CPD Tips for Dental Nurses: Stay Compliant with GDC

16th Jun 2025

The annual deadline is 31st July to submit your hours for the year. You are allowed to submit zero hours in one year, but you must submit at least 10 hours the following year – especially for the mandatory CPD subjects.

Refer to the GDC’s website for a visual representation of how this works over a two-year cycle.

In this blog we explore 4 actionable CPD tips for dental nurses.

Why Planning Your CPD Matters

Planning ahead is essential to avoid last-minute stress. The aim of the Enhanced CPD Scheme (introduced in 2018) is to promote regular reflection and to spread your learning evenly across the cycle – not to cram in hours just before the deadline.

Image source: GDC – CPD guidance

Here are four simple tips to help you stay stress-free at the end of the CPD year:

1. Plan Your PDP Early

Set aside time at the start of your CPD year to create your Personal Development Plan (PDP). This helps you reflect on your goals and identify the skills and knowledge areas you want to develop.

Your PDP can be adapted as your career progresses.
Set realistic timeframes to complete your CPD.
This reduces stress and helps maintain work-life balance.

📌 Try our FREE PDP CPD course and earn 1 hour of verifiable CPD.

📝 Download the PDP template from the GDC

Need extra guidance? Check out:

2. Stay Aware of Mandatory & Recommended CPD Topics

The General Dental Council (GDC) provides a list of recommended CPD topics for all dental professionals. Not all topics are compulsory, but you should complete those most relevant to your role.

Mandatory CPD topics include:

Medical emergencies: Minimum 2 hours per year, 10 hours per cycle
Disinfection and decontamination: 5 hours per cycle
Radiography and radiation protection: 5 hours per cycle

Additional recommended areas:

Legal and ethical issues
Complaints handling
Oral cancer: early detection
Safeguarding children and young people
Safeguarding vulnerable adults

👉 Reminder: Dental nurses must complete a minimum of 50 hours per five-year CPD cycle.

3. Use Free or Low-Cost CPD Platforms

You can often complete some CPD hours at work (e.g. medical emergency training or in-house sessions). For the rest, explore free and affordable online options.

💡 We offer 10+ hours of FREE CPD on topics such as:

Infection control
Anaphylaxis awareness
Safeguarding and more

Explore free CPD courses for dental nurses

4. Set Reminders for Regular Reflection and CPD Completion

Life gets busy, and it’s easy to forget to reflect or log CPD activities. Setting regular reminders helps keep your development on track.

🧠 Use these reflection prompts:

Did something happen where you felt unsure or underprepared?
Did you perform a procedure that felt challenging?
Is there new equipment or technology you'd like to understand better?
Was there a recent memorable event at work?

📅 Reminder Tools:

Your phone calendar
Microsoft To Do or Apple Reminders
A physical calendar on your fridge

Digital reminders are especially effective because they’re portable, customisable, and automatic.

💡 Use your reminders alongside your PDP to track and complete CPD consistently throughout the year.

Final Thoughts

CPD is essential for compliance and professional growth. By starting your PDP early and setting smart reminders, you’ll stay on top of your requirements without last-minute panic.

Make CPD a regular, manageable habit – your future self will thank you.