5 Free CPD Websites for Physiotherapists in the UK
Therapyway Editorial Team · Published 2 November 2026 · 3 min read
Keeping your skills up to date does not have to mean paying for every course. If you are looking for free CPD for physiotherapists in the UK, these five websites offer a practical starting point, from clinical webinars to wider healthcare learning.
Some provide selected free resources alongside paid options. Check the individual course page for availability, access requirements and completion evidence before enrolling.
1. NHS e-Learning for Healthcare
Best for: learning relevant to NHS and healthcare practice.
NHS England’s e-Learning for Healthcare Hub offers free registration and online learning. Your role and email address determine which programmes you can access. NHS email users receive broader access; independent practitioners should check eligibility rather than assume the whole catalogue is free to them.
Use your work email when registering for work-related learning, and check each programme’s completion-record options.
Check NHS learning access and registration
2. Physio Academy
Best for: physiotherapy-specific clinical topics.
Physio Academy’s free resources include webinars on rotator cuff rehabilitation, back pain, physiotherapy and mental health, and screening for serious pathology.
The provider is based in New Zealand, so consider how the learning fits UK practice. Its serious pathology screening webinar specifically lists CPD certificates and handouts. Certificate availability and access periods vary between resources.
Explore Physio Academy’s free learning
3. Academy of Physical Medicine
Best for: selected live, interactive CPD.
The Academy of Physical Medicine offers free live broadcasts after registration, with personalised completion certificates.
Its audience includes different musculoskeletal professions, so choose sessions relevant to your physiotherapy role. Free access covers selected broadcasts; the recordings library requires paid membership. Check the event description and schedule before signing up.
Register for free APM broadcasts
4. OpenLearn, The Open University
Best for: broader health knowledge and professional development.
OpenLearn offers free courses with a downloadable statement of participation on completion. Some also include a free digital badge.
Although it is not a dedicated physiotherapy platform, it can support wider learning needs. For example, its course on managing children’s pain may interest physiotherapists working with children. Statements and badges do not carry formal academic credit.
5. Practitioner Development UK
Best for: wider healthcare CPD with completion certificates.
Practitioner Development UK offers free e-learning for nurses and other healthcare professionals. Learners receive a downloadable certificate after successfully completing a course.
Its e-learning page gives learners 60 days from enrolment to finish. Choose a topic that fits your scope of practice, and note that its separate scheduled and in-house training may involve fees.
How to make free CPD count
The HCPC does not set a fixed number of CPD hours or points, or approve particular CPD activities. It expects a mixture of relevant learning and consideration of how that learning improves practice and benefits service users.
After each activity, record:
What you learnt.
How it relates to your current or future role.
What you will apply, review or discuss with colleagues.
How it could benefit the people using your service.
Keep completion evidence where available, alongside your reflection. Start with one learning need from your practice and choose an activity that helps you address it.
Planning your next step in independent practice? Explore Therapyway and learn about our platform for therapists and families.
Provider information and free access can change. This shortlist is an editorial selection, not an HCPC endorsement.
