Continuing professional development.

Abstract

There is increasing political and consumer pressure on professions, which have a degree of monopoly of service, to ensure that their members are competent to practise. One means of maintaining competence is the requirement of professionals to undertake professional development activities throughout their practising careers. Options reviewed are: voluntary attendance at continuing education activities; complaints-initiated professional development; compulsory attendance at continuing education activities; practice audit; a professional development programme for recent graduates; and the professional development review process.