Creating a Professional Development Plan (PDP) is now a mandatory requirement under the new Framework for Professional Competence.

Ideally the Plan should be completed at the beginning of each Professional Competence Scheme year as this encourages you to plan your activities during the year and to set out goals for your personal development. It can also be used to reflect on and monitor your progress during the year. The aim of creating a Professional Development Plan (PDP) is to document a process of self-analysis and set new and clearly definable educational goals for yourself in advance of the Professional Competence Scheme each year.

How to create your plan

• Sign in to the PCS Portal to begin your plan
• Click on the 'PCS plan' tile and complete your plan by identifying events, meetings, learning materials or discussion topics that will assist you in meeting your requirements. Your CPD activities must cover each of the eight domains of good professional practice at least once in a three-year period
• Once you have your plan created and submitted, you will receive 5 CPD credits
• If you send your plan to be reviewed by a colleague, both you and the reviewer will receive an additional CPD credit in the work-based learning category
• If you reflect on your plan at the end of the year, you will receive an additional CPD credit in the work-based learning category

To achieve the best results in professional performance, PDPs need to be prospective rather than retrospective.

PDPs should consider all the various roles that you fulfil in your job and the steps you need to take to update your knowledge, maintain your experience and improve your skills if necessary.

How To Create your Professional Development Plan

How to send your Professional Development Plan to be reviewed