The General Dental Council (GDC) is calling for views on plans to strengthen its existing continuing professional development (CPD) scheme for dentists and introduce compulsory CPD for all dental care professionals. These plans are a first step towards a revalidation system, which the GDC intends to deliver incrementally and which will require all dental professionals to show on a regular basis that they are fit to remain on the GDC's registers.

The GDC will be inviting views at each stage as it develops revalidation. This current consultation is the first in a series and covers proposals to enhance the compulsory CPD scheme for dentists, including the introduction of compulsory core subject areas, by 1 January 2007, and introduce compulsory CPD for dental care professionals from 2008.

The GDC is keen to hear the views of as wide a range of people as possible — patient groups, members of the public, all members of the dental team, dental employers, healthcare providers, and others are encouraged to contribute.

The consultation document is available on the GDC website at www.gdc-uk.org. The deadline for responses is Thursday 16 March 2006.