CPD and revalidation: our future is happening now

Around the world, there is growing interest in ensuring health professionals (including pharmacists) maintain and demonstrate competency throughout their careers. Mechanisms to assure regulators, employers, colleagues, and--most importantly--patients that practitioners are indeed competent to provide safe and effective care are evolving, but generally include both continuing professional development (CPD) and assessment components. This commentary reviews current work in these areas within the pharmacy profession, in both the UK and the US.