CPD

All our courses release verifiable CPD's. The General Dental Council (GDC) has set out changes in CPD requirements for dentists and dental professionals as of 2018. As of 1 January 2018 for dentists and 1 August for dental professionals, the GDC will require you to increase the number of verifiable CPD's over 5 years. This will be 100 hours for dentists and 75 for Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists. See more details on what you will be required to do here.

As a provider of verifiable CPD’s, The Oral Surgery Academy adheres to the quality control aspects stated by the GDC.

All verifiable CPDs must have the below by law. See how we comply:

Documentary Evidence That the CPD Has Been Undertaken

At the end of every course, we release a certificate that states the name of the delegates (CPD takers) along with their GDC number, if applicable. All delegates will be registered before the course begins, and will have to attend the whole duration of the course to get the attendance certificate. The log with the CPD takers will be kept digitally for 5 years.

Concise Aims and Objectives

All our courses describe concise aims and objectives, which are clearly explained in all the website pages related to the courses. Before the day of the course, all delegates receive an email reporting the course’s aims and objectives, and a detailed agenda of the day. The certificate we release at the end of every course reports its aims and objectives.

Anticipated Learning Outcomes

All our courses describe the anticipated learning outcomes so that delegates understand what they will obtain by attending them. These are clearly explained in all the website pages related to the courses. Before the day of the course, all delegates receive an email reporting the course’s anticipated outcomes and a detailed agenda of the day. The certificate we release at the end of every course reports its aims and objectives.

Quality Controls

We have put in place the required quality controls for the provision of verifiable CPD as stated by the GDC. Adherence to each specific requirement is detailed below.

Pre-CPD quality controls

Educational Governance Policy

In order to define the programme of our courses, we refer to the GDC’s recommendations on CPD subject matter for Dental Professionals. The content and structure of our courses is reviewed by independent Dentists and Dental Professionals who are part of our network but not part of The Oral Surgery Academy. The identity of these professionals and their feedback to the content of our courses is recorded and kept digitally for 5 years. We review the content of our courses every 12 months, in December of every year, based on the GDC’s recommendations, and feedback from our delegates. We collect feedback from our delegates in an anonymous way at the end of every course. We also review our content delivery techniques to ensure our delegates achieve their learning objectives. We ask our delegates to pass a test at the end of every course to assess if the learnings objectives were met. We keep records of each individual test and feed-back form digitally for 5 years.

Equality and Diversity Policy

Diversity and equality are part of our DNA. As stated in our beliefs, we believe in learning from a diverse set of resources, individuals from different countries and backgrounds. We will not discriminate, directly or indirectly, delegates and customers because of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

CPD Needs Assessment

Our verifiable CPD requires the completion of a single best answer (SBA) examination. The pass rate is 70% or more. The certificate will not be released if the test is not passed. Scanned copies of the tests will be kept in a digital form for 5 years.

Peer Reviewed Content

All our verifiable CPD, including the content and structure of our courses, is peer-reviewed by independent Dentists and Dental Professionals who are part of our network but not part of The Oral Surgery Academy. All content is reviewed internally every 12 months from release date, or upon the introduction of new information, guidance or standards which may affect the content.

Linking Content to GDC Standards

All the content in our courses provides reference to relevant industry standards.

Delivery of Evidence-Based Content

As required by the GDC, all our courses and CPD content are based on evidence-based dentistry, current standards and guidelines (e.g. GDC, NICE, NHS of England, SDCEP), as such, all content must be deemed as evidence-based as required by the GDC. Our content is reviewed every 12 months as set out in our Educational Governance Policy.

Policies and Procedures to Avoid Commercial Bias

All CPD content is written in a non-commercial manner. Whenever content requires the quote of specific products or services we will ensure information provided is not biased or misleading; we will also mention the existence of alternative products or services wherever possible.

Appropriate Recruitment and Selection of those Delivering CPD

All our trainers are suitably qualified and experienced. The quality of their CPD delivery is constantly monitored through peer observation, feedback from delegates at the end of every course, and their learning performance, assessed through the SBA examination. As described in our Educational Governance Policy, the content of our courses is reviewed every 12 months and further coaching and training of our trainers is put in place whenever necessary.

Integration of Pre-Existing Feedback

As described in our Educational Governance Policy, the content of our courses is reviewed every 12 months.

Accurate Advertising and Marketing

Our courses are advertised through different channels including our own website, social media, third-party websites and paid advertising. The content related to all courses including title, duration, aims, topics covered, objectives and anticipated learning outcomes, is described in a detailed and transparent fashion.

Transparency of Verifiable Criteria

Quality control during CPD activity

Implementation of an Equality and Diversity Policy

Please, refer to our Equality and Diversity Policy.

Robust Methods in Place to Confirm Attendance and Complete Participation by Attendees

At the end of every course, we release a certificate that states the name of the delegate (CPD taker) along with their GDC number, if applicable. All course delegates will be registered before the course begins, and will have to attend the whole duration of the course to obtain the attendance certificate. The log with the CPD takers will be kept digitally for 5 years.

Methods to Monitor and Evaluate Content Delivery

All our delegates are required to fill in a feedback form at the end of our courses. We review the content of our courses based on this feedback every 12 months. Please refer to our Educational Governance Policy for more details.

Documentary Evidence of Aims, Objectives, Anticipated Learning Outcomes and Quality Controls Provided to Every Participant for Them to Keep

All our courses clearly describe aims, objectives, anticipated learning outcomes on our website and marketing collaterals. Before the day of the course, all delegates receive an email reporting the the above information and a detailed agenda of the day. The certificate we release at the end of every course reports the same level of details.

Content Relating to Anticipated Learning Outcomes Throughout Delivery

Refer to the ‘Anticipated Learning Outcomes’ section above. All our delegates need to pass an examination to verify if the learning outcomes have been met.

Opportunities for Participant Reflection During Activity

All our courses have a limited amount of places to allow for interaction of all participants and reflection on the acquired knowledge. Having a small number of delegates also ensures our trainers devote enough time to each one, especially during the hands-on practice. During this part of the course, trainers will supervise the delegates’ activities, walking them through different phases of the chosen technique and allowing enough time for reflection after each step.

Assessment of Learning

Participant Evaluation Methods

As stated above in ‘Assessment of Learning’, our verifiable CPD requires the completion an examination whose pass rate is 70% or more.

Post-Delivery Evaluation

We collect feedback from our delegates in an anonymous way at the end of every course, and review our courses accordingly to improve their quality. We also require our delegates to complete an examination whose pass rate is 70% or more, in order to be able to issue the verifiable CPD certificate.

A Complaints Procedure

All complaints are reviewed and answered by the Oral Surgery Academy Director within 48 hours. All complaints should be sent to info@theoralsurgeryacademy.com.