CPD for revalidation: GMC, GPhC, NMC, HCPC differences that matter

Every major UK healthcare regulator requires continuing professional development. But the paperwork and audit regimes differ significantly. If you hold multiple registrations, or if you move between professions, the rules shift under your feet.

GMC (doctors, including GPs)

Cycle. Revalidation every five years.

CPD requirement. No fixed hours, but you must engage in CPD relevant to your scope of practice. The GMC guidance assumes roughly 50 hours per year.

Evidence. An annual appraisal is the main evidence. At each appraisal you present:

• Your CPD record
• Quality improvement activities (one per year minimum, two before revalidation)
• Significant event reviews
• Colleague and patient feedback (360° feedback is mandatory once in the five-year cycle)
• A personal development plan

Audit. The appraiser and responsible officer review everything. A recommendation goes to the GMC. Failure to engage leads to a deferred revalidation or, eventually, withdrawal of licence.

Locum reality. You still need a responsible officer. Most locum GPs engage a "designated body", usually an LMC, chambers, or primary care commissioning body. Without one, your revalidation stalls.

GPhC (pharmacists)

Cycle. Annual renewal with a CPD-plus-peer-discussion model since 2018.

Requirement. Four CPD records per year, plus a peer discussion once per cycle, plus a reflective account.

Evidence. Submitted through myGPhC in the renewal window. Records must show:

• What you learned
• How you applied it in practice
• The outcome

Audit. The GPhC audits a proportion of records each year. If yours is audited you have limited time to respond with evidence of the CPD, not just the written record.

Locum reality. Pharmacy locum work is usually self-directed, which means you also self-direct your CPD. Keep the records as you go, reconstructing a year of CPD in the two weeks before renewal is transparent and risks audit.

NMC (nurses and midwives)

Cycle. Revalidation every three years.

Requirement. 450 practice hours, 35 hours of CPD (at least 20 must be participatory), five written reflective accounts, one reflective discussion with an NMC-registered professional, and a confirmation from a confirmer.

Evidence. Submitted through NMC Online at revalidation. The written reflections must be on professional practice, the Code, or CPD, not on personal life.

Audit. NMC samples a percentage of revalidations for full verification. Be prepared to provide evidence of hours, CPD, and reflections if sampled.

Locum reality. The 450-hour minimum is cumulative over three years. Agency-only nursing makes this straightforward. Pattern-light nursing (one or two shifts a month) risks falling below, count your hours yearly.

HCPC (paramedics, physios, OTs, dietitians, radiographers, SLTs, psychologists)

Cycle. Every two years.

Requirement. Maintain a written CPD record reflecting a mix of learning activities relevant to practice.

Evidence. Not routinely submitted. You declare at renewal that you have met the standards.

Audit. HCPC samples approximately 2.5% of registrants per profession per renewal. If sampled, you submit a full CPD profile showing:

• A summary of recent work
• A statement of how CPD has improved practice
• A list of CPD activities with dates
• Evidence of activities (certificates, reflections, peer review)

Locum reality. The self-declaration model means CPD is easy to neglect. The 2.5% sampling is effectively random. Treat the evidence trail as if you will be audited, because you might.

What counts as CPD everywhere

• Formal courses and conferences
• Reading peer-reviewed journals
• Completing e-learning modules
• Case reviews and significant-event audits
• Peer discussions and mentoring (giving or receiving)
• Teaching and supervision
• Writing articles or clinical guidelines
• Work-based learning from unusual cases

What rarely counts:

• Mandatory training alone (though some counts toward HCPC)
• Routine work that does not involve new learning
• Training your own staff in what you already know

Practical cross-regulator record

A single CPD record covering everything you learn from works for all four regulators. Include for each entry:

• Date
• Type of activity
• Hours
• What you learned
• How you applied it
• Evidence (certificate, reflection, notes)

Then at renewal, extract the format each regulator needs. Reconstruction from calendar entries six weeks before audit does not convince anyone.

Sessional logs learning activities alongside your clinical sessions and exports to the format each regulator expects. See our documents guide.