Continuing Professional Development (CPD) promotes a reflective approach to learning, which means we are all responsible for identifying our learning needs that are relevant to our scope of practice. Whilst CPD is often interpreted as mandatory training, it is important to recognise its value in assisting clinicians to continually upskill and identify any knowledge gaps. This leads to increased overall competency to provide the highest quality of care to our patients.

Participation in CPD activities has always been a requirement from the regulatory bodies for renewal of registration. Following a period of consultation, both the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) and Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) announced changes to the CPD requirements for doctors, with new domains and the minimum hours required. The CPD Department and Committee have developed the CPD Framework, which is a comprehensive list of activities to help you plan your professional development across the three domains of Educational Activities, Outcomes Measurement and Performance Review. This Framework is an evolving document that will be updated to include guidance for those Fellows that are practicing part-time, semi-retired, in private practice and/or in rural areas.

If you are involved in any College-related activities, RANZCOG staff will liaise with the CPD team to update these hours into the CPD platform on your behalf.

It is important to note that the minimum CPD requirements are stipulated by both regulatory bodies, and the College’s role is to facilitate and support Fellows with the implementation of the CPD requirements.

Impact of COVID-19 on CPD participation

It is recognised that all Fellows and members have had their CPD impacted by the effects of the pandemic over the last two years. In response to the announcements by the MCNZ on 25 March 2020 and the MBA on 30 March 2020, the RANZCOG Board granted Fellows and members an exemption from participation in the 2019–2022 RANZCOG CPD program effective 25 March 2020 until 28 February 2021. Updates from both the MBA and MCNZ have since confirmed that any exemption period will not be extended and therefore Fellows and members of the College are required to meet their CPD requirements from 1 March 2021. Please note your CPD portal has been updated accordingly to reflect the required number of CPD hours for the remainder of this triennium. Further information is available from the COVID-19 CPD FAQs web page.

New changes to the RANZCOG CPD program from 1 July 2022

The RANZCOG CPD program will change from the current triennium to an annual cycle, effective from 1 July 2022, to align with updated MBA CPD Registration Standards and MCNZ Recertification Requirements. As the new MBA and MCNZ CPD cycles are to commence from 1 January of each year, the Board has approved a transitional change allowing the new CPD cycle to run for 18 months from 1 July 2022 to bring the CPD program into a calendar year cycle as required by the MBA. Some requirements have already been implemented to the current CPD program. Once the transition is completed, the annual CPD cycle will begin from 1 January every year from 2024.

Current triennium (2019–2022) requirements

RANZCOG is now in its final year of the CPD triennium (2019–2022) where Fellows and members must meet their CPD requirements before 30 June 2022. CPD updates have already been communicated via email along with several CPD information webinars. Further webinars are scheduled for 2022 and dates will be communicated in the member newsletter, Connect.

Please refer to Figures 1 and 2 for further information.

Figure 1. As a reminder, the above changes were applied in 2019 for the current triennium (2019–2022).

Figure 2. Existing requirements for Fellows and Subspecialists

CPD verification and overdue Fellows

In May 2022, 7% of Fellows will be randomly selected for a verification check of the CPD they have claimed during their 3-year CPD period. Selected Fellows are required to provide verification documentation as evidence of their participation in their logged activities.

Fellows who:

• have previously been selected are not exempt from verification checks in future CPD periods.
• are one week (or more) overdue submitting their CPD requirements will be automatically selected for a verification check.
• fail to provide verification of their CPD activities within five weeks will be referred to the Fellowship Review Committee (FRC).

Further information is available on the CPD for Fellows web page under ‘Verification checks’.

Overseas Fellows

If you are practicing overseas, you must continue to meet your CPD requirements either with the RANZCOG CPD program or with a recognised international CPD program. You may be eligible for a reduction in your RANZCOG subscription fee.

If you are participating in a CPD program that is not currently recognised by RANZCOG, you may make an application to the RANZCOG CPD Committee for recognition of the program you are participating in. Further information is available on the CPD for Fellows web page under ‘Changes in circumstance’.

Move to annual CPD program

To align with changes in the MBA CPD Registration Standards and MCNZ Recertification Requirements, the RANZCOG CPD program will transition to an annual CPD program effective 1 July 2022.

The new cycle, commencing 1 July 2022, will be extended to 18 months and conclude on 31 December 2023. This cycle will be considered ‘transitional’ to enable Fellows and members to understand the new requirements and bring the CPD program into a calendar-year cycle that is now required by the MBA.

For the annual CPD cycle, Fellows and members will be required to record a minimum of 50 CPD hours each year, across the three domains, as outlined in Table 1.

Table 1. Revised allocation of hours for Outcome Measurement (OM) and Performance Review (PR)

* A revised allocation of hours for OM and PR that will require a minimum of 50% (25 hours) across both domains with a minimum of five hours within each.

Revised annual CPD requirements for subspecialists

• To align to an annual CPD cycle, 35 of the 50 hours must be specific to the subspecialists’ scope of practice.
• Subspecialty checklists for CREI and CU will be removed, and criteria incorporated into the Professional Development Plan (PDP).
• CGO subspecialists will be required to undertake a minimum 20 hours of multidisciplinary team meetings (MDT) each year.

Professional Development Plan

The PDP is a planning tool to guide Fellows and members future CPD throughout their career and can be used to identify development needs, both personally and professionally, and help guide changes for improving their own health and wellbeing. Completion of the PDP will be a mandatory annual requirement from 1 July 2022 under the Performance Review domain where a RANZCOG PDP template will be available. It is recognised that Fellows and members may already have their own professional development plan, and this can also be uploaded. Further information is available on the CPD web page.

Annual conversation

From 1 July 2022, New Zealand Fellows will be required to undertake a structured conversation, at least annually, with a peer, colleague, or employer about their clinical practice. The intent of this activity is to provide time for the Fellow/member to reflect on their development needs, their goals for learning and professional activities and their intentions for the next year (PDP). It provides an opportunity to receive constructive feedback and share best practice. Further guidance to undertake the Annual Conversation is available on the CPD web page.

Mandatory reporting for CPD non-compliance

Following implementation of the revised CPD Standard and Recertification requirements, both MBA and MCNZ will require annual reporting for CPD non-compliance. Please note that normal College internal processes for assisting overdue Fellows will continue. The CPD department is currently working with both regulatory bodies on future processes and further information will be made available from the CPD home page.

New Integrate CPD platform to replace My.RANZCOG

A new CPD platform is in development and will be available from 1 July 2022 when you sign into Integrate. The platform will provide improved dashboard, navigation, reporting and will be mobile friendly. More information will be circulated shortly with training webinar dates to be announced from the CPD home page.

Summary

The landscape for CPD is no doubt changing, and from 1 January 2023 all medical practitioners in Australia will be able to choose their CPD home as stipulated by the MBA. The RANZCOG program is continually being updated to be responsive to the regulatory requirements and to assist Fellows in meeting them. It is hoped that members will continue to see the value in the RANZCOG program with the development of the new platform and supporting guidance and resources that will be available for the new cycle commencing 1 July 2022.

The CPD team is always available to assist you with any queries you have relating to your CPD at [email protected].

Further reading

• Medical Board Australia, AHPRA. Strengthening Continuing Professional Development
• Medical Council New Zealand. Recertification and Professional Development
• View the RANZCOG CPD Framework on the CPD home page