All doctors in Australia must meet the updated CPD registration standard outlined by AHPRA. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you navigate these requirements and ensure compliance.
CPD Requirements for Doctors in Australia
To meet the CPD registration standard, you must:
- Join an AMC-Accredited CPD Home
- Unless exempt, you need to enrol in an AMC-accredited CPD home suitable for your scope of practice. This can be a college or non-college home.
- Log CPD Activities - Record your activities with your chosen CPD home.
- Declare Your CPD Home - Confirm your CPD home during you AHPRA registration renewal.
- Develop a Professional Development Plan
- Create this plan each year to guide your CPD
- Complete 50 Hours of CPD Activities Annually
- 12.5 hours: Educational Activities (e.g., reading, lectures, conferences).
- 25 hours: Reviewing performance and Measuring Outcomes (minimum of 5 hours in each category).
- 12.5 hours: Flexible activities from any category.
- Complete any Program Level Requirements as directed your CPD Home
- Complete any Specialist High-Level Requirements if applicable for your specialty
Groups Exempt from CPD Requirements
- Medical students
- Doctors with non-practising registration
- Doctors with short-term limited registration (less than four weeks)
- Doctors granted CPD exemptions by CPD homes (e.g., for illness, parental leave)
- Interns and PGY2 doctors in structured programs leading to a certificate of completion
CPD Requirements for Specific Groups
Interns and PGY2 Doctors in Supervised Positions
- Interns: CPD is included in your training, with no additional requirements.
- PGY2 Doctors: No need to enrol in a CPD home or complete CPD if:
- Participating in a PGY2 training program accredited by your State/Territory postgraduate medical council
- Working in supervised clinical practice positions (hospital or general practice).
- PGY2 Doctors Working Independently: Must enrol in a CPD home and meet the Board’s CPD standard.
PGY3+ Doctors Not in Specialist College Training
- Join an AMC-accredited CPD home
PGY3+ Doctors in Specialist College Training
- Your CPD is covered by your training program, with no additional requirements.
Doctors with General Registration
- Join an AMC-accredited CPD home
Specialists
- You can choose to join any AMC-accredited CPD home
- This could be an independent CPD home or your specialist college which is recognised as a CPD home.
- Completing your college’s CPD program satisfies the requirements
- Ensure your complete any specialist high-level requirements that may be applicable
Specialist International Medical Graduates (Expedited Specialist Pathway)
- Join an AMC-accredited CPD home
International Medical Graduates with Limited or Provisional Registration (Specialist Pathway)
- Your college will serve as your CPD home, and participating in its program satisfies the revised requirements.
International Medical Graduates with Limited Registration (Not in Specialist Pathway)
- Join an AMC-accredited CPD home
- Note: Doctors registered for less than four weeks are exempt from CPD.
International Medical Graduates with Provisional Registration
- Join an AMC-accredited CPD home
Doctors with Multiple Specialties
- If completing all of your colleges CPD programs, you meet the requirements.
- Alternatively, join a CPD home covering your scopes of practice and include any specialist high-level requirements that may be applicable
