What is CPD and why is it important for aesthetic practitioners?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is mandatory for all medical professionals as part of their codes of conduct, read this chapter to find out more
Formally defined as the ‘holistic commitment of professionals towards the enhancement of personal skills and proficiency throughout their careers’, CPD is a combination of approaches, ideas and techniques that will help you to manage your own learning and growth over a continuous period.
Established in 1996, the CPD Certification Service is an independent accreditation centre that works across many sectors, disciplines and learning centres.
The centre works with training providers, professional bodies, academic institutions and corporate organisations to provide high-quality training certified according to a universally accepted checklist. Training courses, events, e-learning, conferences, workshops and seminars can be accredited by the CPD Certification Service to boost specific learning requirements.
Whether you’re an experienced and established aesthetic practitioner, or new to the field, CPD is key to supporting and developing your career.
Certification Make sure the training you take is fully insured and compliant with the most up-to-date guidelines outlined by Health Education England and the General Medical Council. CPD-accredited courses can be checked for CPD certification with the relevant provider. However, many insurers, including Hamilton Fraser, will require that training for certain treatments, such as injectables, is carried out by a medical professional, regardless of whether it is CPD accredited.If in any doubt, check with your insurer before undertaking the training
DocumentationMedical regulatory bodies require a collection of evidence of CPD as part of the appraisal and revalidation process.Be sure to log your CPD process using the relevant platform for your profession, for example, the Physicians CPD app for doctors, the NMC website for nurses, or other online platforms like Clarity or Fourteen Fish
Identify priorities When identifying your training priorities, think about your existing skills and experience, your customer needs and also how much time you are able to commit to CPD
Depth and breadthWhen it comes to choosing the right training course, consider your skill level but also your interestsOpt for training covering a wide range of topics. Attending varied and balanced training not only increases your experience and skill set but is also more interesting and enjoyable
Know your limits Simply staying up to date is perfectly acceptable if you are not ready to advance in your clinical training
Quality vs quantity The quality of the CPD you undertake is more valuable than the hours completed; shorter but more frequent bursts of training can often be more effective than longer sessions
Stay on trackKeep a CPD log over time and update it regularly. Leaving it until the last minute before your appraisal can be stressful and unnecessary
CPD is mandatory for all medical professionals as part of their codes of conduct. Recommended CPD requirements for each profession are outlined by the relevant governing body. For example, doctors’ recommended CPD requirements are mandated by the General Medical Council, nurses’ by the Royal College of Nursing and dentists’ by the General Dental Council. While doctors and nurses need to submit their CPD learning documentation for assessment annually, dentists are only required to do this every five years as part of an Enhanced CPD scheme.
CPD is essential for all practitioners to demonstrate continued learning and professional development, and there are lots of CPD-certified courses, conferences and articles available. CPD is a great way to keep up to date with developments in the sector and broaden your repertoire of knowledge. The JCCP stipulates that registrants must demonstrate a minimum of 50 hours of CPD learning per year.
Yes, it's crucial for professionals to demonstrate ongoing learning and development
I am unsure about its importance and/or I believe CPD has minimal impact
There are lots of ways you can earn CPD points. These include:
Training providersProviders offer a wide range of specialist and advanced courses such as facial aesthetics training, botulinum toxin and filler training and cosmetic dermatology courses to name a few. In addition, practitioners can also access CPD-accredited resources online, covering the latest techniques and technology in aesthetics
Medical journalsUseful for peer-reviewed articles; an easy way to search these and keep on top of the latest releases is to make a keyword search, such as “aesthetic medicine” or “dermal filler”, in Google Scholar. You can also subscribe to Google Alerts and specific journals’ newsletters which will tell you when relevant new research is published
Industry-centred publications In addition to the educational content in trade magazines such as Aesthetics Journal, Aesthetic Medicine and Consulting Room, you’ll find a lot of interesting events, conferences, courses and webinars advertised in these
Industry bodies’ websites It’s worth bookmarking the websites for the main bodies, including the General Medical Council, the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses, the British Dental Journal and the JCCP to stay up to date with the latest regulations and training requirements depending on your specialist area
Comma (a social networking platform for the medical aesthetics community) Here you can take part in polls, education Q&As, and webinars, read news articles and research information; you can also access the Comma Library where you can clock up a full complement of CPD points-worth of live treatment demonstrations
There is no nationally agreed framework for CPD in the aesthetics sector for practitioners, and the JCCP is working with UK CPD organisations and insurance companies such as Hamilton Fraser, to enhance the standard of ‘updated’ skills, knowledge and competence training provided and advertised to make sure that practitioners remain safe and ‘fit for purpose’. You can earn CPD points for anything that is considered to be educational and involves ‘active learning’ – from hands-on training courses and attending lectures and conferences to watching a webinar or reading a research article.
Structured/active learning This involves active participation-based study. It includes clinical training courses ranging from CPD-certified foundation courses to advanced qualifications, like the Level 7 Diploma and ‘masterclass’ courses, as well as attendance at demonstrations, lectures and e-learning webinars, or participation at accredited events or conferences. Structured learning includes business and managerial-related courses, such as Hamilton Fraser’s CPD-accredited Aesthetic Business Conference.
Reflective/passive learningThis refers to one-directional learning that doesn’t involve participant interaction. This could include for example reading relevant news articles, listening to podcasts or reading case studies. Some informal meetings can also be applied to reflective learning, but this must be in line with the individual’s CPD plan.
Self-directed/unstructured learningThis includes unaccompanied CPD activities such as reading online and print documents and articles from relevant publications, expert industry journals or magazines.
Most aesthetic practitioners will be earning CPD points without necessarily realising it, but it is important to make sure that you record all activities and keep a track of your annual CPD activities on a CPD record form that corresponds with the learning outcomes and practical applications of your professional body or association. If you attend a CPD-recognised course, event, seminar, or workshop you may also receive a CPD certificate of attendance. Whether you’re an experienced practitioner looking to develop your skills or are just starting out, training and CPD is an ongoing process. In the aesthetic sector, treatments and techniques are always changing, and with a licensing scheme and minimum training requirements on the horizon, it’s important you keep up to date with developments in the sector.
