RANZCOG CPD FAQs
Why is RANZCOG changing from a Triennium to an Annual CPD cycle?
The MBA requires all Colleges to implement a calendar year CPD cycle. For RANZCOG to bring its CPD program into a calendar year, the new CPD cycle will commence on 1/7/2022 for a duration of 18 months and end on 31/12/2023. The following cycle will then commence 1/1/2024 and conclude 31/12/2024.
Please note that the hours for the 18-month cycle will remain at 50 hours and will be regarded as a transitional cycle to enable Fellows to become familiar with the new requirements.
How do I get a copy of my Fellowship Certificate?
Please contact the Membership team for assistance in obtaining a copy of your Fellowship Certificate via membership@ranzcog.edu.au or telephone on +613 9412 2908.
How do I get a copy of my CPD Compliance Statement and Letter of Participation?
There are several documents available to you:
The CPD Letter of Participation confirms your status with the College and that you are registered for a CPD program. It does not provide evidence that you are meeting your CPD requirements.
This is available to download from your my.RANZCOG CPD portal, and is also downloadable within Integrate, on the CPD Overview page.
The CPD Statement of Hours summarises the number of CPD hours you have completed to date in your triennium. It provides information on whether you are on track to meet your CPD requirements.
This is available to download from your my.RANZCOG CPD portal for the triennium closing 30 June 2022.
The CPD Compliance Statement is formal confirmation that you have met all your CPD requirements for the most recent triennium.
This is available to download from your my.RANZCOG CPD portal for the triennium closing 30 June 2022.
How does the College determine my CPD start date?
Your CPD requirements begin the day you are elevated to Fellowship and from this date you must participate in CPD. Please note the CPD team is unable to change the start date of Fellowship Elevations.
Please refer to the website and the CPD Framework to identify activities which may contribute to your CPD.
I am moving overseas, what will be required to maintain CPD requirements?
If practicing overseas, you have the option to either continue with participation in the RANZCOG CPD program or enrol into an overseas CPD program. Where you are required to participate in the CPD program of the country you are practising in, you must request to have the overseas CPD program recognised by RANZCOG (if not already recognised) and complete this program to maintain your RANZCOG Fellowship.
View a list of currently recognised international CPD programs, and how to apply for a reduction in your subscription fee, on the Fellows Overseas page.
How do Subspecialties determine which activities can count towards the subspecialist component?
If the activity relates to your subspecialty scope of practice, then it counts towards your subspecialty component. Fellows can indicate that the activity relates to their scope of practice when uploading the activity to the CPD program.
How do I claim hours in OM and PR?
For the new CPD cycle effective 1/7/2022, the MBA has introduced a revised allocation of hours for Outcome Measure (OM) and Performance Review (PR) that will require an annual minimum of 50% (25 hours) across both domains with a minimum of 5 hours within each. The remaining hours can then be applied to either OM or PR.
These revised minimum hours requirements under OM and PR have also been applied for the current CPD annual cycle July 2022 to December 2023 to help Fellows, particularly part-time, semi-retired and rural Fellows. The CPD for Fellows page has been updated to reflect this change.
The CPD Framework lists a number of activities for CPD in related domains.
Where a Fellow is experiencing difficulties in meeting their requirements, please contact the CPD team on +61 3 9417 1699; we may be able to assist in identifying activities suitable for CPD.
Are CPD requirements the same for part-time/semi-retired Fellows?
The Medical Board Australia (MBA) CPD Registration Standards and Medical Council New Zealand (MCNZ) Recertification Requirements set the requirements for professional development. Both regulatory bodies stipulate that part-time and semi-retired Fellows complete the same number of CPD hours as a full-time Fellow and the therefore the College is unable to apply any concessions.
The CPD Framework lists a number of activities for CPD in related domains.
Where a Fellow is experiencing difficulties in meeting their requirements, please contact the CPD team on +61 3 9417 1699; we may be able to assist in identifying activities suitable for CPD.
Semi-retired Fellows are eligible for a reduction in annual fees. Please visit the Reduction in Subscription Fees Policy and Procedure page for more information.
Will there be any concession for semi-retired Fellows who only do occasional locum work?
The Medical Board Australia (MBA) CPD Registration Standards and Medical Council New Zealand (MCNZ) Recertification Requirements set the requirements for professional development with no concession relating to Fellows who are semi-retired and do occasional locum work.
Semi-retired Fellows are eligible for a reduction in annual fees. Please visit the Reduction in Subscription Fees Policy and Procedure page for more information.
Does CPD have concessions or alternate requirements for those that are in the locum workforce?
The Medical Board Australia (MBA) CPD Registration Standards and Medical Council New Zealand (MCNZ) Recertification Requirements set the requirements for professional development with no concessions available for locum doctors.
The CPD Framework lists a number of activities for CPD in related domains.
Where a Fellow is experiencing difficulties in meeting their requirements, please contact the CPD team on +61 3 9417 1699; we may be able to assist in identifying activities suitable for CPD.
What is an Annual Conversation?
