The Importance of CPD for Paramedics

Paramedics work in a variety of settings and deal with all aspects of emergency and social care, ranging from acute problems such as cardiac arrest, strokes, major trauma, to urgent problems such as minor illness and injury. This brief article will outline CPD for Paramedics, the HCPC body requirements, as well as explain how to plan for effective CPD.

CPD in the Emergency Industry

People working in the health and social care workforce operate in a changing, challenging and complex environment. Paramedics are registered healthcare professionals who have a unique role that crosses healthcare, public health, social care and public safety.

Paramedics provide an immediate response to accidents and medical emergencies and are trained in all aspects of prehospital emergency care. Keeping skills and knowledge up to date in order to operate safely and effectively, both now and in the future is therefore essential.

Continuing Professional Development, or CPD, is defined as ‘a wide range of learning activities through which professionals maintain and develop throughout their career to ensure that they retain their capacity to practice safely, effectively and legally within their evolving scope of practice’.

All registered paramedics are expected to maintain evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as part of their registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. Competence to continue practicing by extending skills should be documented and reviewed in an annual work-based appraisal in order to uphold the highest standard of care, and to safeguard the patient, practitioner and employer.

What are the different types of CPD for Paramedics?

Effective CPD should develop new knowledge and skills, add to your existing skills, and provide opportunities to initiate and reinforce best practice. Fundamentally CPD in ambulance and emergency services is about producing improved, competent practitioners to benefit overall patient care. It is both a practice of doing and of recording. CPD for paramedics covers a mix of training types to ensure a broad scope of practice. Examples include:

Formal/ Structured CPD

• Attending conferences and seminars
• Further Education
• Distance Learning
• Undertaking research
• Writing for books, journals or web content 

 Self-Directed Learning

• Keeping a file of your progress
• Reading articles / journals
• Reviewing books / journals
• Voluntary work

College of Paramedics CPD requirements

Once qualified, paramedics often join the College of Paramedics. The College of Paramedics is the professional body for paramedics in the United Kingdom, leading the development of the profession across a wide range of health and care settings. They aim to promote excellence in paramedic practice by offering and supporting professional development opportunities and lifelong learning wherever paramedics practice.

Registered paramedics have to keep their skills and knowledge up to date with annual CPD (Continuing Professional Development). The five principles are that CPD and Lifelong Learning should; 

1. benefit the service users
2. improve the quality of service delivery
3. be each person’s responsibility and be made possible and supported by your employer
4. be balanced and relevant to each person’s area of practice or employment
5. be recorded and show the effect on each person’s area of practice 

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

All paramedics, whether working in the NHS, private or voluntary sectors must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The HCPC sets standards for professional education, training and practice. Paramedics are required to abide by professional registration standards including the maintenance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

As well as setting standards, the HCPC keep a register of professionals, known as 'registrants'. To remain on the register, paramedics must be able to demonstrate that they continue to meet these standards and are required to renew their registration with the HCPC every two years, in order to continue to practice. 

Paramedics must maintain and submit their portfolio of evidence to the Health & Care Professionals Council. Around 2.5% of registrants will be audited to check that they have, in fact, undertaken CPD, kept a record of it and meet the requirements. Technicians and ECAs do not have a regulating body that requires CPD, however, in order to develop within your role, it is vital to learn from your practices and a record of professional development can and should be kept.

How to plan for Effective CPD

Each paramedic is individually responsible for regularly planning, prioritising, carrying out, applying and reflecting on CPD and lifelong learning. Your CPD record should show where you are now, where you want to go (short and long term) and how you will go about achieving any long term objectives. Things to consider might include:

• Opening statement - brief history
• SWOT analysis - Strengths / Weaknesses / Opportunities / Threats
• Goals
• Skills
• Qualifications
• A Timetable of what you have achieved so far
• Evidence - certificates of training, CPD certificates of attendance, photocopies of articles etc
• Development Needs 

Using the CPD Cycle to manage your Continuing Professional Development

The CPD Cycle is a easy to use tool that helps you manage your annual Continuing Professional Development requirements. It follows a logical approach that is flexible to suit your working environment. There are five key stages in the CPD Cycle that are important when planning your professional development learning activities for the year. Find out more about the CPD Cycle.

Find approved CPD Courses for Paramedics

For paramedics, our CPD providers offer a number of CPD Courses, events, and workshops on topics such as anatomy and physiology, cardiology, medications, and medical procedures to further personal and professional development.

Within the Healthcare & Medical CPD Industry Hub, you can find a full scope of related CPD providers and courses, covering a whole range of subjects that been formally CPD certified for your Continuing Professional Development requirements.

CPD accreditation for your training courses and events

We hope this article was helpful. Established in 1996, The CPD Certification Service has over 27 years’ experience providing CPD accreditation. With members in over 100 countries, our CPD providers benefit from the ability to promote themselves as part of an international community where quality is both recognised and assured.

If you are interested in offering training courses, seminars, workshops, eLearning, or educational events suitable for Continuing Professional Development, please visit the Become a CPD Provider page or contact our team to discuss in more detail. Alternatively, if you are looking for a free online CPD record tool to help manage, track and log your ongoing learning, as well as store your professional training records and attendance certificates in one simple place, go to the myCPD Portal page.