Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a requirement in most UK regulated professions, and a strong professional norm in many unregulated ones. The specific requirements — hours, structure, evidence, audit cadence — vary considerably by profession. This guide brings them together in one place.

What is CPD?

CPD is the structured process by which professionals maintain and develop the skills, knowledge, and behaviours their role requires. It typically combines structured learning (courses, workshops, e-learning), informal learning (reading, mentoring, on-the-job experience), and reflection on impact.

For UK regulated professions, CPD is generally a condition of continued registration or chartered status — without it, your right to practise lapses.

Healthcare

Doctors (GMC)

UK-registered doctors complete annual appraisal supported by CPD evidence as part of revalidation. There is no fixed hours quota, but appraisers expect approximately 50 hours of CPD per year, with at least one third externally structured. Content must be relevant to the doctor's scope of practice.

Nurses and Midwives (NMC)

NMC requires 35 hours of CPD per three-year revalidation cycle, with at least 20 hours of participatory learning (workshops, e-learning with assessment, training events). Self-directed reading does not count toward the participatory minimum.

Pharmacists (GPhC)

Four CPD records per year, plus one peer discussion and one reflective account. No fixed hours, but each record must demonstrate genuine learning and patient/public benefit.

Dentists (GDC)

100 hours of verifiable CPD per five-year cycle. Mandatory topics include medical emergencies, decontamination, radiography, complaints handling, and oral cancer detection. Dental nurses and other team members have their own quotas.

Allied Health Professionals (HCPC)

Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, paramedics, and other allied health professionals maintain a continuous CPD record demonstrating service-user benefit. No minimum hours, but the HCPC audits a sample of registrants each year and requires a CPD profile.

Read our healthcare CPD guide for more detail.

Legal

Solicitors (SRA)

Since 2016, solicitors operate under a continuing competence framework rather than fixed hours. They reflect on their practice annually, identify learning needs, and undertake appropriate CPD. The annual declaration confirms ongoing competence rather than counting hours.

Barristers (BSB)

Established practitioners complete a minimum of 12 hours of CPD per year, including at least 4 hours of accredited learning.

Legal Executives (CILEX)

Fellows complete 16 hours of CPD per year, with structured learning preferred over informal reading.

Read our legal CPD guide for more detail.

Accountancy and Finance

Chartered Accountants (ICAEW)

Members operate under a competence-based CPD model. Reflective records of learning aligned with practice areas are required annually.

Other Accountancy Bodies (ACCA, CIMA, AAT)

Most major bodies use hours-based or units-based CPD frameworks ranging from 21 to 40 hours per year. Verifiable CPD from independent providers is generally accepted.

Securities & Investment Professionals (CISI)

CISI members complete a minimum of 35 hours of CPD per year, with at least 21 hours of structured learning.

FCA-Regulated Firms

The FCA does not prescribe specific CPD hours but expects firms to ensure staff maintain appropriate competence. In practice, structured CPD with verifiable outcomes is the norm, particularly for regulated activities.

Read our finance CPD guide for more detail.

HR and People

CIPD Members

CPD aligned with the CIPD Profession Map — five core knowledge areas plus eight specialist knowledge areas. CPD records are reviewed annually with peer reflection.

Chartered Managers (CMI)

Chartered Managers maintain CPD aligned with management and leadership competencies — hours-based or competency-based depending on chartered status.

Read our HR CPD guide for more detail.

Built Environment

Architects (RIBA / ARB)

RIBA members complete 35 hours of CPD per year, including at least 20 hours of "core curriculum" topics. ARB requires architects to undertake and record appropriate CPD.

Surveyors (RICS)

20 hours of CPD per year, with at least 10 hours formal/structured. Mandatory ethics topic must be addressed annually.

Engineers (ICE / IET / IMechE)

Engineering bodies use competency-based CPD. Members maintain ongoing development plans aligned with the relevant professional framework.

Read our construction CPD guide for more detail.

IT and Technology

BCS Members

30 hours of CPD per year using the BCS competence framework. Structured learning with documented outcomes is the gold standard.

Cybersecurity Certifications ((ISC)² / ISACA / IISP)

Cybersecurity certifications require ongoing CPE (Continuing Professional Education) credits — typically 40 per year for (ISC)² certifications like CISSP, with similar quotas for ISACA's CISA and CISM.

Read our IT & tech CPD guide for more detail.

Education

Teachers and education professionals are expected to engage in continuous professional development as part of the Teachers Standards framework. Schools and academies look for evidence-based CPD relevant to classroom practice.

Common patterns across professions

Despite the variation, most UK CPD frameworks share four common elements:

Annual cycle — most professions assess CPD once a year, with longer revalidation windows in healthcare and dentistry.
Mix of structured and informal — a portion must be formal courses or workshops; reading and discussion contribute but rarely sole-suffice.
Verifiable evidence — certificates, assessment records, reflective accounts. Verbal claims do not survive audit.
Reflection on impact — most modern frameworks require not just attendance but documented reflection on what changed in practice.

How CPD accreditation helps

An independently-accredited course provides verifiable evidence in the format every UK regulator accepts. Whether you're a training provider designing a course or a professional building your CPD record, accreditation is the highest-trust quality signal available.

VeritasCPD accredits courses and webinars across all the professions covered above. See our pricing or get in touch to discuss your training programme.

CPD Requirements in the UK