CPD in healthcare and medical training
Continuing professional development (CPD) is the learning you do after your initial training to keep your knowledge and skills current. It can include structured courses, workshops, conferences, online modules and reflective practice. Many professionals record their CPD hours to show how they keep up to date.
In healthcare, CPD helps doctors, nurses, therapists, allied health professionals and support staff revisit clinical knowledge, learn new techniques and reflect on patient care. Many healthcare bodies ask their members to keep a record of learning and reflection, so well-documented CPD can make that process easier.
Why accredited CPD matters in healthcare
CPD accreditation means a course has been reviewed against CPD standards and approved. Each accredited course in this directory has its own record with an accreditation number, CPD hours, delivery format and validity dates, which anyone can check on the verification page.
Accreditation is about the learning itself. It does not replace professional registration, clinical competence checks or any requirements set by your regulator or employer, so check those directly.
Common healthcare CPD topics
- Clinical updates and medical education
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
- Counselling and mental health
- Patient safety and communication
- Healthcare leadership and teaching
Choosing learning for healthcare practice
Continuing professional development offers healthcare professionals a way to revisit knowledge, examine unfamiliar approaches and reflect on their work. The most useful training starts with a specific learning need: a topic you want to understand better, a skill you want to practise, or a change in your responsibilities. Consider how a course fits your experience and the setting in which you work. A short focused programme and a broader educational event can serve different purposes; the number of CPD hours alone does not tell you which is more suitable.
Medical education and related disciplines
This category brings together records classified in healthcare, medical education, healthcare education, physiotherapy, and counselling or mental health. These disciplines share an interest in professional learning but are not interchangeable. Read the course title and description before deciding whether it relates to clinical practice, therapy, professional education or a wider wellness topic. Check the intended relevance with the provider when a description is brief. Inclusion here is a directory classification, not a statement that a course qualifies someone to deliver a particular treatment.
Reading the accreditation record
A published course profile can show its accreditation number, CPD hours, delivery format and validity dates. Compare those details with the training being offered, and use the verification page when you have an accreditation number. Provider cards separately identify whether an organisation is listed, verified or fully accredited. An expired, suspended or under-review record should not be read as current active accreditation. Accreditation information in this directory does not establish professional registration, clinical competence or acceptance by a regulator; check any requirements that apply to your own role directly.
Next steps for learners and providers
Open a provider profile to view its published courses, or open a course to examine the individual record. Ask the training organisation about prerequisites, current availability, learning materials and how the programme is delivered. Healthcare training organisations can explore the existing CPD accreditation application through this portal. Keep the course information specific and up to date so prospective learners can judge its relevance. Approved courses receive a unique accreditation number and downloadable badge; this category page is a discovery tool, not a substitute for reviewing the course record.
Frequently asked questions
Will my regulator accept these CPD hours?
Each regulator and professional body sets its own rules. Check with them directly; the course record shows the CPD hours and accreditation number you can include in your records.
How do I check a healthcare course is accredited?
Open the course record or enter its accreditation number on the verification page to see its status and validity dates.
Does an accredited course let me offer a new treatment?
No. CPD accreditation confirms the learning was reviewed; it does not grant a licence or permission to practise.
