​I consider myself very lucky to have had a really varied career in dental nursing, which is now – I can scarcely believe – into its fifth decade. I have worked in a variety of clinical environments including general dentistry, oral maxillofacial surgery, and orthodontics. As my clinical career progressed, so too did my interest – and then passion – in education and development; since 2007 I have focused solely on education, supporting dental nurses to develop in their own careers.

My decision last year to apply to join the GDC’s Council – the part of our professional regulator which decides policy, sets strategic direction, and approves key organisational changes – was in no small part influenced by the organisation’s role in relation to continuing professional development (CPD).

CPD helps you to develop your career

I’ve always been passionate about upskilling the whole dental team. Continuing professional development is such a vital part of being a professional – not only does it ensure that we keep our skills up to date which in turn keeps patients safe, but it also supports individual professional development. Continuing professional development and further training is a way for dental nurses who want to unlock opportunities to go further than their initial qualification allows.

From my own experience, in 2000 I gained the NEBDN Certificate in Dental Sedation (with distinction) which not only enabled me to expand my clinical practice, but it also opened subsequent opportunities for me. This is when I began teaching dental nurses, initially for the NEBDN Dental Sedation Nursing qualification and then in both the NEBDN and City and Guilds qualification. As I became a more experienced educator, I then went on to write the first Foundation Degree (FdSc) in dental nursing, awarded by the University of Bedfordshire.

But taking control of your professional development does require some planning if it’s going to be effective. Dental nurses are, by nature, highly organised people – they need to be to be effective in clinic. But I have seen many instances over the years of dental nurses not applying this natural ability to their own development.

One of the GDC’s CPD requirements is for professionals to maintain a personal development plan (PDP) that identifies the type of CPD which is needed. By developing a good PDP and spending a little time every month to maintain it and record CPD activity, professionals can take charge of their own development. This also ensures there’s no last-minute scrambling to get compliant when it’s time to make your CPD statement to the GDC.

Now is a good time to think about this because the annual renewal period for all dental care professionals has started. Making a CPD declaration is one part of your annual renewal and I sit here writing this article after having submitted my own CPD declaration just this morning on eGDC.

CPD requirements checklist

  • Create your CPD personal development plan (PDP)
  • Record your completed CPD, as well as your learning reflections, as you go
  • Keep certificates to verify your CPD
  • Submit your CPD statement by 28 August (annual statement if mid-cycle or end-of-cycle
  • statement if you’re finishing your five-year cycle)

Don’t let missing CPD declarations affect your registration

The vast majority of dental care professionals renewed their registration last year with no complications, but more than 3,100 didn’t meet the CPD rules in 2021. Of those, around 2,800 were dental nurses. That’s 2,800 dental nurses who had paid their annual retention fee and made an indemnity declaration but failed to be compliant on CPD.

The GDC’s figures indicate most of these (around 2,000) were due to outstanding annual or end-of-cycle statements, which suggests these were mainly administrative oversights. There were, however, over 700 who had not done the minimum amount of CPD that is required in any two-year period (10 hours), which suggests there are still quite a lot of dental nurses who don’t know what the minimum requirements are, or are not keeping track of their own CPD.

This can have serious consequences for the individual, and for the team they work in, as non-compliance can end up with removal from the register. But even if removal from the register is avoided, there will likely be lots of stress, administrative headaches and possibly cost if you need to get compliant in a short period of time. This can all be avoided if we keep on top of CPD planning.

If you’re not sure, check now to make certain

As dental professionals we all have a personal responsibility to take charge of our CPD. But, if you are not yet familiar with what you need to do, or how much CPD you have done, there is some good news here, as long as you act now.

Dental care professionals have until July 31 to make sure they have completed a minimum 10 hours of CPD over the last two years. If you check now and find you have not done enough, you will have time to put that right before it’s too late. As long as the minimum hours have been met in time, professionals can make their CPD statement.

Annual renewal checklist

  • Pay the annual retention fee by July 31
  • Make an indemnity declaration by July 31
  • Complete enough CPD by July 31 and make an annual or end-of-cycle CPD statement by

Visit gdc-uk.org/education-cpd/cpd for more information and guidance.

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