What is a PDP?

A Personal Development Plan (PDP) is a process by which educational needs are identified, objectives are set in relation to these, educational activities are undertaken to address these learning needs, and finally evidence is produced and recorded to confirm that new knowledge, understanding, or skills have been achieved. Your PDP is for you to consider, carefully. 

It will allow you to realistically examine your strengths and weaknesses and enable you to plan what is required for your development. Having a PDP in place assures the GDC that you are reflecting upon your practice. In the future, you can use it to plan your CPD activity giving you the maximum benefit in maintaining and developing your practice. You should review your plan regularly to ensure it continues to relate to your current practice and can adapt to your future plans. 

This should be used to inform discussion on your development with your Academic Adviser and to progress clinically and professionally in a structured manner. It would be sensible, at this stage, to consider the GDC's development outcomes and align your plan to these criteria. This is how you will need to construct your PDP during the rest of your career should you remain in the UK. 

Read more here about the Benefits of Becoming a Reflective Practitioner [PDF]