CPD Key Documents
Below is a selection of key documents
that will assist in understanding Continuing Professional
Development and its background.
In preparation for Revalidation the RCGP has developed a CPD
Credits Scheme for all GPs. The scheme is fully described in the
RCGP Guide to the Credit-Based System of CPD. The guide sets out
the main principles of the CPD scheme, gives guidance on
accumulating and recording credits and examples of activities that
may be eligible for credits claims.
CPD Guide - Section by Section
A section by section overview of the Guide to the Credit-Based
System for CPD.
The RCGP Guide to the Revalidation of General Practitioners sets
out the RCGP's current proposals for the processes and evidence
that will be required in order for GPs to be revalidated.
The main principles for the RCGP CPD strategy are described in
the Good CPD for GPs paper.
This Guidance for educationalists and education providers
provides hallmarks of excellence in educational processes and
practice and a self assessment system for practitioners and their
teams which can be used to assess the quality of learning
opportunities enabling maximum benefit from the opportunities
available to them.
A paper, 'Personal Development Plan Guidance for Appraisers',
which provides guidance to appraisers on how to advise their
appraisees on PDP construction, was endorsed by the RCGP Council on
14th June 2008.
A revised version of Good Medical Practice for General
Practitioners (GMP for GPs) was published in July 2008.
Based on the GMC’s
Good Medical Practice 
, the document was first made specific to GPs in
2002. Its aim is to provide important guidance to general
practitioners on the expectations of their peers and the public as
to their standards of care and behaviour.
The statements in GMP for GPs will inform the standards expected
in Revalidation. The ‘exemplary GP’ statements will guide the
formative discussions in GP annual appraisals, while the
descriptors of an ‘unacceptable GP’ and the requirements for
Revalidation will inform an appraiser’s judgments.
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC)
The General Medical Council (GMC) are currently reviewing their
role with respect to Continuing Professional Development (CPD). As
part of the review they would like to obtain a snap-shot of
how doctors use CPD and their views on the role the GMC should play
in supporting doctors' CPD activities. The GMC have
developed a
survey on the Role of the GMC in CPD which you are invited to
participate in.
Please do not hesitate to contact the GMC should you require any
further information about the review (probblee@gmc-uk.org / 020
7189 5207).
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
(AoMRC) CPD Guidelines document with recommended headings under
which to describes a College or Faculty CPD Scheme.
Description of the RCGP CPD
Scheme 
under the
Academy recommended CPD headings
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) paper on the
Effectiveness of Continuing Professional
Development 
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) Continuing
Professional Development Frequently Asked
Questions
Developed by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges 'The ten
principles for CPD' (see appendix 1) describes 10 main principles
for the College/Faculty CPD scheme.