How to Record CPD Hours for Healthcare Professionals

UK healthcare professionals registered with the GMC, NMC, GDC, GPhC, HCPC, or GOC are required to maintain accurate CPD records throughout their career. Your log is your evidence of ongoing learning — and regulators can request it at any time.

What information should you record?

Every CPD entry should capture the following details:

• Activity title — a brief, searchable name for the activity
• Activity type — course, conference, teaching, audit, peer review, etc.
• Provider — the organisation that delivered or accredited the learning
• Date completed — or start and end date for multi-day events
• Duration — hours and minutes spent on the activity
• CPD points — auto-calculated from hours or manually entered from a certificate
• Evidence — a certificate, attendance record, or meeting notes
• Reflection — what you learned and how it affects your practice

Why accurate recording matters

Incomplete or vague records make it difficult to demonstrate compliance during appraisal or revalidation. The GMC expects a minimum of 50 CPD credits per year (250 over five years). The NMC requires 35 hours of CPD per three-year registration period, with at least 20 hours of participatory learning.

A timestamped digital record is far more defensible than a handwritten log or a spreadsheet without version history. It also means your portfolio is always ready — not something you rush to complete the week before appraisal.

Step-by-step: recording CPD in myCPD Tracker

1. Click Add CPD in the sidebar navigation
2. Select the activity type — e.g. Formal Education, Conference, Peer Review, Clinical Audit
3. Enter the duration in hours and minutes
4. Add a title and description of what the activity involved
5. Write a short reflection — what you learned and how you will apply it
6. Upload your certificate or attendance record as evidence
7. Save — CPD points are calculated automatically based on your activity type

Which category does my activity belong to?

CPD activities fall into three broad categories:

• Clinical — learning that directly relates to patient care
• Academic — research, writing, teaching, and supervision
• Professional — leadership, management, ethics, and governance

How long should you keep records?

Keep CPD records and supporting evidence for at least three years after your revalidation date — longer if you are in a specialty with specific record-keeping requirements (e.g. surgical logbooks). Digital storage with automatic cloud backup removes the risk of losing paper certificates.