Radiographer CPD and the HCPC: Renewal Dates, Audit Figures and Evidence

If you are a radiographer on the HCPC Register, you must keep a continuous record of your CPD, and the HCPC does not set a minimum number of hours or points. Your next renewal window runs from 1 December 2027 to 29 February 2028, according to the HCPC, and at each renewal the HCPC randomly audits 2.5 per cent of registrants in each profession. This guide covers the radiographer-specific parts: the dates, what the audit figures show, and what the Society and College of Radiographers (SoR/CoR) offers its members. It applies to radiographers registered with the HCPC anywhere in the UK.

Radiographer renewal dates at a glance

The HCPC staggers renewal across professions. Each profession renews every two years, and the window stays at the same time of year. Radiographers sit in the winter slot, and the window straddles Christmas and the new year.

The HCPC says you can renew at any point in your window and encourages you to do it as soon as possible. If you are reading this in autumn 2026, you are roughly midway through a cycle. That is the best time to tidy your records, because there is no deadline pressure and you can still plan what you learn in the remaining months.

What the HCPC audit figures show for radiographers

The HCPC publishes audit outcomes by profession. The most recent radiographer figures we could find on its CPD audit data pages are for the 2022 audit, covering the 2020 to 2022 renewal cycle. In that audit, 777 radiographers were asked to present a CPD profile. The HCPC last updated the radiographer data in February 2024.

A few points are worth drawing out. First, most selected radiographers had their profile accepted. Second, the HCPC uses the word "removed" for registrants removed because they did not meet the CPD standards, and that was two people out of 777. Third, the deferred group is much larger than the removed group. Deferral is something you request when unavoidable circumstances stop you taking part, and the HCPC says you are then audited automatically at your profession's next renewal, so it is a delay and not an exemption.

The "did not renew" and "voluntary deregistration" rows are not recorded as failures to meet the CPD standards. They are listed separately from the "removed" row, which is the one that records failure to meet the CPD standards. Read the table as evidence that the audit is passable if you keep decent records, not as a pass rate for any individual.

What the HCPC expects, in short

The HCPC's guidance sets out five standards for CPD. In plain terms, you must keep a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of your CPD, show a mixture of learning activities relevant to your current or future practice, seek to ensure your CPD contributes to the quality of your practice and benefits service users, and, if asked, present a written profile that is your own work and backed by evidence. CPD is not only formal courses: the HCPC describes it as any activity from which you learn and develop. For a fuller walk-through of what a profile contains, see our guide to preparing for an HCPC CPD audit and what to submit.

If you are selected, the HCPC says you have approximately three months to submit your profile, and it must reach them by your renewal deadline. You still renew as normal. The profile has four parts:

• a practice history summary of up to 500 words
• a statement of up to 1,500 words, focused mainly on standards 3 and 4 (quality of practice and benefit to service users)
• a dated list of CPD activities since your last renewal, with any gap of three or more consecutive months explained
• supporting evidence, normally one piece per activity you describe

Only registrants who have been on the Register for two years or more can be selected, so newly qualified radiographers are not audited at their first renewal.

Support from the Society and College of Radiographers

The SoR and its CoR arm provide several tools aimed specifically at radiographers, and these are the part of the process that differs most from other HCPC professions.

CPD Now

CPD Now is the College of Radiographers' online tool for planning, recording and reflecting on CPD. According to the SoR's guide to using it for an HCPC audit, you log in with your SoR membership details, and each entry can hold a single reflection covering what you did, the impact on your practice and service users, and any further action. The guide also describes a report that lists your CPD records for the two years before a date you choose, which you can copy into the HCPC's online system or print. A career tab stores employment details to help with the practice history summary, and you can attach certificates and handouts as evidence. Note that you still complete the profile itself on the HCPC's own system.

Audit preparation resources

In a news item published on 6 January 2026, the SoR pointed members to a webinar presented by a radiographer educator who has been through a CPD audit, a conference session on audit preparation, and an article on positive reflection. It also says members with particular circumstances, such as maternity leave or sickness absence, can ask for tailored help. Check the SoR website for current access arrangements; CPD Now needs a membership login.

A practical plan for the months between renewals

Because the HCPC audit looks back over the period since your last renewal, the simplest approach is to record as you go.

• Log within a week. Note the date, what you did and what changed in your practice. Short entries done promptly beat long ones reconstructed later.
• Mix the activities. Examples might include a protocol review, a tutorial given to students, a reading group, or a competency sign-off, alongside courses and conferences. The HCPC wants a mixture, not just taught sessions.
• Link each entry to service users. Standards 3 and 4 carry the most weight in the statement, so ask what difference each activity made for patients.
• Keep evidence as you go. Certificates, emails, audit summaries and feedback are easier to file at the time.
• Explain gaps. If you take three months or more without a CPD entry, for example through leave, note why.

Employers and radiology managers who track staff learning can also use a simple matrix to see who has current evidence and who needs support. Our training matrix template for compliance training is a starting point, though it needs adapting for professional CPD. You can also browse the wider CPD hub for related guidance.

Frequently asked questions

How many CPD hours do radiographers need?

The HCPC says it does not set a number of hours or points. You choose activities that fit your development needs and be ready to explain how they met the standards.

When do radiographers next renew with the HCPC?

According to the HCPC, the next radiographer window opens on 1 December 2027 and closes on 29 February 2028. The previous deadline was 28 February 2026, as stated by the SoR.

Can I be audited more than once?

Yes. The HCPC says selection is random at each renewal, so you could be chosen more than once.

What if I cannot take part in an audit?

You can ask for deferral if circumstances such as serious illness, bereavement or maternity leave prevent you from taking part. You will then be audited automatically at your profession's next renewal, and you must still renew as normal.

What happens if my profile does not meet the standards?

The HCPC says assessors may offer up to an extra three months to meet the standards. If you still do not meet them, or you do not submit a profile, you may be removed from the Register. You can appeal a removal.

Final thoughts

For radiographers the key dates are clear and a long way off, which gives you time to build a record you are comfortable showing someone else. Use the SoR's tools if you are a member, keep entries short and regular, and check the HCPC website for the current rules before your window opens.

This article is general information only and is not regulatory, legal or compliance advice. Always check the HCPC and the Society and College of Radiographers for the current requirements that apply to you.