CPD helps to improve patient care and safety and should be conducted regularly to maintain current best practice. CPD activities should be shaped by the learning needs of working professionals and their working environments. All CPD activities must have an opportunity to reflect on learning that has taken place and to think about ways it may improve or change individuals current working practices.
CPD Approval Application
To apply for CPD approval for an event you must submit the following to the Education Development CPD email cpd@rsced.ac.uk:
Completed Application Form – Download here
Event Programme – including details of timings and list of speakers/faculty taking part in the event
Participant Evaluation Form – a template example can be found at the end of the Application Form
CPD Application Guide
Find out more about the application process and terms and conditions of RCSEd CPD approval in the RSCEd CPD application guide.
Download hereCPD Approval Application Form
Click the button below to download the RCSEd CPD approval application form.
Download hereCPD Approval Criteria
- Be aimed at a defined target group(s)
- Set out clear and relevant educational objectives
- Include a mechanism for evaluation - so that the organisers can obtain feedback on the relevance, quality and effectiveness of the activity
- Have an appropriate programme - which reflects the needs of the intended participants
- Reflect a broad consensus of current expert opinion
- Not be overtly promotional where there is a commercial sponsor or company product
- Have a nominated organiser who will keep records of attendance and evaluation
- Educational Conferences (in person and online)
- Educational Courses (in person and online)
- Distance learning programmes
- NHS trusts
- NHS hospitals
- Medical and Dental societies
- Medical and Dental education providers
- Medical and Dental associations
- University societies
- Event organisers on behalf of a society, association or education provider
CPD Approval Fees
The below table outlines the fee structure for the CPD application service. Using the CPD service incurs a fee regardless of whether your application is successful or not.
Only when payment for the CPD service is received will a review commence.
- Not for Profit Organisations are organisations set up not for financial benefit to any individual or board of directors. For example, charities, university societies or NHS trusts.
- For Profit Organisations are organisations that exists to generate profit. For example, private education providers.
Late Fees: The College takes up to 14 days to review each CPD application. Submissions received less than 14 days prior to the date of the event are not guaranteed to be reviewed and if they are they will incur an additional 50% late submission fee charge.
Payment can be made by either the provided online payment link or by invoice.
CPD FAQs
We require a completed application form, a detailed copy of the event programme, and a copy of the proposed feedback form. Occasionally additional information will be required, but in those cases the applicant will be informed. All application material must be sent directly to cpd@rcsed.ac.uk.
Accreditation and CPD approval are different processes at the College.
The RCSEd is recognised to award CPD hours to activities which meet recognised standards that deliver educational content to medical and dental professionals. The CPD application process is shorter, and approval can typically be granted within 14 days once all required documentation has been submitted.
Accreditation is a lengthier process which includes CPD approval, support and feedback on course design and delivery, as well as use of the College logo and the wording “This course has been accredited by RCSEd”. For more information about Accreditation, please visit the accreditation webpage or contact the Accreditation Department at accreditation@rcsed.ac.uk.
We aim to process all applications within a 14-day period. Please ensure that applications are submitted as soon as possible to guarantee a successful application. Submissions received less than 14 days prior to the date of the event are not guaranteed to be reviewed. If they are, an additional 50% late submission fee will apply.
CPD hours are calculated based on the duration of the activity as follows: One hour of educational content = one hour of CPD.
Breaks, sponsorship talks and welcome/closing addresses will not be included when calculating hours of instruction.
The maximum number of hours that can be awarded for a full-day programme is 6 hours.
No, the logo cannot be used for CPD approved events. This right is reserved for events and courses that have been Accredited by the College.
Successful applicants may use “Awarded xxx CPD hours by RCSEd” or “Approved for xxx CPD hours by RCSEd” on event materials and certificates. Use of the word “Accredited” is not permitted for events that have only been awarded CPD approval.
The college is unable to award CPD hours retrospectively. Please ensure your application is submitted with enough time for it to be processed before your event.
Events in a series or conference can be submitted under the same application. However, if events are independent, then separate applications must be submitted.
Awarded CPD can be reused at repeated events if the educational content and event structure remains the same. This lasts for 1 year from the date of the first event stated in the CPD application.
If any of the educational content or structure of the event is changed a new application must be submitted.
After one year, a new application must be submitted. It is the responsibility of the event organiser to apply for renewed CPD approval.
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh follows the standards and outcomes for medical education set by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), the General Medical Council (GMC), and the General Dental Council (GDC) when awarding CPD to courses and events. Credits are awarded for CPD based on one credit equating to one hour of educational activity.
The AoMRC, GMC, and GDC are UK-based organisations designed to help protect patients and improve medical education and practice specifically within the UK. Therefore, RCSEd cannot guarantee that the CPD credits it awards will automatically be recognised at an international level, especially as some countries outside the UK operate different CPD/CME schemes. RCSEd recommends that applying organisations refer to the specific criteria of the relevant country’s regulatory body for clarification on local CPD/CME requirements and to determine whether CPD awarded for UK courses and events is recognised internationally.
The responsibility ultimately lies with the individual to demonstrate that the CPD they have undertaken is relevant and valuable to their personal fields of practice, anticipated future changes, and the needs of the service in which they work.
Contact us
For any questions regarding CPD applications, please consult our Application Guide and CPD FAQs. If you continue to have questions please contact cdp@rcsed.ac.uk