Postgraduate programme

Our Postgraduate Programme, The Denplan Stairway Programme, is a valuable and unique opportunity for you to further your skills and qualifications.  It's an easy and flexible way to gain extra verifiable CPD hours in a way that suits you.

And because it's officially recognised by both the University of Birmingham and the Faculty of General Dental Practice, you can earn 20 educational credits towards either an MSc in Primary Dental Care from the University of Birmingham or the FGDP Stage 2 Career Pathway.

What do I need to do?

To complete a unit of the Denplan Stairway Programme (apart from Unit 11) you will need to:

  • Attend one of the Denplan Stairway Training Events, the National Conference or complete the online course
  • Complete the relevant practice project which you will be given
  • Email it back to stairway@denplan.co.uk with a completed evaluaton form
  • Dr Mike Busby, the Programme Co-ordinator, will then validate the project and register your credits
  • You'll then receive your CPD certificate
  • Once you've built up 20 educational credits you'll receive the Denplan Stairway Award

What does the Denplan Stairway Programme include?

The 14 units are as follows:

Units 1 to 9:

  • Attendance at the Denplan Stairway Training Event(s) of your choice:
  1. Managing Clinical Success 
  2. CPD Essentials 
  3. Clinical Consultations 
  4. Periodontal Risk Management 
  5. Endodontic Update 
  6. Minimally Invasive Techniques 
  7. Practical Prosthetics 
  8. Implanting Ideas 
  9. Advanced Restorative Techniques 
  • Completion of a practice project (details on the invidual event pages)
  • 20 hours CPD in total (six for attending, 14 for the practice project)
  • Worth two educational credits

Unit 10

  • Full attendance at the Denplan National Conference
  • Completion of a Personal Development Profile (PDP)
  • 20 hours CPD (12 for attending, eight for the PDP)
  • Worth two educational credits

Unit 11

  • Ongoing Denplan Excel Accreditation - you must be Excel accredited at the time the Stairway Award is given
  • Worth four educational credits

Unit 12 and 13

  • Completion of a private study course, 'The Secret of Success' or 'Follow the Leader', available via our online services
  • 20 hours CPD
  • Worth two educational credits

Unit 14

  • Completion of a Tailor-made training day covering Team Planning and Team Building & Motivation
  • Submission of a team plan and completion of a feedback log
  • 20 hours CPD in total (six for attending, 14 for the practice project)
  • Worth two educational credits

Do I have to complete the programme in a particular timeframe?

No. There's no committment to complete the programme, and you can take as long as you want to complete it. If you prefer, you can complete the practice projects just to earn the extra CPD hours.

Can other members of my team take part?

Other members of your team can attend the events. However, only dentists who attend can complete the practice project to get the extra CPD hours and gain the Denplan Stairway Award.

Where can I find out more?

For more information about what will be covered at the events, you can view the individual event pages linked below. Or if you have any questions about the Denplan Stairway Programme, contact a member of the Training and Events team on 0800 169 5697