Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Doctors and Dentists in Aesthetic Medicine

Key Takeaways

• CPD is a Mandatory Requirement: Continuing Professional Development is essential for doctors and dentists to maintain registration and deliver safe, evidence-based care in aesthetic medicine.
  
• Different Requirements for Doctors and Dentists: Dentists must complete 60 hours of CPD every three-year cycle, while most medical practitioners must complete 50 hours annually through an approved CPD Home, with activities planned and logged each year.
  
• Aesthetic Medicine Education Counts Toward CPD: Training in cosmetic injectables, from foundation courses to advanced masterclasses, contributes directly to CPD requirements when it supports the scope of practice and professional development.
  
• CPD Supports Patient Safety and Clinical Outcomes: Ongoing education ensures practitioners use current techniques, understand facial anatomy in greater depth, and minimise risks associated with Schedule 4 injectable medicines.
  
• Reflections are a Core Component of CPD: Each CPD activity must include a reflection outlining what was learned, how it improves clinical practice, and when and where the activity occurred.
  
• Professional Trust and Practice Growth: Demonstrating commitment to CPD builds patient confidence, strengthens therapeutic relationships, and supports sustainable growth through improved outcomes and repeat business.
  
• Choosing Reputable Training Providers Matters: High-quality aesthetic medicine courses align with regulatory standards, incorporate practical learning, and integrate seamlessly into a practitioner’s CPD plan.

When a doctor or dentist graduates after many long years of study, their learning journey is not over; they must continue to engage in ‘CPD’ (continuing professional development). This ensures they are up to date with the most current knowledge and best practices. CPD is mandatory for their registration, which protects their clients and patients from harm caused by incorrect practices. How do doctors and dentists in aesthetic medicine participate in continuing professional development?

Continuing professional development

Most dental practitioners must complete 60 hours of continuing professional development every three registration years. The current continuing professional development period for dentists began on 1st December 2025. During COVID, the requirement for continuing professional development was loosened; however, practitioners were encouraged to make up any shortfall in the following CPD cycle (the one that finished at the end of November 2025). The Dental Board has created a reflective practice tool to assist with continuing professional development; using the tool also counts towards continuing professional development, so it’s worthwhile making use of it. 

Medical practitioners’ continuing professional development is governed by the Medical Board, which dictates that most medical practitioners must join a “CPD Home”, for example the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) or Health Education and Training (HETI); create a CPD plan before each continuing professional development year; complete 50 hours of continuing professional development a year across a range of activities; log these activities with their CPD home; and declare their home at each registration renewal. 

Types of continuing professional development

The types of continuing professional development are varied, but all must aim to further a practitioner’s learning and their professional scope, and fulfil registration requirements. There is no comprehensive list detailing what is and what isn’t counted towards continuing professional development; by definition, they must contribute to a participant’s learning. Continuing professional development can, however, include lectures, conferences, online learning (webinars, etc), formal courses and classes, reading professional magazines or journals, being a member of a professional panel or committee, supervised practice, workshops, and partaking in activities that measure outcomes or review performances (for example, workplace appraisals, case conferences, medico-legal reports). 

Continuing professional development in cosmetic injectables

If a doctor or dentist decides to work in the field of aesthetic medicine, the education required to develop the skills in this area counts towards their continuing professional development obligations. These can range from a fundamental course on injectable cosmetics to a masterclass on a particular area of the face. CPD can assist a doctor or dentist in practising safely – avoiding outdated or unsafe techniques. By using only contemporary methods, practitioners provide patient care that is benign and reduces the risk of complications. Patients will be more satisfied with the results, which ultimately means more business for the injector through repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals. Demonstrating to clients that you are undertaking – and passing on the benefits of – continuing professional development by enjoying courses relevant to your practice makes for better therapeutic relationships. Patients trust their practitioners and are confident in their competence. 

While doctors and dentists are already proficient in injections, medications, legislation, and other areas of medical practice, a course specifically on cosmetic injectables will ensure they are educated in the techniques for Schedule 4 Drugs used in aesthetic medicine. A reputable course will delve deeper into facial anatomy and physiology, teaching the landmarks used when administering cosmetic injections. It will also incorporate new technologies for use in an aesthetic medicine clinic. The content taught will naturally form part of a continuing professional development plan and, together with a comprehensive reflection, will contribute to a doctor or dentist’s registration requirements. 

Reflections in practice 

It is important to complete a reflection when carrying out any activity for continuing professional development. This reflection must include how the activity will enhance the doctor’s or dentist’s practice – what they gained from it – as well as what was learned. It should also detail when and where the activity took place and for how long. Reflections prove that a practitioner has engaged in valuable continuing professional development activities. By keeping on top of reflections as each continuing professional development activity is completed, it avoids an end-of-registration-period panic and allows documentation while the education is still fresh. 

Continuing professional development is mandatory, but the benefits go far beyond ticking a box. The trust gained by clients or patients, the safety guaranteed in the service delivered and the boost to business mean small investments in a reputable training facility more than outweigh the costs involved.