From 1st July 2022, for New Zealand Fellows and members it will be mandatory to undertake a structured conversation, at least annually, with a peer, colleague or employer about their clinical practice. The College is developing guidance and resources to assist with undertaking the Annual Conversation and will be available shortly.
The Annual Conversation will also be available as an optional activity for Australian Fellows/members.
Read more about the Annual Conversation and PDP.
What is the Professional Development Plan (PDP)?
Completion of the PDP became a mandatory annual requirement from 1 July 2022. It is recommended that Fellows begin their CPD by completing the PDP within Integrate, and maintain this throughout the CPD cycle. Once completed, Fellows can submit the PDP.
The PDP is a planning tool to guide Fellows and members future CPD throughout their career and can be used to identify development needs both personally and professionally and help guide changes for improving own health and wellbeing.
Read more about the Annual Conversation and PDP.
Are there any CPD concessions for Fellows working in private practice?
The Medical Board Australia (MBA) CPD Registration Standards and Medical Council New Zealand (MCNZ) Recertification Requirements set the requirements for professional development with no concessions for Fellows working in private Practice.
The CPD Framework lists a number of activities for CPD in related domains.
Where a Fellow is experiencing difficulties in meeting their requirements, please contact the CPD team on +61 3 9417 1699; we may be able to assist in identifying activities suitable for CPD.
How have CPD requirements been changed with the impact of COVID-19?
In response to the announcements by the Medical Council New Zealand (MCNZ) on 25 March 2020 and the Medical Board Australia (MBA) on 30 March 2020, the RANZCOG Board granted Fellows and members of the College an exemption from their participation in the 2019-2022 RANZCOG CPD program effective 25 March 2020 until 28 February 2021.
This reduction in hours has been reflected in Fellows’ online CPD program. Fellows were required to continue to meet their requirements from 1 March 2021 to the end of the triennium, 30 June 2022.
There are no COVID-19 exemptions to CPD for the CPD cycle commencing 1 July 2022.
For additional information, please visit the COVID-19: CPD FAQs webpage.
Who initiates the changes to the CPD Program and why?
The Medical Board Australia (MBA) CPD Registration Standards and Medical Council New Zealand (MCNZ) Recertification Requirements set the requirements professional development. The RANZCOG CPD Program is designed to align with both MBA and MCNZ, which is a requirement to maintain your medical registration.
This is outlined in the RANZCOG Guide to CPD.
The Professional Performance Framework from the MBA is designed to maintain patients trust in Australian doctors and safe care from them. The MBA built a Professional Performance Framework to support doctors to practise competently and ethically throughout their working lives.
MCNZ is responsible for ensuring that doctors are competent and fit to practise medicine. One of the ways that it does this is by meeting the requirements of recertification programmes set by Council, including satisfying any continuing professional development (CPD) requirements included in the programme.
What is the difference Between Outcome Measurement and Performance Review?
The three RANZCOG CPD Domains are Educational Activities (EA), Outcome Measurement (OM) and Performance Review (PR).
EA includes participation in self-directed learning and/or involvement in College roles and/or educational events.
OM includes measurement of outcomes of care, benchmarking of performance with peers and reflecting on patient outcomes. Activities can include reviewing practice data and reflecting on your patients’ health outcomes in activities such as clinical audit, morbidity and mortality meetings.
PR includes reviewing and reflecting on actual work process and can include feedback from peers, colleagues and patients.
The main difference is that OM is a general measurement of outcomes whereas performance review is more based on reflection and feedback on your own performance.
For a list of activities refer to the CPD Framework.
What type of evidence for CPD Activity is required?
Fellows must retain documented evidence of their participation in CPD activities. Such evidence can include certificates of attendance or de-identified reports, with a cover letter signed by the Fellow, advising the number of hours spent on a report (such as an audit).
You can find templates within the CPD Recourses section of Integrate.
What is RANZCOG doing about my CPD requirements?
In response to the announcements by the Medical Council New Zealand (MCNZ) on 25 March 2020 and the Medical Board Australia (MBA) on 30th March 2020, the RANZCOG Board have made a decision to grant Fellows and members of the College an exemption from their participation in the 2019-2022 RANZCOG CPD program effective 25th March 2020 until 28th February 2021. This has been applied for the CPD triennium July 2019 to 30 June 2022.
Fellows CPD requirements for the remainder of the Triennium (30 June 2022) were adjusted accordingly in the CPD online platform. The CPD program remained open for those Fellows and members who wished to continue recording their CPD activities during this time.
I am a retired Fellow and I want to help at my local hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. How can I return to active Fellowship?
The RANZCOG re-entry and retraining programs have been developed to support the vision of ‘excellence in women’s health’ by assisting Fellows who wish to return to active practice following a prolonged absence or who have identified themselves as requiring retraining, or have been identified by a Regional Health Board, Medical Board or Medical Council as requiring retraining.
The requirements for returning to practice include catching up on missed CPD, repaying missing years of annual renewal fees, and obtaining specialist registration from the Australian Medical Board or New Zealand Medical Council.
Contact
If your can’t find your question in our FAQs, please get in touch with the CPD team:
Email: cpd@ranzcog.edu.au