Professional Development Phase (PDP)
All new veterinary graduates need to complete the Professional Development Phase (PDP) during their first year or so in clinical practice. It's an online tool developed by the RCVS to help new graduates consolidate their theoretical knowledge into practice-based skills.
The onus is on graduates to contact the RCVS for their password (pdp@rcvs.org.uk) but it is helpful if practice managers check that any new graduates in their charge have joined the PDP.
Each veterinary surgeon on the PDP is assigned one of the RCVS's team of postgraduate deans to offer support during the period. It is also recommended that the PDP is built into new graduates' appraisals.
The RCVS has recently published a 24-page guide which helps explain input required from employers. It can be downloaded from RCVSonline and is available in hard copy on request from the RCVS Education Department on 020 7202 0791 or by emailing education@rcvs.org.uk.
To view a demo of the PDP, visit http://pdp.rcvs.org.uk and choose 'preview'.
The PDP interface is due to be upgraded over the summer of 2012, to allow better navigation, offer an improved notes facility and allow users to upload documents, such as case notes and photographs. There will also be changes to the way users self-assess their development, and the facility to share pages electronically with an employer. This will be part of the new RCVS Professional Development Record.
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