Continuing Professional Development (CPD) (also known as Continuing Medical Education (CME)) is a core requirement for your annual GMC appraisal and five-year revalidation cycle. But it’s not just about collecting hours or certificates—it’s about demonstrating meaningful engagement with learning that supports your current and future clinical practice and making it work for you.
What the General Medical Council Says About CPD
According to GMC guidance, doctors should carry out CPD that:
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Maintains and develops their knowledge and skills
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Is relevant to their scope of practice
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Supports safe and effective care
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Includes reflection and application to practice
You don’t need a fixed number of CPD credits, but appraisers will expect to see regular, documented learning across the year—ideally with a mix of clinical and professional skills, reflection, and evidence of impact.
Why UK-Aligned CPD Is A Must
For doctors practising (or hoping to practise) in the UK, CPD must be relevant to UK systems, culture, guidelines, and professional standards. It not only strengthens your appraisal portfolio but helps you prepare for:
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UK clinical pathways and NHS expectations
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Interview preparation and career progression
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Cultural norms around professionalism, communication, and teamwork
This is particularly relevant for international doctors or those who’ve been out of UK clinical work for some time.
Don’t Forget About Professional Skills
While clinical knowledge is essential, the GMC also highlights the importance of broader professional capabilities—leadership, teaching, communication, time management, and ethics. These are often overlooked but can be key areas for reflection, improvement, and demonstrating personal development during appraisal.
A Practical Option for Professional Skills CPD
At GMC Appraisals, we’ve teamed up with Oxford Medical, a UK provider of CPD courses centred on teaching, mentoring and leadership, communication, and interview preparation. We have secured an exclusive offer which gives you 10% discount on any of their CPD modules to help support your development with the purchase of any of our appraisal services.
Plan Ahead
Appraisers regularly report that doctors struggle to evidence enough high-quality, UK-aligned CPD—especially if it’s left to the last minute. You may wish to review your CPD over the last 12 months ahead of your appraisal meeting to ensure you have CPD that is relevant to UK practice and provided by UK providers.
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