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Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about buying, certificates, learning hours, how regulators treat online courses, and how our free tools handle your data.
Buying and accessing a course
These CPD course FAQs cover the questions we are asked most often. If yours is not here, the contact page explains how to reach our support team.
Where do I take the course?
All courses are bought and taken on our course portal, portal.healthcarepractise.com. When you choose a course on this site, the buy button adds it to your basket on the portal, where you create an account or sign in, pay and start learning. How it works shows the full journey.
How much does a course cost?
Prices are in pounds sterling and are read live from the portal, so the price on a course page matches the checkout. We do not print fixed prices in our content because they can change.
Can I buy several courses together?
Yes. Course packs add a set of courses to your basket in one step, and each pack page explains why each course is included. Browse them from the course catalogue.
Are the courses self-paced?
Yes. Courses are online and self-paced, so you can work through the modules around shifts and come back to them later.
Learning hours, assessments and certificates
How long does each course take?
Each course page states its learning hours, taken from the course itself. Most courses are about two hours. The Medical Ethics, Social Media, Risk of Repetition and the two Social Work courses are about three hours, and the Fitness to Practise course is about four.
Is there an assessment?
Yes. Most courses end with 15 scenario-based multiple-choice questions, with a pass mark of 12 out of 15 (80%). The Fitness to Practise course has a 40-question assessment, also with an 80% pass mark. Courses also include reflection points and a reflection section, so you finish with prompts to write about.
What certificate do I get?
When you complete a course, including its assessment, you can download a certificate of completion issued in the name Healthcare Practise UK. Keep it with a note of the learning hours shown on the course page and your own reflection on what you learned.
Are your courses approved by my regulator?
No. Healthcare Practise UK is an independent provider. We are not affiliated with, approved by or endorsed by any UK regulator or by the NHS. You choose learning that is relevant to your practice and record it under your regulator's rules.
Will my regulator count an online course?
Each regulator sets its own CPD rules, and you decide whether a course is relevant to your practice. A few points that often matter:
| Regulator | What to check |
|---|---|
| NMC | 35 hours of CPD every three years, at least 20 of them participatory, meaning learning that involves interaction with other people. A self-paced course on your own normally counts toward the remaining individual hours. |
| GMC | No fixed number of CPD hours from the GMC; you discuss CPD and reflect on it at your annual appraisal. |
| HCPC | Keep an up-to-date record of CPD that is a mix of activities relevant to your practice; 2.5% of each profession is audited at renewal. |
| GDC | Check the GDC's criteria for verifiable CPD and link each activity to a development outcome in your personal development plan. |
| GOC | Our courses are not GOC-approved CPD. Self-directed CPD can count only once at least 18 points come from GOC CPD providers. |
| GCC | At least 15 of your 30 hours must be learning with others; a recorded session counts as learning alone unless you watch and discuss it with a colleague. |
Our regulator pages and CPD tracker set out the full rules for all nine regulators, each with its source.
Using courses in a fitness to practise or remediation context
Will a course help with my fitness to practise case?
It can support your remediation, but courses alone are not enough. The NMC says decision makers consider whether course content is relevant to the concerns in the case and how the learning has been applied in practice (FTP-16b). For doctors, the MPTS's Guidance for MPTS tribunals (in force since 24 November 2025) sets out how tribunals approach these questions, so read the current version. Panels want to see what you learned, how you have changed your practice and evidence from others, such as testimonials.
Which courses should I take?
Start with the remediation pathway: choose your regulator and the type of concern, complete the readiness self-check, and see a recommended set of courses with a short reason for each.
Should I speak to someone before I start?
Yes, if you are facing a regulator investigation. Talk to your defence organisation, indemnity provider, union or a solicitor. We do not give legal advice and cannot predict any outcome.
Free tools and your privacy
Our free tools, including the CPD tracker, reflective statement builder and hearing timeline planner, run in your web browser. What you type is stored only on your device, not sent to us, and you can export it to PDF or print it. Clearing your browser data removes it, so export anything you want to keep. Each tool shows a reminder that it is not legal advice and does not predict any outcome. Read our privacy notice for how we handle data on the portal, such as your account and orders.
Refunds and support
If something has gone wrong with a purchase, contact support and we will review your request. Our refunds page explains what to include. For anything else, email support@healthcarepractise.com.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I take a Healthcare Practise UK course?
On our course portal, portal.healthcarepractise.com. You create an account, pay in pounds sterling, complete the modules and assessment, and download your certificate there.
How long are the courses?
Most are about two hours. A few are about three hours, and the Fitness to Practise course is about four. Each course page states its hours, taken from the course itself.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. When you complete a course, including its end-of-course assessment, you receive a certificate of completion issued in the name Healthcare Practise UK.
Do the GMC, NMC or HCPC recognise your courses?
No. We are an independent provider and are not affiliated with, approved by or endorsed by any UK regulator. You decide whether a course is relevant to your practice and record it under your regulator's rules.
Is an online course enough for my fitness to practise case?
On its own, no. Regulators look at relevance, reflection, how learning is applied in practice and evidence such as testimonials. A course can support that work; it cannot decide the outcome.
Do your free tools store my information?
Only on your own device, in your browser. The tools do not send what you type to us. Export to PDF or print anything you want to keep.
Can I get a refund?
Contact support@healthcarepractise.com with your order details and we will review your request. Our refunds page explains the process.
Do you give legal advice?
No. For a regulator investigation, speak to your defence organisation, indemnity provider, union or a solicitor.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us your regulator and the concern. The pathway shows the courses that fit, helps you write your reflection and puts your evidence in order. It is free and nothing leaves your browser.