Executive summary
In 2025, the approach to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for UK clinicians is shifting. The focus is moving away from after-the-fact, burdensome logging towards in-workflow capture assisted by artificial intelligence. The new paradigm is about turning real clinical questions into auditable learning moments, using AI to help draft reflections, and embracing micro-learning that fits between consultations.
This guide provides a definitive overview of the best tools to support this modern approach. We will explore a core stack of platforms, including iatroX for in-workflow capture, Praktiki for daily micro-learning, BMJ Best Practice for automatic tracking of point-of-care reading, and MedAll for accessing free events. We'll also cover how these tools feed into the established appraisal portfolios that most UK GPs use, such as FourteenFish and Agilio Clarity. The evidence is clear: well-designed e-learning and micro-learning are effective, and AI is now making them more efficient than ever.
What good CPD looks like in the AI era
- Capture at the source: The best learning happens in the moment. Modern tools allow you to turn real clinical questions into CPD records as they arise, not days later.
- Reflection without the grind: AI can help you draft a structured reflective note from a few bullet points, which you then edit and personalise. This saves time but ensures the final reflection is authentically yours.
- Micro-learning you’ll actually finish: Short, daily modules and spaced practice are more effective for long-term retention than infrequent, lengthy sessions.
- Provenance & auditability: Good practice demands a clear evidence trail. Look for tools that provide citation-linked answers, downloadable certificates, and exportable portfolios.
The toolscape
iatroX — AI CPD where you already ask questions
- What it does: iatroX is a UK-centric clinical AI assistant. Its CPD module is designed to capture learning at the point of a query. When you use Ask iatroX to get a cited answer to a clinical question, you can save that conversation as a CPD entry. The tool then uses AI to help you draft a reflection, which you can edit and finalise. It compiles all your entries into a one-click, appraisal-ready PDF report.
- Best for: Seamless, in-workflow capture of learning moments, turning a quick clinical clarification into an instant, evidenced CPD entry.
Praktiki — micro-CPD in minutes a day
- What it does: Praktiki is an AI-powered microlearning platform for clinicians. It delivers bite-sized, 5-minute modules aligned to UK practice directly to your mobile, with built-in tracking of your progress and credits.
- Best for: Building a consistent, daily CPD habit that you can maintain even during busy periods, such as on your commute or during a lunch break.
BMJ Best Practice — point-of-care with automatic CPD
- What it does: As you read topics and complete learning modules within BMJ Best Practice, the platform automatically tracks the time you spend and allows you to generate certificates for your appraisal portfolio.
- Best for: Effortless evidence capture for your structured reading, with the paper trail handled for you.
MedAll — free CPD/CME at scale
- What it does: MedAll hosts a vast community catalogue of courses, conferences, and free CPD-accredited webinars. Its app allows you to easily register for events and download your attendance certificates.
- Best for: Filling your CPD hours with live, participatory events and webinars, with easily accessible evidence of attendance.
FourteenFish Portfolio & Agilio Clarity — the portfolio hubs
- What they do: FourteenFish Portfolio and Agilio Clarity are the two dominant appraisal and revalidation toolkits used in UK primary care. Both offer mobile apps for on-the-go logging of CPD entries and evidence.
- Best for: Acting as the central hub for all your CPD evidence. You can consolidate the certificates from BMJ Best Practice and MedAll, and the PDF exports from iatroX, into these portfolios.
RCPL “Physicians’ CPD” app & CPDme — quick capture
- What they do: These are simple, lightweight apps designed for one job: quickly logging and reflecting on a learning activity at the point it happens.
- Best for: Consultants and other multidisciplinary users who need a straightforward logger without the complexity of a full appraisal toolkit.
Recommended AI-first workflows
A) “Question-to-CPD” (clinic days)
- Ask your clinical question in a tool like iatroX.
- Review the cited summary and click through to the primary source to verify.
- Click "Save to CPD," review and edit the AI-drafted reflection, and tag it to your PDP.
- Export your log monthly to FourteenFish or Clarity as a PDF attachment.
B) “Daily Micro-CPD” (commute/lunch)
- Open Praktiki and complete a 5-minute bite-sized module.
- Mark it as complete to add the credit to your dashboard and make a quick mental note of any changes to your practice.
- Aggregate your completed topics into your main portfolio app each quarter.
C) “Reading-with-Receipts” (on-call prep)
- Review a relevant clinical topic in BMJ Best Practice.
- Let the platform automatically track your CPD time.
- Download the certificate and upload it to your appraisal portfolio.
Feature checklist (what to look for before you adopt)
- AI reflection assistance (provides a draft you can edit).
- One-click PDF reporting for appraisal.
- Mobile-first micro-learning with daily streaks and mastery tracking.
- Automatic certificate capture for reading and events.
- Clean, easy exports to established portfolios like FourteenFish or Clarity.
- A clear audit trail with timestamps, sources, and attachments for every entry.
Tool comparison table
| Use-case | Tool | AI-enabled Features | Evidence/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-workflow capture + reflection | iatroX | AI-assisted reflective entry; citation-first answers; one-click PDF report | Designed to embed learning in daily workflow |
| Daily micro-CPD | Praktiki | AI-curated micro-lessons; streaks; credit tracking | Excellent for building a consistent daily habit |
| Reading with receipts | BMJ Best Practice | Automatic CME/CPD tracking; certificates | Free for NHS staff via OpenAthens |
| Free CPD events at scale | MedAll | Catalogue search; app-based certificates | Huge range of free, live webinars |
| Portfolio hub (GPs/trainees) | FourteenFish Portfolio | Mobile logging; email-to-portfolio | Widely used in UK primary care |
| Portfolio hub (GPs/teams) | Agilio Clarity | CPD logging; integrated resource links | Deep integration with other Agilio products |
| Simple capture (consultants/MDT) | RCPL Physicians’ CPD / CPDme | On-the-go logging & reflection | Lightweight and focused |
FAQs
- Is an AI-drafted reflection acceptable for my appraisal?
- Yes, provided you review, edit, and personalise it to ensure it is an authentic and accurate reflection of your learning and its impact on your practice. Always keep any supporting citations and attachments.
- Can I meet my CPD requirements with micro-learning?
- Yes. High-quality, topic-based micro-learning from a platform like Praktiki is a valid and effective form of CPD. The key is to log it and reflect on it.
- How do I avoid having my CPD evidence scattered across multiple apps?
- The best strategy is to use the automatic tracking features of tools like BMJ Best Practice and the export functions of others, then consolidate everything into a single portfolio hub like FourteenFish or Clarity.
Calls to action
- This week: Set up iatroX for question-to-CPD capture, install Praktiki for daily micro-learning, and log in to BMJ Best Practice to activate its auto-tracking. Point all your exported evidence towards your chosen portfolio, whether it's FourteenFish or Clarity.
- This quarter: Attend two free CPD sessions on MedAll and attach the certificates to your portfolio. Run a 30-minute "portfolio tidy" to tag all your recent entries to your Personal Development Plan (PDP).