Continuing Professional Development

CPD is a continuing learning process that helps physicians to keep up to date and develop new skills, enabling them to maintain and improve their professional practice to the highest possible standard. CPD should support changes in a physician's practice and career and should also help physicians to keep up to date when they are not practising. To assist Faculty members in the recording of their CPD, the Faculty established an on-line CPD system and encourages all its members to register.

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine allocates credits as measures of CPD. Generally, one credit will correspond to one hour of learning (excluding travelling and breaks). In line with other Faculties and Colleges, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine recommends that participants in its scheme should aim for a target of 250 CPD credits in any 5-year period i.e. 50 credits per year, although it is recognised that this might not always be possible. There should also be a balance between external and internal CPD activities.

It is important for all physicians to note that they have the responsibility for taking part and recording their own relevant CPD activities. It is also the responsibility of the physician to collect evidence to support each entry in their CPD diary. Please refer to the CPD guidance document for further information.

For information on standards and criteria for CPD activities please follow this link to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges website to access the document 'Standards and Criteria for CPD Activities: A Framework for Accreditation - January 2012'.

If you have a CPD enquiry please email or call the Professional Development Administrator on +44 (0) 20 7831 7662 (Ext 24).