Why CPD? Why now?
We asked our Glowday Instagram followers to let us know what they will doing with any extra time they have over the following weeks and months. CPD was a common answer.
They filled us in on why CPD is vitally important and let us know about the resources and websites they will be using to keep skilled up whilst being locked down.
We know CPD ensures you continue to be competent, safe and keep pace with continually evolving aesthetic industry developments. It helps ensure you provide the best possible service to your clients.
Many of you would have had face-to-face training, mentoring and shadowing booked in and have had these sessions cancelled. Putting any plans for CPD on hold. However, if you are able to look at things positively, we've been given a breather. We can reassess and reevaluate.
Now is the time to get your house in order so that when we are “back to normal”, whatever that means, you are able to absolutely nail getting your business fighting fit.
One of the ways you can do this is to use some of this time for continued professional development.
Make plans
Ideally, CPD should be an ongoing process which is well thought through and planned, ensuring that your learning is in line with your professional and business goals.
So often, when you are running your own business, you are reactionary. You have limited resources and time. You are stretched thin. You can barely get your social media planned out, let alone planning a years worth of CPD! Now, you may well have the one thing you’ve been short of…time!
All kinds of activities count as CPD, including individual study and distance learning, such as structured learning through online training courses, reading and reviewing publications and enquiry-based research.
Over the coming weeks, take the time to identify what CPD you want to undertake. Consider the following:
- Of the treatments you currently offer, are you using the best products available?
- Are you using the best techniques?
- Are there treatments you have been interested in offering your clients?
Don’t limit your learning to treatments, techniques and products.
Which areas of your business do you find the most challenging? Bookkeeping? Marketing? Social media? Retaining clients? Attracting new clients? Communicating with existing clients?
Once you’ve considered your development needs, get researching and planning! It may be worth noting that many training providers are currently offering heavily discounted training courses.
Resources
Some of these resources and courses are free, others require subscriptions or upfront payments.
Nursing and Midwifery Council
If you’re a nurse, it’s always worth checking whether what you are doing counts towards your CPD points for revalidation. The NMC have provided examples of relevant CPD activities here.
Journals and articles
Journals and other articles are a great way of getting to grips with current thinking and research. Be sure to save copies of the publications, any notes and practice-related outcomes if you want your learning to count towards revalidation.
Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology
The European Journal of Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatology
Resources from Product Manufacturers
These product manufacturers have some amazing online courses and webinars.
Merz Institute All Merz Institute courses are currently FREE due to COVID-19
Teoxane Marketing Assets - handy if you are refreshing your website/socials
Allergan Medical Institute - your Allergan representative should be able to sign you up
Vivacy Learn
Cyanosure University
Podcasts
Often overlooked, podcasts are a great way of getting a different perspective whilst going about your day-to-day.
Inside Aesthetics is hosted by Dr Jake Sloan and Davis Segal. Each episode discusses cosmetic, wellness and business insider knowledge with various experts. Their latest episode dicusses the impact of the coronavirus on the aesthetic market.
Aesthetic Mastery is hosted by Dr Tim Perace from SkinViva Training. Not only do they cover practical aspects of aesthetic medicine, but also wider topics relating to the aesthetics industry and running a successful aesthetics business.
Beauty Decoded: Let's Talk Tweakments is a podcast from Allergan UK, featuring celebrities, beauty journalises and medical aesthetic practitioners.
Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield a podcast aimed at growing an online business, but there's tons of mini-marketing masterclasses and step-by-step guides that are applicable to those running non-surgical aesthetic businesses.
Marketing School short and snappy podcast. Each episode under 10mins. With actual marketing lessons, from social media marketing to email marketing and everything in between.
Support is Sexy features interviews with over 500 women entrepreneurs. Insights, advice, resources and inspiration are here in spades.
Online Botox and Dermal Fillers Training Courses
These are paid for training modules delivered by registered aesthetics training providers. The links will take you to their e-learning pages.
e-Mastr by Dr Tapan Patel
So there you have it. Plenty to be getting on with! If you have any to add to the list, drop us a message at hello@glowday.com and don't forget to give us a follow on Instagram and Facebook!
