Introduction
The Royal College of Psychiatrists' January 2026 CPD guidance introduces a minimum requirement of 30 clinical CPD hours per year, removes any specified minimum for non-clinical activity, and confirms that online CPD is fully accepted with no limit on its use. These changes create a new landscape for how psychiatrists can meet their professional development obligations while managing costs and time.
For self-employed psychiatrists and for NHS consultants whose study leave budgets are exhausted or who have recently changed jobs, the financial and practical implications of CPD delivery methods have become a central consideration. The guidance does not mandate attendance at expensive live conferences, nor does it require participation in the RCPsych good standing scheme. This permits a deliberate and evidence-based approach to CPD spending.
This blogpost examines the cost and time impact of different CPD delivery methods, sets out what the new guidance actually states, and identifies the legitimate option to opt out of the College's good standing framework while remaining fully compliant with GMC revalidation requirements.
1. Cost and Time Impact of CPD Delivery Methods
The choice of CPD delivery method has significantly different financial and practical consequences depending on whether a psychiatrist is employed by an NHS Trust or self-employed. The guidance is silent on these differences, treating all psychiatrists as if they have equal access to study leave budgets, employer-funded conference attendance, and no opportunity cost for time away from work.
1.1 Comparison of Live Congress vs. Online CPD
The following table sets out the estimated costs for attending a typical RCPsych Annual International Congress (based on June 2026 registration at £820, four nights accommodation, and travel) compared with completing an equivalent amount of online CPD.
Initial outlay by consultant grade doctor
| Cost Item | Live Congress (4-5 days) | Online CPD (20 hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee | £820 | £100 (typical) |
| Accommodation (4 nights) | £500 | £0 |
| Travel (diesel) | £60 | £0 |
| Lost work (self-employed, one week) | £3,375 * (at an average of £90/h, 7.5h/d - no work = no income) | £0 |
| Total (self-employed) | £5,130 | £100 |
| Total (NHS employed, Trust-funded) | £0 (if budget approved and paid in advance) | £0 (if within study leave) |
| Total (NHS employed, self-funding) | £1,380\** | £100 |
\* Much of this can be offset against taxation if counted as a loss. However, the loss is palpable immediately for the week at a conference. [Caution: this does not mean that all locums are making >£150,000 per year. Not all will get 46 weeks of work per annum. See: Locum v Employed]
** This figure represents gross personal outlay before any reimbursement. NHS Trusts vary significantly in their study leave budgets (typically £500-£2,000 per year) and reimbursement policies. Some or all of the £1,380 may be reclaimed depending on the Trust's available budget, the psychiatrist's remaining study leave entitlement, and whether the conference is deemed an approved activity. Psychiatrists who have exhausted their budget, who are in a new post before entitlement resets, or whose Trust has restricted study leave spending may bear the full £1,380 personally. Unlike self-employed colleagues, however, they do not lose salary during the conference.
1.2 Employed vs. Self-Employed: Different Economic Realities
The guidance assumes the presence of an employer who can facilitate CPD. Page 25 states: "Employers should be as flexible as possible in enabling this commitment to be met for all psychiatrists." This assumption does not hold for self-employed psychiatrists.
| Factor | NHS Trust Employed | Self-Employed (Outside PSC) |
|---|---|---|
| Conference registration | Usually reclaimable from study leave budget | Direct personal cost |
| Accommodation and travel | Usually reclaimable within Trust policy | Direct personal cost |
| Income during conference | Salary continues unchanged | Direct loss of billable income |
| Study leave entitlement | Typically 30 days over 3 years (varies by Trust) | None |
| CPD budget | Typically £500-£2,000 per year (varies by Trust) | None |
| Post-conference email backlog | Returns to hundreds of emails | Variable |
| Post-conference clinical backlog | Absorbed into work time | Absorbed into personal time or reduces next week's capacity |
1.3 Employed Psychiatrists Who Self-Fund
Not all NHS-employed consultants have their conference costs covered by their Trust. Study leave budgets vary significantly between Trusts, typically ranging from £500 to £2,000 per year. Psychiatrists who have exhausted their budget, who are in a new post before their entitlement resets, or whose Trust has restricted study leave spending may find themselves self-funding attendance. In these circumstances, the financial exposure for an employed psychiatrist attending a live congress becomes identical to that of a self-employed colleague, without the compensating factor of salary continuation.
