Managing your GDC registration and CPD while on maternity leave
Published on 04/02/2026
By Katie Mould, Denplan Senior Client Training Executive
Receiving the wonderful news that you are expecting a baby naturally brings excitement and preparations for your new arrival. However, it is also important to consider what your maternity leave means for your GDC registration and CPD requirements.
Required CPD hours
Below is a reminder of the CPD hours required within each 5‑year cycle:
In addition:
All dental professionals must complete at least 10 hours of verifiable CPD in every consecutive 2‑year period, even when these 2 years cross between cycles.
All CPD must be completed by 31 December and submitted to the GDC by 28 January.
CPD during maternity leave
Maternity leave does not exempt dental registrants from CPD requirements, and even though you will be busy with your new baby, you are still responsible for meeting the required deadlines.
However, there are some options to help you manage your CPD during this time:
1. Declaring Zero Hours
You may declare 0 hours of CPD for one year - but not for two consecutive years. This means you can declare 0 hours during your maternity year, but you must complete at least 10 hours the following year.
2. Applying for a Grace Period
If your maternity leave overlaps with the end of your 5‑year cycle, you may request a 56‑day grace period. This can be done by logging into eGDC during the last six months of your cycle.
How the Denplan Academy can support you
At the Denplan Academy, we understand the importance of flexible, accessible, verifiable CPD - especially during periods away from the workplace, such as maternity leave.
We offer:
A year-round training calendar with live online sessions at various times to suit your availability
Denplan Plus member practices have access to our online learning platform, where training can be completed at any time, on any device.
Verifiable CPD certificates are provided for all completed training.
This flexibility ensures you can keep on track with your CPD requirements without the pressure of tight deadlines, helping you remain confident and compliant with GDC regulations when you return to work.
More about the Denplan Training Academy
Discover our tailored training programs for your practice, including courses designed for specific roles, new team members, and continuing professional development.
For more information about GDC CPD standards, visit the GDC CPD scheme.
About the author
Katie began her teaching career more than 20 years ago after completing her degree at Portsmouth University, later specialising in Level 4 and 5 advanced non-invasive skin aesthetics while also working as an assessor and IQA across several training centres, including a CQC-registered clinic.
For the past three years, she has been a member of the Denplan training team, working collaboratively to design, write, and develop all CPD training and events in-house to support the evolving needs of dental practices. Katie delivers this training across the South East, helping teams enhance their skills, strengthen patient care, and continue to grow their practices.
