Medical Practitioners CPD in Australia

Medical Practitioners are required to undergo Continuing Professional Development throughout their careers to develop the personal and professional qualities required in the exercise of their profession. The following article informs the different CPD requirements for the groups of general registrants in Australia 2021.

1. MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WHO HAVE GENERAL REGISTRATION AND ARE PREVOCATIONAL TRAINEES OR COLLEGE VOCATIONAL TRAINEES:

CPD requirement:

The board’s CPD registration standard requires medical practitioners who have general registration and are prevocational trainees or college vocational trainees to participate in supervised training and education programs associated with their position.

What you need to do:

If you are a trainee in an Australian supervised training or education you must provide either:

• A signed letter or report from your supervising hospital or teaching practice that confirms you participated in the supervised training and education programs associated with your position from 1 October to 30 September in the year being audited.

• A signed report from your superior on hospital rotations from 1 October to 30 September in the year being audited is not acceptable evidence.

If you are a trainee in an overseas supervised fellowship training or education program you must provide:

• A signed letter from the relevant AMC accredited specialist college advising whether the CPD undertaken is acceptable to the college.

2. MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WHO HAVE GENERAL REGISTRATION ONLY (I.E. DO NOT HAVE A SPECIALIST REGISTRATION)

CPD requirement:

The Board’s CPD registration standard requires a self-directed program of 50 hours of CPD to be completed in the period from 1 October to 30 September each year. The 50 hours must include a mandatory practice-based self-assessed reflective element/activities of either a clinical audit or a peer review or a performance appraisal.

What you need to do:

You must submit documentation and evidence to substantiate the declaration you made when you renewed your registration, that you undertook the required 50 hours of CPD in the period from 1 October to 30 September in the year being audited including:

• A mandatory practice-based reflective element of either clinical audit or peer review or performance appraisal and

• activities to enhance knowledge including courses, conferences and online learning.

Your activities must be relevant to your scope of practice.

You must provide:

• A completed cover sheet that outlines the categories and the correct number of hours claimed and;

• Copies of evidence to substantiate the activities claimed

3. MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WHO HAVE GENERAL REGISTRATION ONLY AND ARE A MEMBER OR FELLOW OF AN ACCREDITED SPECIALIST COLLEGE

CDP requirement:

If you are a general registrant who is a member or fellow of an accredited medical college then you must meet the standard for CDP set by the medical college

What you need to do:

 If you are a member or fellow you must submit evidence of activities in the year being audited that you participated in a college program.

Your activities must be relevant to your scope of practice

You must provide:

The college statement/certificate of participation/completion; the college’s expanded summary of activities with dates and timings’ copies of evidence to substantiate the activities claimed. Please refer to your college’s requirements.

The following article has been referred to the latest guidelines provided by the APHRA Medical Board in September 2021 and is subject to change. To view the full original article, click here.