Continuing professional development

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the way you learn and develop throughout your career. It ensures your knowledge and skills remain up to date, allowing you to provide the best possible care for your patients. It is a key part of your annual appraisal and provides the essential evidence for your 5-yearly revalidation with the General Medical Council (GMC).

Your annual CPD requirements

In Scotland, there is no longer a fixed target of CPD credits or hours that you must log each year. Instead, the focus is on the quality and impact of your learning, rather than the quantity.

You must provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that you are keeping your knowledge and skills up to date across the full scope of your work. This includes every role you undertake, whether clinical, educational, or managerial.

Your appraiser will look for evidence that you have:

Covered the breadth of your practice.
Reflected on what you have learned.
Identified any changes you have made to your care as a result.
Planned how to address any future development needs.

You'll record this evidence on SOAR (Scottish Online Appraisal Resource). This is the national digital platform used to manage medical appraisals in Scotland. You'll use it to upload your supporting information, track your professional development, and submit your annual forms.

Learn more

How to complete your CPD

You can generate credits from a wide range of activities, allowing you to tailor your learning to your own interests. Common activities include:

Courses—Attending conferences, webinars, or workshops.
Reading—Reviewing medical journals and online articles.
Peer learning—Participating in case discussions or practice meetings.
Quality improvement—Undertaking a clinical audit or project.
Teaching—Preparing and delivering sessions to students or trainees.

A good CPD plan includes a variety of these activities.

Recording your CPD on SOAR

When logging your activities, simply listing the courses you attended is not enough.

For each activity, you must record a reflective note explaining how it will impact your practice and benefit your patients. This reflection is the most important part of the process.

CPD resources for GPs in Scotland

There are many organisations in Scotland that provide high-quality learning opportunities for GPs.

CPD Connect

This is an NHS Education for Scotland (NES) service. CPD Connect offers fully funded, practical learning activities that are relevant to Scottish General Practice. This includes online modules, evening webinars, and in-person events across the country.

Find out more about CPD Connect.

Practice-Based Small Group Learning (PBSGL)

Practice-Based Small Group Learning (PBSGL) is a popular CPD option in Scotland, managed by NES. Small groups of GPs meet regularly to discuss real-life, structured case studies. This peer-led approach is a practical and supportive way to learn and share knowledge.

Learn more about PBSGL.

RCGP

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) provides many educational resources. These include online learning modules, clinical guidelines, and national events. They also set the standards for what counts as a CPD credit.

Discover CPD resources from the RCGP.

Your local RCGP Faculty

Your local RCGP Faculty is a great source of continuing professional development. Faculties are your local connection to a professional community of GPs, and they organise a regular programme of educational events in your area.

These events are tailored to the needs of local doctors. They are also an excellent way to network with colleagues and share learning. Attending faculty events is a popular way to earn CPD credits.

Find your local RCGP faculty and see upcoming learning opportunities.

RCGP Scotland events

In addition to local faculty events, the RCGP organises a programme of events specifically relevant to GPs in Scotland. This includes a wide range of online webinars and workshops. These events cover diverse clinical topics and professional skills. They are a popular way to earn CPD credits.

Browse all upcoming RCGP events in Scotland.

Other providers

You can also find CPD courses and other activities on the following websites:

Discover CDP learning opportunities

Access fully funded, Scotland-specific CPD modules and events from NHS Education for Scotland.

Access CPD Connect

Record your learning on SOAR

GP career development

PBSGL