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Professionalism and Professional Standards for Dentists & Dental Professionals

Professional Practice, Teamwork and Accountability under GDC Standards

  • About 2 hours estimated learning time
  • 5 sections, 19 lessons
  • Checkpoints and a 15-question final assessment
  • Online, self-paced, any device

About this course

Professionalism in dentistry is about how the whole dental team behaves: how patients are treated, how team members work together, how complaints are handled, how concerns are raised, how professionals keep their skills up to date, and how they conduct themselves outside the surgery and online. It is judged by patients, colleagues, employers, commissioners and the General Dental Council.

This course focuses on the practical side of professionalism for the dental team. It covers the core principles, the GDC's Standards for the dental team with emphasis on complaints, teamwork, raising concerns, enhanced CPD and personal behaviour, the dental team's scope of practice, practice governance and indemnity, boundaries, breaches and remediation. It complements the companion course on dental ethics, which focuses on ethical principles, consent, cosmetic treatment and fees.

CPD Value and How to Record It

This course is designed to provide approximately 2 hours of learning, including reading, the reflection points, the reflective account and the assessment. In the UK, CPD is generally recorded as the time actually spent learning, so you should record the time you genuinely spend, which may be more or less than the estimate.

How the course fits your revalidation or CPD requirements depends on your regulator. For example, the NMC asks nurses, midwives and nursing associates to record 35 hours of CPD over three years, of which at least 20 must be participatory; self-directed online learning such as this course usually counts as individual learning unless you complete it with others. The GMC expects doctors to reflect on CPD for appraisal and revalidation rather than setting a fixed number of hours. The HCPC, GDC, GPhC, GOC, GOsC and GCC each set their own CPD requirements, so check the current rules that apply to you. Always keep your certificate together with your written reflection.

What you will learn

  • Explain what professionalism means for every member of the dental team.
  • Apply the core principles of professional practice in dental settings.
  • Describe the GDC's Standards, with emphasis on complaints, teamwork, raising concerns, CPD and personal behaviour.
  • Work within the Scope of practice, including direct access.
  • Meet enhanced CPD, indemnity and practice governance requirements.
  • Maintain professional boundaries in and outside the practice.
  • Recognise breaches and plan effective remediation.

Who it is for

Dentists, dental nurses, hygienists, therapists, technicians, clinical dental technicians and orthodontic therapists registered with the GDC, including practice owners and managers

Standards and law covered

GDC Standards for the dental team (nine principles); enhanced CPD scheme; Scope of practice and direct access; complaints handling and the Dental Complaints Service; raising concerns; indemnity; GDC's 2026 Framework for Professionalism consultation

Course content

Lessons open one after another as you work through the course. They unlock once you enrol.

1Overview of Professionalism for Dentists & Dental Professionals3 lessons
  • 1.1 What Professionalism Means
  • 1.2 Why Professionalism Matters
  • 1.3 The GDC's Role in Ensuring Professional Standards
  • 1.4 Summary Points and Quiz for Section 1
2Core Principles of Professionalism8 lessons
  • 2.1 Patient-Centred Care
  • 2.2 Honesty and Integrity
  • 2.3 Accountability and Responsibility
  • 2.4 Privacy and Confidentiality
  • 2.5 Effective Communication
  • 2.6 Treating People with Dignity and Respect
  • 2.7 Teamwork and Collaboration
  • 2.8 Reflecting on Practice
  • 2.9 Key Points and Knowledge Check: Section 2
3GDC's Standards – “Standards for the Dental Team”1 lesson
  • 3.1 Overview of ‘Standards for the Dental Team'
  • 3.2 Key Points and Knowledge Check: Section 3
4Professional Boundaries and Ethical Conduct2 lessons
  • 4.1 What Boundaries Are For
  • 4.2 GDC Guidance on Boundaries
  • 4.3 Summary Points and Quiz for Section 4
5Breach of Professional Standards, Its Consequences, and Remediation4 lessons
  • 5.1 Social Media, Online Reviews and Marketing
  • 5.2 Outcomes When Standards Are Breached
  • 5.3 Regulatory Actions
  • 5.4 Remediation Step by Step
  • 5.5 Key Points and Knowledge Check: Section 5
6Conclusion and Takeaways1 lesson
  • 6.1 Conclusion and Takeaways
Reflection and final assessment3 steps
  • Your reflective account
  • Final assessment: 15 questions, 80% to pass
  • Certificate of completion
2 hours

Estimated learning time

This covers the lessons, section checkpoints, your reflective account and the final assessment. Everyone works at a different pace, so record the time you actually spend in your CPD log. The player shows the time you have spent in the course to help you.

Your certificate of completion

When you pass the final assessment you can download a certificate showing your name, the course title, the estimated learning time, your completion date and a certificate number that anyone can check on this website. Keep it with your reflective account in your CPD records.

Questions about this course

How long does the course take?

The estimated learning time is about 2 hours, including the lessons, section checkpoints, your reflective account and the final assessment. People work at different speeds, so record the time you actually spend in your own CPD log.

How do I access the course after buying it?

Log in to your FTP Courses account and open the course from My Courses. The course runs in your web browser on a computer, tablet or phone, and your progress is saved to your account so you can stop and continue later.

How is the course assessed?

Each section ends with a short checkpoint. At the end there is a final assessment of 15 questions; you need 80% (12 correct) to pass. If you do not pass, you can review the course and try again after a short wait.

What do I receive when I finish?

You can download a certificate of completion showing your name, the course title, the estimated learning time, your completion date and a certificate number that can be checked online. You can also download your reflective account for your CPD portfolio.

Is this course linked to my regulator?

No. FTP Courses is an independent education provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any UK regulator. The course is CPD-aligned: it is written to help you learn and reflect against your regulator's published standards, and on completion you receive a certificate of completion stating the estimated learning time. Record the time you actually spend in your own CPD log, and decide how the course fits your CPD or any remediation plan, ideally with advice from your defence organisation, union or legal adviser.

Will completing the course guarantee a particular outcome in a complaint or investigation?

No course can guarantee an outcome. Decision-makers look at genuine insight, reflection and sustained change in your practice. The course is designed to support that learning; it does not replace it.