In today’s fast-changing healthcare environment, staying up to date with knowledge, skills, and best practices is essential for every Allied Health Professional (AHP)—whether you're just starting your career or already established in your field. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) ensures that you remain competent, confident, and capable of delivering safe, effective, and person-centred care throughout your professional journey.
In this blog, we’ll explore the value of CPD for AHPs, how it can support your career progression, the recognised standards and types of CPD in the UK, what activities count towards it, and practical tips to help you take control of your ongoing learning and development.
CPD is more than a regulatory requirement—it's a key driver of professional excellence. For AHPs, engaging in CPD helps maintain fitness to practise, ensures compliance with bodies like the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and supports the delivery of high-quality care across diverse healthcare settings.
Whether you're a physiotherapist, radiographer, occupational therapist, or speech and language therapist, CPD allows you to:
Standards of continuing professional development set out what is expected and required of your continuing professional development. If you're registered with the HCPC, you're required to:
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) does not require a set number of CPD hours or endorse specific activities. Instead, the focus is on relevance and impact—you are encouraged to identify your development needs and choose activities that support your professional growth and enhance your practice.
Importantly, CPD isn’t limited to formal education. Any activity that contributes to your learning and development and can be reflected upon in a meaningful way can count. The key is to ensure it aligns with your role and improves the service you deliver.
Here are the main categories of CPD activities accepted by the HCPC:
1. Work-based learning: Reflecting on day-to-day experiences, learning from feedback, supervising others, or participating in audits and service reviews.
2. Professional activity: Contributing to your profession through committee work, delivering training, mentoring colleagues, or presenting at events.
3. Formal Education: Enrolling in accredited courses, attending conferences, or completing structured training programmes. For example, you might pursue specialist modules through The Open University or attend professional development events offered by The Centre for Advancing Practice, both of which provide recognised learning opportunities tailored to allied health professionals.
4. Self-directed learning: This is one of the most flexible and personalised ways to grow professionally—whether you're diving into thought-provoking articles in The British Journal of Radiology, tuning into insightful episodes of The AHP Leader podcast, exploring expert-led webinars from Health Education England (HEE), or simply dedicating time to study new clinical guidelines or research on your own.
Each activity should be relevant to your scope of practice, help you meet your professional development goals, and ultimately enhance patient or service-user outcomes. For more information, see the HCPC's guidance on CPD activities.
CPD is not a box-ticking exercise—it’s an opportunity to invest in yourself, your patients, and your future. Whether you’re early in your journey or an experienced practitioner, your commitment to continuous learning speaks volumes about your professionalism and dedication to high-quality care.
By understanding the standards, embracing a variety of CPD formats, and planning your development proactively, you’ll stay compliant, confident, and equipped to thrive in your career.
At Verovian AHP Recruitment Agency, we are dedicated to empowering allied health professionals to achieve their career aspirations through a diverse range of resources, job opportunities, and professional development programmes.
As you work towards meeting your professional goals, our tailored services are designed to address your unique needs. We connect you with respected employers who prioritise continuous learning and professional growth. Whether you are seeking permanent roles, locum positions, or expert guidance on your next career move, our team is committed to supporting you at every step of your journey. Register with us today and let us help you advance your healthcare career.
As health and wellness take centre stage, dietitians play a crucial role in improving public health outcomes. From the NHS to private practice, dietitians are in high demand, helping people manage chronic conditions and promote overall well-being. A career in dietetics offers job stability and the opportunity to specialise in various fields, such as sports nutrition, paediatrics, and chronic disease management. Here’s everything you need to know about becoming a dietitian in the UK.
Dietitians are regulated healthcare professionals who assess, diagnose, and treat nutritional issues. They work in hospitals, clinics, community health services, private practice, and research. Dietitians tailor interventions to meet the needs of their patients, which may include managing conditions like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, or enhancing performance through sports nutrition.
Key responsibilities include:
Dietitians are regulated professionals, registered with bodies like the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). They are qualified to diagnose and treat medical conditions through nutrition. In contrast, nutritionists, while often educated in nutrition, are not regulated and typically focus on general wellness advice, without the ability to treat medical conditions.
Dietetics offers a rewarding career for those passionate about improving health through nutrition. While job security and ongoing learning opportunities are key benefits, the role demands emotional resilience and continuous professional development. The ability to tailor interventions to diverse patient needs presents both a challenge and a reward.
Ultimately, the decision of whether dietetics is right for you rests on your own introspection. Do your skills and passions align with the demands of the profession? Are you prepared for the challenges and committed to the rewards? Take the time to explore, talk to practicing dietitians, and envision yourself in this fulfilling career. If the answer is a resounding "yes," then you're well on your way to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
To practice as a dietitian in the UK, you need a recognised qualification in nutrition and dietetics. There are several routes to achieve this:
For overseas-trained dietitians, your qualifications must meet UK standards through the HCPC's equivalency process.
Overseas dietitians must ensure their qualifications meet UK standards by:
During your studies, you will complete clinical placements to gain hands-on experience. If you are on an apprenticeship or pursuing a postgraduate diploma, practical experience will be incorporated into your training. For overseas dietitians, supervised practice in the UK may be necessary to meet local standards.
After obtaining your qualification and completing practical experience, registering with the HCPC is essential. The registration process requires:
For overseas dietitians, additional documentation and assessment may be required. Once registered, you can legally practice as a dietitian in the UK.
Related: Getting on the HCPC Register as an Allied Health Professional
Joining professional associations like the British Dietetic Association (BDA) is an important step in your career development. Membership offers:
Once registered with the HCPC, register with Verovian AHP Recruitment Agency. We specialise in helping dietitians secure roles in both the NHS and private sector, as well as offering flexible freelance opportunities. Our team will guide you through the application process, support your transition into the UK job market, and connect you with top employers in your preferred field.
Becoming a dietitian in the UK offers a rewarding career with opportunities for specialisation and growth. By completing the necessary qualifications, registering with the HCPC, and joining professional bodies like the BDA, you can ensure a fulfilling career helping people improve their health through nutrition. Whether you’re a local graduate or an overseas professional, the journey to becoming a dietitian is both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
At Verovian AHPs Recruitment, we connect passionate professionals with top opportunities in the NHS and private sectors. Whether you're seeking full-time, part-time, or freelance work, let us help you take the next step in your rewarding dietetics career. Start your journey with us today!
