Engaging with educational opportunities is a requirement of all dental professionals, ensuring knowledge surrounding everyday care is kept up to date. In a world of rapidly changing technology, patient demands, and treatment approaches, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is vital to ensure the safety of patients and practitioners alike.
CPD requirements may not always be at the front of the mind – managing the practice and providing high-quality support to patients can take priority day-to-day, and understandably so – but this creates the need to carve out time for dedicated training.
Planning ahead is key. Dental professionals should be aware of their responsibilities, and identify vital topics to cover during their educational endeavours.
What are my dental CPD requirements?
The General Dental Council (GDC) is a go-to source for all things CPD. It notes that dental team members should plan and record their CPD modules using a personal development plan (PDP).[i] A template for this, alongside an activity log, is available on the GDC website.[ii] These should be kept alongside CPD certificates for review, and must be retained for five years following the end of a five-year CPD cycle.
The requirements for each dental professional will differ slightly depending on the role they occupy within the team. There is a minimum number of CPD hours to meet across a five-year cycle, including:
- 100 hours for dentists
- 75 hours for dental therapists
- 75 hours for dental hygienists
- 75 hours for orthodontic therapists
- 75 hours for clinical dental technicians
- 50 hours for dental nurses
- 50 hours for dental technicians
Training should be based around a clinician’s needs for advanced learning and knowledge upkeep, and so will generally exceed these minimum requirements when a professional keeps on top of training opportunities.
Clinicians acting under two roles must carry out training at least to the highest number set out in the requirements. For this example, if someone acts as both a clinical dental technician and a dental technician, they would need at least 75 hours of verifiable CPD training.
Activities will be spread over five years, but this must be somewhat balanced, ensuring constant personal development. Regulations note that at least 10 hours of CPD should be completed every 2 years.i Whether this is split at 0/10, 5/5, or 4/8 (as noted, the minimum hours may be exceeded), clinicians should keep this in mind when planning their upcoming CPD ventures.
What should CPD training cover?
The topics that are covered during a CPD cycle will differ depending on the clinical member’s role. For example, an orthodontic therapist and a dental nurse will likely want to cover different topics, or at least different scopes and responsibilities within a broader subject.
Recommended topics include:
- Medical emergencies (around 10 hours minimum in each CPD cycle, and at least two hours per year)
- Disinfection and decontamination (five hours per cycle recommended)
- Radiography and radiation protection (for those working within these workflows, at least 5 hours per cycle recommended)
- Materials and equipment (an alternative for radiography and radiation suggested for dental technicians who would typically not benefit from such training)
However, wider training opportunities can be suited to each individual’s unique line of work, personal interests and professional ambitions. This ensures CPD is truly rewarding, and can help ambitious clinicians reach new heights.
Is in-person or online CPD preferred?
Perhaps the biggest change in CPD training has been the rise in online, remote courses. These offer numerous advantages: the ability to access resources anywhere in the world, hear from leading professionals at times that suit the clinician, and reduced need for travel to connect with other professionals. However, it isn’t always perfect. In undergraduate programmes, dental students were found to be more likely to lose focus and have less motivation to learn when education was provided remotely.[iii]
There is also the inability to practice new techniques hands-on; in many cases, this would be the chance to gain confidence in complex treatment approaches, supported by an experienced tutor. Even hearing from professionals in person, without the small delay of an internet connection, could make discussions more engaging, with greater opportunities to ask questions.
An event such as BDIA Dental Showcase is a prime opportunity to access verifiable CPD training in person, hearing from renowned clinicians in the many lecture theatres available, and even engaging with exclusive sessions at the Clinical Excellence Hands-on Workshops. Taking place on 5th-6th March 2027, team members will find talks from leading professionals on a variety of topics, suited to all interests, making it a must-attend event for CPD opportunities.
Every day is a school day in dentistry, but planning CPD training into the calendar ensures professional requirements can be met without any concern. It also ensures team members can tailor their chosen opportunities for their needs, for maximum professional satisfaction.
For more information about BDIA Dental Showcase and future events, please visit www.dentalshowcase.com
5th–6th March 2027
Excel London
Author: David Hussey, Event Director
[i] General Dental Council, (2025). CPD Guidance. (Online) Available at: https://www.gdc-uk.org/education-cpd/cpd/cpd-scheme [Accessed August 2026]
[ii] General Dental Council, (2025). Recording and submitting CPD. (Online) Available at: https://www.gdc-uk.org/education-cpd/cpd/cpd-scheme/recording-and-submitting-cpd [Accessed August 2026]
[iii] Al-Natour, B., Safadi, R., Hamasha, A. A. H., Karasneh, R., Alkandari, M. A., & Hamasha, S. A. (2024). Dental students’ perceptions of integrating online learning in the dental curriculum. BMC Medical Education, 24(1), 1452.
