# The General Dental Council (Continuing Professional Development) (Dentists) Rules Order of Council 2008, Rule 2: Interpretation


In these rules—
“the Act” means the Dentists Act 1984;
“CPD” means continuing professional development which—
(a) comprises lectures, seminars, courses, individual study or other activities undertaken by a dentist or an applicant for restoration to the register under rule 11;
(b) can reasonably be expected to advance a person’s professional development as a dentist; and
(c) is relevant to the person’s practice or intended practice;
“CPD cycle” means a period of five years beginning:
(a) in the case of a dentist who is first registered on or after 1st January 2002, on the next occurring 1st January;
(b) in the case of a dentist who is first registered during the period 1st January 1990 to 31st December 2001 and is on the register at 31st December 2001, on 1st January 2002;
(c) in the case of a dentist who is first registered during the period 1st January 1990 to 31st December 2001 and is not on the register at 31st December 2001, on 1st January 2003;
(d) in the case of a dentist who is first registered during the period 1st January 1980 to 31st December 1989, on 1st January 2003; and
(e) in the case of a dentist who is first registered on or before 31st December 1979, on 1st January 2004;
and each subsequent period of five years;
“CPD requirement” means the requirement that every dentist shall complete at least 250 hours of CPD during a CPD cycle, of which at least 75 hours shall be verifiable CPD;
“CPD year” means a period of 12 months beginning on 1st January in any calendar year;
“dentist” means a registered dentist;
“period of grace” means a period of six months, after the end of a CPD cycle, during which a dentist may complete any outstanding CPD due in respect of the previous CPD cycle in accordance with an undertaking given under rule 8(1) or (3);
“register” has the meaning given in section 53 of the Act and “registered” shall be construed accordingly;
“verifiable CPD” means CPD for which there is documentary evidence that —
(a) the dentist has undertaken the CPD; and
(b) the CPD has—
(i) concise educational aims and objectives;
(ii) clear anticipated outcomes; and
(iii) quality controls.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1822/schedule/rule/2 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/general-dental-council-continuing-professional-development-dentists-rules-order-of-council-2008/schedule/rule-2/enacted
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.