13
I
Each three-year CPD cycle covers three registration periods from 1 December to 30 November. The current CPD cycle runs from 1 December, 2016 and will end 30 November, 2019.
n an increasingly electronic world, many of us rely on emails and cloud storage to maintain records. This can make us relax a little when it comes to keeping our paperwork organised. If you were audited on your CPD by AHPRA tomorrow would you be prepared? The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the organisation responsible for the implementation of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme across Australia. The Dental Board of Australia is established under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law as in force in each state and territory (the National Law). The Board’s role is to regulate dental practitioners in Australia under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme). Anyone can search the status of a health practitioner’s registration and check it is current and if any sanctions have been made.
Ways to accrue your CPD Although conferences offer many opportunities for CPD, there are many other ways that you may not have considered to obtain affordable and informative CPD. You could access: ● Scientific journals and publications; ● Universities and other education providers whom provide seminars or public events; ● First aid and CPR training; ● Indemnity insurance companies: face-to-face and online risk management seminars; ● Researching medications/medical conditions for patient care.
What AHPRA require Every year when we renew our AHPRA registration we make a declaration that we have completed the mandatory minimum 60 hours of Continued Professional Development (CPD) over the three-year CPD cycle. AHPRA registration standards for Continuing Professional Development (as of 1 December 2015) states the following: To meet the registration standard, you must complete a minimum of 60 hours of CPD activities over a three-year CPD cycle. ● a minimum of 48 of the 60 hours (80 percent) must be spent on clinically or scientifically-based activities, and; ● a maximum of 12 of the 60 hours (20 percent) can be spent on non-scientific activities.
How DHAA can help with CPD As part of the DHAA commitment to it's members there are numersous support channels to assist you manage and maintain your CPD requirement, including; ● Each state/territory holds meetings for DHAA members, refer to the CPD calendar at the back of this Bulletin or visit the DHAA website. ● DHAA national and international symposiums. ● DHAA Study Club where you can study with friends. You can find out more here. ● Reciprocal rights to attend other association events at member costs. ● Online resources such as recorded webinars, online modules, and a repository of external web-based CPD resources. n
FAQs on CPD I read a lot of journal articles, does that count towards my CPD hours? Yes it does, however just stating “20 hours of reading” is not adequate evidence. If audited, all topics/ articles read need to be referenced and a printed list included with documentation.
Does working part-time mean that I have reduced CPD requirements? No, the declaration you make states you have completed the minimum mandatory requirements. Regardless of how many hours you work, it is important to meet the minimum requirements.
Do I need to keep hard copies of my CPD certificates? If you are audited you may have to provide original certified copies of your CPD certificates so, keep the originals in a safe location just in case.
If I’m on maternity leave do I still need to fulfil my CPD obligations? Yes, you still need to obtain 60 hours over the three year period.
How long should I keep a record of my CPD activity? 5 years
What should I do if I have not been keeping a record of my CPD? 1. Create a log book (either electronic or manual). The DHAA provides an online
log for members on the DHAA website in the My CPD section. Additional templates are available from the Dental Board website. 2. Collate and file all original certificates. 3. Calculate the hours you have completed in the current cycle and make a plan to complete the remaining hours by searching for meetings, conferences, and journals. 4. It can be useful to write a brief summary of what you have learnt, and/ or a reflection on how this will impact your practice. For further information on the audit process, please go to the Dental Board website.