UK regulators
CPD requirements for UK health and care professionals
Eleven regulators, eleven different sets of rules. Here is how CPD and revalidation work for each, in plain English, with a link to the official guidance.
| Regulator | Who it registers | Cycle | Headline CPD requirement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMCGeneral Medical Council | Doctors (UK) | Revalidation every 5 years | Annual appraisal with supporting information, including CPD and reflection | Details |
| NMCNursing and Midwifery Council | Nurses, midwives and nursing associates (UK) | Revalidation every 3 years | 35 hours of CPD every three years, at least 20 of them participatory | Details |
| HCPCHealth and Care Professions Council | 15 health and care professions (UK) | Renewal every 2 years + CPD audit | Keep a continuous, up-to-date record of your CPD activities | Details |
| GDCGeneral Dental Council | Dentists and dental care professionals (UK) | 5-year enhanced CPD cycle | Dentists: at least 100 hours of verifiable CPD per five-year cycle | Details |
| GPhCGeneral Pharmaceutical Council | Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians (Great Britain) | Revalidation every year | Four CPD records each year, at least two of them planned learning | Details |
| PSNIPharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland | Pharmacists in Northern Ireland | Annual CPD portfolio | 30 hours of CPD activity in a full CPD year | Details |
| GOCGeneral Optical Council | Optometrists and dispensing opticians (UK) | 3-year cycle (2025 to 2027) | At least 36 CPD points across the cycle, 18 of them interactive | Details |
| GOsCGeneral Osteopathic Council | Osteopaths (UK) | 3-year CPD cycle | 90 hours of CPD every three years, at least 45 learning with others | Details |
| GCCGeneral Chiropractic Council | Chiropractors (UK) | Annual CPD summary | 30 hours of CPD each year | Details |
| SWESocial Work England | Social workers (England) | CPD every registration year | At least two different pieces of CPD each registration year | Details |
| SSSCScottish Social Services Council | Social workers and social service workers (Scotland) | Annual CPL declaration | CPL is confirmed in an annual declaration at re-registration; you do not upload your record | Details |
Summaries checked against each regulator's guidance in September 2026. Requirements change, so always confirm with your regulator before you plan your CPD.
GMCDoctorsRevalidation every 5 yearsAnnual appraisal with a responsible officerNo fixed CPD hours: show CPD and reflectionJudged against Good Medical Practice 2024 NMCNurses, midwives and nursing associatesRevalidation every 3 years35 CPD hours, at least 20 participatory5 written reflective accounts450 practice hours over 3 years HCPC15 health and care professionsRenewal every 2 years + CPD auditNo fixed CPD hoursMust meet the 5 standards for CPDRandom audit of 2.5% at renewal GDCDentists and dental care professionals5-year enhanced CPD cycleDentists: 100 hours over 5 yearsDental care professionals: 75 or 50 hoursPersonal development plan + annual statement GPhCPharmacists and pharmacy techniciansRevalidation every year4 CPD records a year, 2 of them planned1 peer discussion record1 reflective account PSNIPharmacists in Northern IrelandAnnual CPD portfolio30 hours of CPD each yearAt least 4 CPD cycles recordedCPD year runs 1 June to 31 May GOCOptometrists and dispensing opticians3-year cycle (2025 to 2027)36 CPD points across the cycleAt least 18 points from interactive CPDCycle: 1 Jan 2025 to 31 Dec 2027 GOsCOsteopaths3-year CPD cycle90 hours over a 3-year cycle45 hours learning with othersPeer Discussion Review at the end GCCChiropractorsAnnual CPD summary30 CPD hours every year15 hours learning with othersAnnual CPD summary with reflection SWESocial workersCPD every registration yearAt least 2 pieces of CPD a year1 must include peer reflectionRenewal window 1 Sep to 30 Nov SSSCSocial workers and social service workersAnnual CPL declarationPRTL replaced by CPL in June 2024Annual CPL declarationTrauma-informed and protection learning
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