United Kingdom CE Requirements by License

CPDCPD is mandatory for all registered social workers and is recorded on the online SWE account each registration year. There is no fixed hour count; instead the requirement is a minimum of 2 different pieces of CPD recorded per registration year, and at least one of those pieces must include a peer reflection (a written account of how peer feedback informed the learning). Registration renews annually; social workers apply to renew and confirm/record their CPD between 1 September and 30 November each year. A sample of CPD records is reviewed each year.

CPDCounselling and psychotherapy are NOT statutorily regulated in the UK; the titles 'counsellor' and 'psychotherapist' are not legally protected. CPD requirements therefore come from voluntary membership bodies, not from law. BACP requires all registered/accredited members to undertake and record CPD each year on a mandatory reflective template; BACP uses a self-directed reflective model with random audit rather than a single fixed statutory hour count (historically ~30 hours/year was the guideline). UKCP requires members to complete ongoing CPD (typically evidenced annually, commonly framed around ~250 hours over 5 years / ~50 hours per year depending on the member organisation) and to sign an annual CPD declaration. NCPS similarly requires annual CPD. Exact hour expectations vary by body and membership category.

CPDNo fixed hour requirement. HCPC uses an outcomes/standards-based CPD model: registrants must undertake continuing CPD and meet the Standards of Continuing Professional Development, namely (1) maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of CPD activities; (2) demonstrate a mixture of learning activities relevant to current or future practice; (3) seek to ensure CPD has contributed to the quality of their practice and service delivery; (4) seek to ensure CPD benefits service users; and (5) upon request, present a written CPD profile (own work, supported by evidence) explaining how the standards have been met. At each 2-year renewal, HCPC randomly audits 2.5% of registrants in each profession, who must submit a CPD profile. 'Practitioner psychologist' and the specialist psychologist titles (e.g. clinical, counselling, educational psychologist) are protected by law.