records
All members are required to maintain an up-to-date record of their CPD activities and a portfolio of evidence. If you are selected to submit a CPD profile for audit, a well-maintained CPD portfolio will prove invaluable.
There is some flexibility with how you record your information so you should choose a system that works best for you and your practice. You may decide to use a system provided in your workplace, a simple Word or Excel template, or even a handwritten diary. Providing the record is regularly updated, legible and in chronological order, you will be meeting the standards. Members can access the CPD dashboard to log their CPD.
CPD and RCPod insurance
Any member who is subject to a professional indemnity claim may be asked to demonstrate that they have kept themselves up-to-date in all areas in which they practice. If they cannot demonstrate this, they may be required to pay the £1,000 excess (which is normally paid on their behalf by the College) for a successful claim against them.