1.4 Time Impact Beyond Cost
Both employed and self-employed psychiatrists face non-financial disruption when attending a live conference lasting four to five days.
| Disruption | Employed | Self-Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical work backlog on return | Yes | Yes |
| Administrative catch-up | Yes | Yes |
| Email backlog | Often hundreds | Variable |
| Impact on patient waiting times | Potentially significant | Less significant (smaller caseload typically) |
| Need for locum cover | Very unlikely to be funded | Not applicable |
The guidance does not address these practical disruptions. It treats attendance at a live conference as equivalent to any other CPD activity, without acknowledging the differential time costs.
2. What the New CPD Guidance States
The January 2026 guidance makes several changes to the previous CPD framework. The most significant is the replacement of the former 50-hour total annual CPD requirement with a minimum of 30 hours specifically within the clinical domain (page 15). Non-clinical CPD has no specified minimum (page 15). Online CPD is explicitly accepted without limit; the College recommends a balanced mix of online and face-to-face CPD overall, but where only online CPD is feasible, this will be accepted for the purposes of CPD submission (page 16). Participation in the RCPsych good standing scheme is not mandatory, and the guidance states that non-use of the service must not constitute a barrier to successful appraisal or revalidation (page 15).
The guidance divides CPD into two domains. Clinical activities encompass all educational activities that relate to the development of clinical skills, capabilities or knowledge, and include lectures, seminars, local case conferences, educational activities in a multidisciplinary setting, risk assessment training, case-based discussions, reflective practice activities and clinical workshops (page 13). Non-clinical activities are divided into academic and professional categories (page 13). Academic activities include preparation for postgraduate teaching or research, clinical audit, educational supervision, examining and publishing (page 13). Professional activities include peer group meetings, management and leadership training, mandatory training (if authorised by the peer group), governance training, medico-legal training, relevant IT training, and writing or reviewing guidance for statutory bodies (page 14). The same activity may fall into different domains depending on the psychiatrist's learning objectives (page 14).
For psychiatrists with any clinical contact with patients, the 30 clinical hours per year are required to remain in good standing with the College (page 15). However, the guidance explicitly acknowledges that the College's standards for good standing are not the same as the GMC's minimum standards for revalidation (page 4). The GMC does not identify a minimum number of CPD points required for revalidation and does not require the doctor to join and participate in a peer group (page 4).
Several specific limits apply to claimable CPD activity. The maximum number of points that can be claimed for any single day is 8 points (page 15). Structured reading may be claimed for up to 5 points per year, provided a reflective note is completed and the activity is approved by the peer group; the College recommends 200 hours of reading per year to supplement other CPD activity (page 16). Academic activities (preparation for teaching or research, clinical audit, educational supervision, examining, publishing) are capped at 5 points total per year (page 13). Peer group meeting attendance is capped at 5 points per year (page 14). Writing or reviewing guidance for statutory bodies is capped at 5 points per year if learning takes place (page 14). Educator-related activities such as the GMC National Trainer Survey with reflection are capped at 5 points per year subject to peer group verification (page 17). Peer group discussion of anonymised patient cases or wider clinical practice is capped at 5 points per year (page 18). Personal therapy as part of reflective practice is capped at 5 points per year, with evidence of reflecting on clinical cases also required (page 18). Longer courses such as an MSc may contribute up to 10 non-clinical points per cycle; if any time involves specific clinical learning, it may be eligible for clinical CPD subject to peer group approval (page 17).
