Features of continuing professional development (CPD) by regulator
| Regulator | Term used | Completion of CPD required for registration | Date current scheme adopted | Length of CPD cycle (years) | Total time requirement | Group (peer-to-peer) learning requirement | Modes of CPD required or suggested | CPD accredited by the regulator | Reflection required | Personal development plan required | Interprofessional CPD required |
| General Chiropractic Council66 | CPD | Yes | 2004 | 1 | 30 hours over 1-year cycle | 15 hours | Suggested | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| General Dental Council67 | CPD | Yes | 2018 | 5 | 100 hours dentist 75 hours dental therapist/dental hygienist/orthodontic therapist/clinical dental technician 50 hours dental nurse/dental technician Over 5 years | No | Suggested | No | Yes | Yes | Suggested within dental team |
| General Medical Council18 68–70 | CPD | Yes | 2012 | * | Recommended 250 credits over 5 years† | * | Suggested | No | Yes | Yes | Yes, if aimed at team performance |
| General Osteopathic Council71 72 | CPD | Yes | 2018 | 3 | 90 hours over 3 years | 45 hours over 3-year cycle | Suggested | No | Yes | Some elements | No (suggested) |
| Nursing and Midwifery Council73 | CPD | Yes | 2016 | 3 | 35 hours over 3 years | 20 hours | Suggested | No | Yes | No | No (suggested) |
| General Optical Council (GOC)74 | CET | Yes | 2013 | 3 | 36 points‡ over 3 years | 18 points‡ One peer review event | Required | Yes | One peer activity per 3 year cycle§ | Yes | No |
| General Pharmaceutical Council75 | CPD | Yes | 2018 | 1 | No explicit time requirement 6 activities over 1-year cycle | Yes One peer discussion | Suggested | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland76 77 | CPD | Yes | 2013 | 1 | 30 hours Minimum of 4 CPD entries over 1-year cycle | No | Suggested | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)78 79 | CPD | Yes | 2009 | 2 | No | No | Suggested | No | No (suggested) | No (suggested) | No |
*Set by specialist college schemes.
†1 hour is recommended for each credit.70
‡The GOC set minimum durations for different continuing education and training (CET) modalities with a maximum of 3 points per hour of CET for group learning activities and a minimum of 1 point per hour for other activities.74
§For optometrists and dispensing opticians practicing as contact lens opticians only