Continuing professional development

We have a statutory role to promote high standards and co-ordinate all aspects of medical education. This includes doctors' continuing professional development.

Good Medical Practice requires doctors to keep their knowledge and skills up to date throughout their working life and to maintain and improve their performance. Continuing professional development (CPD) is a key way for doctors to meet these professional standards and is one of the sources of information required for appraisal and revalidation.

We have published a guidance booklet for doctors - Continuing Professional Development: guidance for all doctors (pdf).

We have reports and research material relevant to our role in CPD. This includes information about our 2010-2012 review of our role in CPD.

We do not endorse or accredit CPD. We do not give points/credits for CPD activities or events and we do not hold lists of CPD providers. If you are interested in this type of information, please contact the relevant Medical Royal College, faculty, specialist society, deanery, employer or the British Medical Association (BMA).

For information on revalidation, see the Revalidation section.