Certain activities are not ordinarily claimable for CPD points. The delivery of teaching or training is not normally approved, though preparation for teaching (e.g., reading, developing communication skills) may be approved by the peer group (page 16). Compulsory or mandatory training is not considered CPD unless clinically relevant and authorised by the peer group (page 14). Work for external organisations such as the GMC, BMA, or CQC is usually not considered CPD, though preparation or training elements for the role may be accredited by the peer group (page 17). Promotional or sponsored events may only be approved if the content has not been influenced by the sponsor, with an explicit statement to that effect, and authorised by the peer group (page 17).
The guidance is silent on several matters that matter to practising psychiatrists. It does not define "clinically relevant" for the purpose of authorising mandatory training. It does not specify the relationship between the recommended 200 hours of reading per year and the 5 claimable hours for structured reading. It does not address the different economic realities of employed and self-employed psychiatrists. It does not quantify what constitutes a "balanced programme" beyond encouragement (page 15). And it does not provide criteria for peer group discretion when authorising activities or approving reflections.
3. The Option to Opt Out of RCPsych Good Standing
The guidance is explicit that the RCPsych CPD Certificate of Good Standing is not a regulatory requirement. Page 4 states that the standards set out by the GMC for revalidation "are not the same as those set out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to be considered in good standing for CPD." Specifically, the GMC does not identify a minimum number of CPD points and does not require a doctor to join or participate in a peer group. The College's good standing framework is therefore an additional layer, not a statutory obligation.
Page 15 reinforces this distinction by stating that participation in the RCPsych CPD submissions programme is not mandatory, and that "non-use of the service must not constitute a barrier to a psychiatrist's successful appraisal or revalidation." A psychiatrist who chooses not to seek the College's certificate remains fully compliant with GMC requirements provided they can demonstrate appropriate CPD activity, reflection, and engagement with appraisal. The GMC requires evidence of CPD but does not prescribe how much or in what format.
For psychiatrists who find the administrative burden of peer group meetings, the cost of College membership, or the financial exposure of expensive conferences disproportionate to the educational return, opting out is a legitimate and explicitly permitted choice. The guidance does not require any justification for non-participation. It simply states that the option exists and must not be used to block appraisal or revalidation.
4. Selective Conference Attendance
The guidance places no premium on live attendance over online learning. Page 16 states that where only online CPD is feasible, it will be accepted for the purposes of CPD submission. No distinction is made between a £820 congress ticket and a £100 online course. Both generate clinical CPD points if the learning is relevant and appropriately reflected upon.
Psychiatrists who choose to attend live conferences may still do so. The guidance does not prohibit any form of CPD. However, for those who wish to minimise costs, avoid lost work time, or reduce the disruption of travel and accommodation, online CPD offers a functionally equivalent alternative. The clinical domain requirement of 30 hours per year can be met entirely through online activities at a fraction of the cost of a single live congress.
Conclusion
The January 2026 CPD guidance creates an opportunity that many psychiatrists may not have recognised. By setting a minimum of 30 clinical hours, accepting online CPD without limit, and explicitly permitting opt-out from the College's good standing scheme, the guidance separates legitimate professional development from expensive institutional offerings. A psychiatrist can meet all GMC revalidation requirements without ever attending a live congress, joining a peer group, or holding an RCPsych CPD certificate.
For self-employed psychiatrists, the financial case for opting out is compelling. The difference between a £2,880 congress and £100 of online CPD is not marginal. It is the difference between a week of unpaid absence and no disruption to income. For NHS consultants with exhausted study leave budgets or those who have recently changed jobs, the same calculation applies. The guidance does not require anyone to subsidise the College's events or to treat live attendance as inherently superior to online learning.
None of this prevents psychiatrists from attending conferences they value or joining peer groups they find useful. The guidance leaves those choices open. But it no longer compels them. The previous assumption that good standing requires expensive travel, residential stays, and days away from work is not supported by the current framework. Psychiatrists who read the guidance carefully will find that they have more freedom, and lower costs, than they may have realised.