AMEE Medical Education Guide No. 19: Personal learning plans

Personal learning plans are being introduced and developed across the bread th of medical education-from the early years of undergraduate training thro ugh to continuing professional development for experienced clinicians. This Guide shows how and where they can be used, charting their history across higher education in the UK, indicating how they link with other professiona l development initiatives such as appraisal and revalidation, and giving an educational rationale for their use in enhancing lifelong learning. It off ers a simple, stage-by-stage strategy for developing a personal learning pl an, and for supporting others as they undertake the process themselves.