Continuing Professional Development
This policy has been developed to provide expectations regarding the requirement to be enrolled in a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program. As per the Regulated Health Professions Act and the Medical Practitioners Regulations all registered members applying to renew their registration must enroll with and meet the requirements for CPD.
Introduction
Lack of participation in CPD is a known risk factor for poor physician performance. CPD programs mitigate this risk while helping physician maintain and enhance their competence throughout their careers.
All registered members, including those with General / Provisional / Special Registration, Associate Physicians, Clinical Assistants and Physician Assistants are required to participate in CPD in accordance with this policy.
Definitions
CCFP, FCFP: Certification or Fellowship in Family Medicine by The College of Family Physicians of Canada. This is granted to family physicians who meet the requirements for certification or fellowship.
Mainpro: The program of the College of Family Physicians of Canada to track physicians’ CPD activities. Physicians are required to submit a total of 250 credits within every 5 year cycle.
FRCPC, FRCSC: Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. This is granted by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada to physicians with specialty training who meet their requirements for fellowship.
Maintenance of Certification (MOC): The program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada to track physicians’ CPD activities. Physicians holding FRCPC or FRCSC are required to meet the requirements for the MOC in order to retain their fellowship. Physicians are required to submit a minimum of 40 credits annually and 400 credits within every 5 year cycle. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada will also permit non-fellow family physicians and specialists to have their CPD activities tracked in the same manner as fellows enrolled in MOC.
ABMS Continuing Certification: The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) have produced “Standards for Continuing Certification” which must be followed by each of the 24 Member Boards when designing their continuing certification programs.
CCPA: Canadian Certified Physician Assistant is a Physician Assistant who has met the defined course of study and has undergone testing by the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC).
MAINPRO/MOC: Physician Associates are required to submit a minimum of 40 credits of CPD activities per year and 400 credits over the course of a five-year cycle. Credits are documented using MAINPORT, the CPD reporting tool for the MOC Program.
Non-PA Tracking Tool: Clinical Assistants are required to submit a minimum of 40 credits of CPD activities per year and 400 credits over the course of a five-year cycle. The Non-PA Tracking Tool category was created by CAPA specifically for clinical assistants.
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA): the only certifying organization for Physician Assistants in the United States. The NCCPA has a 10 year certificating maintenance process, which includes a requirement for continuing medical education as well as a recertifying exam.
Policy
All registered members must be enrolled in one of the CPD programs identified below. The College does not accept direct reports from registrants regarding CPD activity to determine satisfactory participation.
Physicians and Associate Physicians (APs) licensed to practice must enroll with either the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)’s Mainpro+, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSCs) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) CPD-tracking, or the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Continuing Certification programs.
Clinical Assistants (CAs) must enroll in either in the Non-PA CPD-Tracking Tool program through the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)’s Mainpro+, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSCs) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) CPD-tracking.
Physician Assistants (PAs) must enroll in either the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants or the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) CPD-tracking programs.
Registered members not currently enrolled in the appropriated CPD program as outlined above are required to enroll.
American Board certified physicians found to be unsatisfactorily participating in the CPD program requirements of the respective Member Board of the ABMS, are required to enroll and participate in the CPD program of the relevant Canadian certifying College (Mainpro+ or MOC). American Board certified physicians who are satisfactorily participating in the CPD program requirements of the Member Board of the ABMS may choose to enroll in one of the Canadian programs outlined above, or maintain their CPD through the Member Board of the ABMS.
Confirmation of enrollment in an accepted CPD program is required on the annual application for renewal of registration. Registrants must also specify whether they are due to complete their 5-year cycle in the current year.
Upon application for renewal of registration, if the annual CPD requirements have not been met or there is a failure to produce evidence regarding CPD as requested by the College, the Registrar will be notified. The Registrar may then decide to take further action, including referral of the application of renewal to Council, or initiating a complaint against the member.
A Registrant may request an exemption in writing to the Registrar. Examples of situations in which an exemption may be granted include where the registrant is doing strictly administrative work or is restricted to surgical assist only, absences due to parental or medical leave, or retirement occurring prior to the next annual renewal of registration (March 31st of each year).
Applicable Legislation
Regulated Health Professions Act sections 22(2)(a)(i) and 60(1) & (2)
Medical Practitioners Regulations sections 7(a) and 18(a)
Document History
Approval Date: March 26, 2024