CPD

Key documents

CPD factsheet

CPD guidance for 2018/19

Learning points

Personal development plan template

Guidance for providers of CPD learning activities

If you have any additional questions about CPD you can email us: [email protected]

The CPD system – an overview for chiropractors

The CPD year begins on 1 September each year and ends on the 31 August the following year, for example, 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020.

During that CPD year each chiropractor must complete at least 30 hours of learning (although we recognise that most chiropractors complete a lot more than this).

Half of the 30 hours (15 hours) must include ‘learning with others’. This means that there must have been some direct and immediate interaction between the chiropractor and other people as part of the learning activity. The rest of the learning may either be more learning with others, or learning on their own, such as reading books or research.

Every year chiropractors must send us a summary of their CPD activities to show the legally required 30 hours they have completed.

This can either be done by filling in the CPD summary online.

The learning cycle

CPD for chiropractors follows a simple format. Each year chiropractors must complete at least one learning cycle. A learning cycle is a learning need that the chiropractor has identified through reflecting on their practice, for example, looking into a specific condition or learning a new technique. Refer to the CPD guidance and the learning points for more information.

As part of their CPD activities each year, we ask chiropractors to:

• Identify a learning need
• Say how they plan to meet that learning need
• Summarise the learning activities they have done as part of that learning need
• Share their thoughts on the learning and specifically, to reflect on how effective the learning activities were and if they have applied anything from that learning to their work as a chiropractor
• Any learning that chiropractors do must aim to either:
• Improve the care they provide for their patients, and/ or
• Develop the chiropractic profession.

Formal and informal learning with others

Learning can take place in a formal setting, such as a lecture or seminar, or more informally, such as at practice meetings or by having discussions with colleagues. However, chiropractors must remember that they will need to keep some evidence to show they have done this learning in case we audit their CPD (see below).

CPD audit

To check that chiropractors are doing the learning they tell us they are doing, each year we ask a sample of chiropractors to send in evidence of their learning. Find out more here.

What happens if I don’t meet the CPD requirements?

Each year there will be a small number of cases where registrants have not met the requirements of the CPD scheme, or they have not submitted a CPD record summary at all.

In these cases we always attempt to open a dialogue with the chiropractor to resolve any issues. However, in instances where registrants do not engage with the process, or their CPD does not meet the expected standard, the Registrar will have little option but to remove them from the register.

In these cases the registrant will always be given the opportunity to engage with the process so that the Registrar may take as much information into account as possible on which to base his decision.

In the unlikely event that a registrant’s name is removed from the register for failing to comply with the CPD requirements, an option will be open to them to appeal the Registrar’s decision. An appeal must be lodged within 28 days from the date of the removal notice. Further information on the appeals process can be found here.