The HPCSA are currently piloting and rolling out a new CPD programme
with the Professional Boards for Medical Technology and
Optometry and Dispensing Opticians.
A report on the pilot project will be submitted to
Council for consideration during its April 2006 meeting.
It is anticipated that the new system will be rolled out to the
practitioners of the remaining ten boards on a compulsory basis
shortly after the Council meeting in April 2006.
It needs to be emphasized that the current CPD system will remain in
place for Boards that are not involved in piloting the new system,
as CPD remains an ethical as well as statutory obligation.
The only deviations are that practitioners are requested not to submit
their portfolios but to retain them from 2004 onwards.
The number of points to be collected per annum changes to 30 across all
professions that follow compulsory programmes.
The new programme incorporates a number of major shifts from the old programme including:
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The system rests on a foundation of trust. The HPCSA believes that health
professionals are committed to meeting the requirements for continuing
education in the belief that they will reap the benefits of ongoing
learning and personal and professional development together with their patients.
Compliance will be dealt with in terms of a random audit of a specific
ratio of each board’s practitioners at least twice a year.
The intention is that all practitioners will be drawn for the
compliance audit at least once during a period of five years.
- Every registered practitioner will be required to
accumulate 30 credits per 12 month period.
- Credits allocated to CPD activities will be valid for a
period of 24 months the required number of CEUs to cover any two
year period will therefore be 60.
- Practitioners are required to reach and maintain a level
of 60 CEUs at all times and in any level.
- In recognition of practitioners’ participation in the
current system, it is proposed that every practitioner will receive a
starting balance of 30 credits, effective from the implementation date of the new system.
- CPD accreditors will be responsible for conducting annual
quality assurance audits in terms of accredited service providers
to ensure ongoing compliance with the guidelines for activities.
- Should you have any queries regarding the new programme,
please contact the CPD Helpdesk at 012 338 9413 or 338 9442.
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