How many CPD credits do you need? The quick answer
There is no set number of CPD credits for a GP appraisal. The GMC says it does not mandate the number of CPD points you should collect for revalidation. The RCGP goes further and lists “I must do 50 credits of CPD every year” among its appraisal myths. Instead, you need enough learning to keep up to date across your whole scope of practice, and you must reflect on it every year. So your appraiser looks at what you learned and what changed, not at a total.
What the GMC says about CPD credits
The GMC sets the requirements for revalidation, and they are short. In summary:
- You must carry out CPD activities every year.
- Your CPD must cover the whole of your practice and be tailored to your needs.
- Your learning needs and plans should go into your personal development plan for the coming year.
- You must reflect on what you learned and how it helped to maintain or improve the quality of your practice.
The GMC does not set a number. In its own words, it does not mandate the number of CPD points because your activities need to fit your scope of practice and needs. It also suggests that, at appraisal, you focus on the activities you found most valuable and meaningful.
Source: GMC, continuing professional development for your revalidation.
Where the 50 CPD credits figure fits in
A target of 50 credits a year is still widely quoted. However, the RCGP lists that target among its myths. Its guidance makes three points:
| Common belief | What the RCGP says |
|---|---|
| I must do 50 credits every year | It is impossible to put a number on the credits you need. The emphasis is on the quality of your reflection and its impact on care. |
| Fifty credits are always enough | Keeping up to date may take more, or less, than 50 hours. It depends on your scope of practice, qualifications and experience. |
| My appraiser will be impressed by hundreds of credits | Your appraiser may no longer note the total a toolkit records. They look at how your practice changed as a result of your learning. |
Sources: RCGP, appraisal CPD; RCGP, appraisal and revalidation mythbusters.
So who decides what is enough? You do, as a professional. The RCGP advises you to discuss it with your appraiser. If your role is unusual, get explicit agreement from your responsible officer as well.
What counts as CPD?
CPD is much broader than courses. According to the RCGP, any activity counts if you spend time learning something and deciding how to put it into practice. For example:
| Type of learning | Examples the RCGP lists |
|---|---|
| Structured learning | Courses, webinars, online modules, podcasts |
| Learning from your work | Cases, data, learning events and feedback |
| Self-directed learning | Personal reading and online research |
| Learning with others | Professional conversations about clinical care, including “coffee room” conversations about complex cases |
The RCGP also offers a rule of thumb: if you learned something new from it, then it is CPD. As a result, quality improvement work, significant events and reflection on feedback can all count. For more on one of these, see our guide on how to write a significant event reflection.
Aim for variety too. The RCGP calls it best practice to show both targeted learning for known needs and opportunistic learning from everyday work. It also asks for evidence of learning with others.
Do part-time and locum GPs need fewer CPD credits?
No. The RCGP is clear that part-time work does not mean part-time CPD. If you provide undifferentiated primary care, you need to keep up to date across the whole GP curriculum, whatever your hours. In fact, the RCGP recommends that part-time GPs need at least the same amount of CPD as full-time GPs, because they have less experiential learning to draw on.
You also do not need the same amount every year. Your revalidation recommendation normally draws on a five-year cycle. So a diploma might fill one year, as long as your learning covers the GP curriculum across the cycle.
If you work across several practices, see our guide to appraisal for locum and sessional GPs.
What if I have a restricted or extended role?
Then talk to your appraiser about what is sufficient for the work you do. The RCGP suggests agreeing it with your responsible officer if necessary. One piece of learning can also cover more than one role. For instance, diabetes learning for a special interest role usually applies to general practice as well.
Is mandatory training a GMC requirement?
Not for revalidation. The RCGP states that the GMC sets no specific requirements for particular types of training. Basic Life Support and Safeguarding Level 3 sit in the GP curriculum, so keeping them current is an RCGP recommendation.
However, your employer or the performers list may require specific training. Therefore, your responsible officer may ask to see evidence of it in your portfolio. You can also count it as CPD when you reflect on it.
How to record CPD without counting credits
The GMC has not set rules on how to evidence or record CPD. So keep it light. The RCGP recommends the following:
- Keep a simple learning log. Add to it through the year. An app, a document or a spreadsheet all work.
- Record a sample. Document only your most relevant and important learning, not everything.
- Write a line of reflection. Note what you learned and what difference it made, or will make.
- Skip most certificates. A certificate proves attendance, not learning. Keep the ones an employer needs, such as mandatory training.
- Link it to your PDP. The GMC asks for your learning needs and plans to appear in next year’s plan.
An example learning log entry
This example is fictional and shows structure only.
Activity: Read updated guidance after a query from a colleague. Learning: One point that differed from my usual practice. Change: I adjusted my approach and shared the point at our clinical meeting.
That is three short sentences, and it tells your appraiser more than a certificate would.
CPD credits checklist before your appraisal
- You did CPD this year and it relates to your actual work
- Your learning covers every role in your scope of practice
- Each entry says what you learned and what changed
- You show a mix of learning types, including learning with others
- Your next PDP reflects the learning needs you found
- Any training your employer requires is recorded
CPD is one of six types of supporting information. For the others, see our guide to the evidence you need for your GP appraisal. If you want free learning to start with, GP Tools keeps a list of free CPD lectures.
CPD credits: frequently asked questions
How many CPD credits do I need each year?
There is no required number. The GMC does not mandate CPD points, and the RCGP says it is impossible to put a number on the credits you need. You need enough to stay up to date across all your work.
Do I still need 50 CPD credits?
No. The RCGP lists the 50 credit target among its myths. Even so, check your local appraisal policy, and ask your appraiser if you are unsure what is sufficient for you.
Do I need to upload certificates?
Usually not. The RCGP says appraisers should not ask to see certificates of attendance. Instead, they should ask what your most important learning was and what difference it made.
Does quality improvement activity count as CPD?
Yes, it can. The RCGP says CPD can include quality improvement activity, significant events and reflection on feedback, as long as you learned something new. For how to plan and write one up, see our guide to quality improvement activity for your GP appraisal.
What if I was off work for part of the year?
You still need sufficient and relevant CPD for the time you were in practice. However, if you could not gather your supporting information for good reason, your responsible officer can defer your revalidation recommendation. The RCGP describes deferral as a neutral act.
GP Tools portfolios follow NHS England’s Medical Appraisal Template, with the patient survey (PSQ) and MSF 360° colleague feedback included free. Every doctor’s first 12 months are free. Register at gptools.org.