CPD requirements in Australia
All medical practitioners will be asked to declare annually on renewal of registration that they have met the CPD standard set by the Board. This declaration will be subject to audit. Medical practitioners are required to ensure their CPD activities are recorded, either by keeping records themselves or by using college processes, and to produce these records when the Board requires them to do so as part of an audit or investigation. Records must be kept for three years.
AHPRA lists the requirements that registrants must fulfil, as per the categories listed on their website (link). If you are category 4 (g), you are able to complete a minimum of 50 hours of CPD per year, and may choose a self-directed program. Self-directed programs must include practice-based reflective elements such as clinical audit, peer review or performance appraisal, as well as participation in activities to enhance knowledge such as courses, conferences and online learning. MedRecruit has created for you an online diary so as a locum, you can record the activities you undertake in your self-directed program.
CPD requirements in New Zealand
NZ Doctors must complete a minimum of 50 hours CPD per annum. They must show participation in CPD to get their Annual Practicing Certificate issued and renewed. CPD is made up of:
- Peer Review – minimum of 10 hours per annum
- Clinical Audit - at least one per annum
- CME – minimum of 20 hours per annum
Any doctor (GP or Specialist) working outside their vocational scope (i.e. under their general scope) must establish a collegial relationship with a doctor who has vocational scope in the area of medicine the locum doctor has moved to.
Free resources you can access to earn CPD points
We’ve listed some free resources for you to earn CME points in Australia and New Zealand. If you know of any other free resources that will benefit doctors, please get in touch and we’ll list them here.
For General Practitioners
CHECK is an independent learning program produced by the RACGP. and is an online resource. Subscriptions are available via RACGP, and are free of charge if you are an RACGP member and a registered medical practitioner. Click here to read more http://www.racgp.org.au/check
The British Medical Journal online version offers a free CME programme and is accredited by RNZCGP’s. A New Zealand registration means you can access the site free of charge.
For other online courses endorsed for CME by the RNZCGP’s please click here http://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/online-cme/
For hospital doctors in New Zealand
The Medical Council of New Zealand have stated that a review of any of the following resources, held on their website, will be considered as contributing to the self-directed learning component of CPD.