Don’t Miss Out These Free CPD Courses For Trac Jobs

Whether you are a doctor or a nurse planning your future in the NHS, you need CPD courses one way or another to show you are progressing in your career.

There are a number of Free CPD courses which can enhance your trac job application or paid ones which often come with value and awesome certificates which you can showcase.

Have a look at the the snapshot of the courses I did when applying for my first job:

I can recall searching every possible CPD course and grabbing as many as possible in an effort to make a successful job application on Trac Jobs for my NHS career.

Do check out our in-depth guide for filling the CREST form for MSRA.

Although NHS is saturated currently, the recruitment process is ongoing and people are indeed landing jobs. What makes them stand out is still a mystery, but one should make every effort to improve their CV.

What is CPD Course?

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a crucial aspect of enhancing your skills, knowledge, and employability in the UK healthcare system.

Whether you’re a doctor, nurse, or allied health professional, taking CPD courses can significantly strengthen your NHS job application and demonstrate your commitment to excellence.

In this blog, we explore both free and paid CPD courses available in the UK, tailored to help you stand out as a candidate while applying for NHS jobs on different platforms.

One pro tip I will add is- Do only courses that provide certificate of completion and are authentic CPD points. Otherwise, you are just wasting your time.

Free CPD Courses

• I find FutureLearn the best in terms of generating valuable certificates. It also has a Train the Healthcare Trainer which you can use in the Teaching section of your trac job application and it can also be used for IMT application for 1 point. Here is a the certificate I got:

• If you are actually looking to learn something while gaining CPD points, I recommend BMJ Learning. It comes free with BMA subscription, but you will need NHS ID with it. There are number of free courses but you will not get the certificates unless you buy the subscription which costs around £13.99. Here is how the certificates look like:

• NHS Leadership academy is another free platform. I recommend Edward Jenner: 0 – An Introduction to Personal Development if you are starting here.
• OpenWHO is completely free and it offers amazing clinical courses. They do provide certificates but the CPD points you will have to calculate based on the hours you spent doing individual training. Remember the rule- 1 hour = 1 CPD point.
• eLFH or e-Learning for Healthcare is also free. However, you will need an NHS email id to register here. There are so many courses but I personally find them difficult to do to be honest.
• If you are planning to enter clinical research or you want to showcase your knowledge in the same, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) by NIDA Clinical Trials Network is a good starter.
• For Doctors.net.uk, you can register for free and collect CPD points for your trac job application. However, the courses contain MCQs mostly and they are challenging courses which are somewhat difficult and do not really produce much of productivity.

Other Free CPD or Non-CPD points you can gather are as following:

• First Aid workshop (online) by British Red Cross
• Certificate of Suicide Awareness Training by Zero Suicide Alliance

Paid CPD Courses

Out of all these, I find the Teach the Teacher Course most valuable. But its value increases if you apply it while working in the NHS trust. That way, you can apply for study budget and technically not pay anything for this CPD course.

Tips for Selecting CPD Courses

• Match Your Role: Choose courses relevant to the position you’re applying for—e.g., pediatric care for a children’s nurse role.
• Focus on Accreditation: Ensure the courses are CPD-accredited or recognized by reputable institutions.
• Highlight on Your CV: Clearly mention completed CPD courses in your job application, including dates and certifications.
• Seek Employer Support: Some NHS trusts may reimburse paid CPD courses after employment.

Why CPD Matters for NHS Job Applications

1. Demonstrates Initiative: Engaging in CPD courses shows potential employers that you’re proactive about staying updated with industry trends and practices.
2. Improves Core Skills: Many CPD courses target essential areas like communication, teamwork, and clinical skills—qualities highly valued by the NHS.
3. Fulfills Professional Requirements: Many healthcare roles in the UK require proof of CPD activities for licensing and revalidation.

If you are looking at the list of courses I did, they are as:

• Workshops
  • GMC Workshop on Welcome to UK Practice
• Clinical Research
  • Good Clinical Practice by NIDA Clinical Trials Network USA
  • Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research by the National Institute for Health Research and the University of Leeds
• Clinical Audit
  • Quality Improvement Training Bronze Level by NHS Improvement Academy
• Teaching
  • Train the Healthcare Trainer by NHS Health Education England
• Leadership and Management Skills
  • Edward Jenner: 0 – An Introduction to Personal Development by NHS Leadership Academy
  • The NHS Explained: How the Health System in England Really Works by The King’s Fund
  • Clinical Communication Skills For Healthcare Professionals by St George’s University of London
  • How to get the best out of your team by BMJ
  • Team Dynamics for Primary Care Networks by BMJ
• Patient Safety
  • Safeguarding Adults: Level 3 Training by Health Education England
  • Safeguarding Children Level 3 Training by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Safeguarding Adults by doctors.net.uk
  • The Mental Capacity Act by BMJ
  • The Mental Health Act and How to Put into Practice by BMJ
• Clinical Skills
  • Oliver McGowan Training on Learning Disability and Autism by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • WHO-IHRC Basic Emergency Care: Approach to Acutely Ill and Injured by World Health Organization
  • Basic Practical Skills by BMJ:
    • Adult and Paediatric Basic Life Support
    • Venepuncture and Phlebotomy
    • Peripheral Intravenous Cannulation
    • How to perform an ECG
    • Peak Flow Measurement (PEFR)
    • Female Urethral Catheterisation
    • Male Urethral Catheterisation
    • Nasogastric Tube Insertion
    • Practical Suturing Techniques
    • Surgical Instruments
    • Subcutaneous, Intramuscular, and Intradermal Injection Techniques in Adults
  • Advanced Practical Skills by BMJ:
    • Radial Artery Puncture
    • Femoral Artery Puncture
    • Diagnostic Lumbar Puncture
    • Insertion of Intercostal Drain- Seldinger Technique
    • Insertion of Intercostal Drain- Open Technique
    • Central Venous Catheter Insertion
    • Needle Decompression of Tension Pneumothorax
    • Insertion of an Anterior Nasal Pack
    • Ascitic Tap and Ascitic Drainage
  • Step-Step Prescribing emollients and topical corticosteroids for eczema and other dry inflammatory skin conditions by BMJ
  • Palliative Care by doctor.net.uk

• Volunteering
  • GoodSam by NHS- Cardiac Arrest Responder and Volunteer
  • Written articles on 3D Printing in the medical field on Arizona-based USA 3D Printing company’s website called Cellular3D. (see here)

• Achievements
  • First Aid workshop (online) by British Red Cross
  • Certificate of Suicide Awareness Training by Zero Suicide Alliance
  • Certificate of Participation in Wizards of Medicine- Gastroenterology by Pfizer Wizards of Medicine ’23
  • Certificate of Participation in Trauma Secondary Survey: A Case-based Approach by AEME (Association of Emergency Medicine Education)
  • Certificate of Participation in Pancytopenia: A Diagnostic Challenge by Aakansha Children Hospital and Post Graduate Institute
  • Certificate of Participation in Wizards of Medicine- Infectious Diseases by Pfizer Wizards of Medicine ’23

Nutshell

Taking CPD courses is a smart investment in your career, especially when preparing for an NHS job application.

Whether you opt for free courses to get started or invest in specialized training, these learning opportunities will enhance your skills, boost your confidence, and make you a standout candidate.

Start exploring these options today to take the next step in your professional journey!

Here is a short clip for the summary:

Have you found any CPD courses that worked well for your NHS job application? Share your experience in the comments below!