COVID-19: CPD FAQs
 

In response to the announcements by the Medical Council New Zealand (MCNZ) on 25^th March 2020 and the Medical Board Australia (MBA) on 30^th 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.

Fellows CPD requirements for the remainder of the Triennium (30th June 2022) will be adjusted accordingly in the CPD online platform. The CPD program will remain open for those Fellows and members who wish to continue recording their CPD activities during this time.   


The announcement from the Medical Council New Zealand (MCNZ) made on the 25^th March 2020 can be found here: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/about-us/news-and-updates/recertification-requirements-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
 
The announcement from the Medical Board Australia (MBA) made on the 30^th March 2020 can be found here: https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/News/2020-03-30-COVID19-Board-response.aspx

 

Fellows

The CPD exemption granted by the RANZCOG Board and aligned to MBA and MCNZ recommendations means your CPD requirements for the current triennium (2019-2022) have been reduced by 11 months. For Fellows, the change in requirements have been reflected in the online CPD portal (under the My CPD tab in My.RANZCOG).

Fellows’ updated CPD requirements are now as follows for the current CPD triennium (1 July 2019 – 30 June 2022):

Please note:

• The dates of the current CPD triennium remain unchanged, only the number of hours required has changed.
• Fellows who wish to continue recording their completed CPD activities during the exemption period are encouraged to do so.

Should you have any queries or concerns about your CPD during this time and how these changes apply to you, please contact the CPD team at [email protected].

Educational Affiliates

The 11-month exemption from CPD requirements for Educational Affiliates also applies but because the program is offline, will be applied on a case by case basis at the end of your cycle.
 
Should you have any queries or concerns about your CPD during this time and how these changes apply to you, please contact the CPD team at [email protected].

 

Certificants, Diplomates & Advanced Diplomates

Certificants, Diplomates and Advanced Diplomates are not required to submit any CPD requirements for their CWH, DRANZCOG or DRANZCOG Advanced qualifications between 25th March 2020 - 28th February 2021. The CPD program is not closed during this time so your Women’s Reproductive Health CPD activity can still be completed and recorded should you wish to do so.

 

Important note: All Certificants, Diplomates and Advanced Diplomates with a current certificate expiry date of 31 December 2022 will be required to complete and record their Women’s Reproductive Health CPD requirement by 31 December 2022. For more information regarding your Women’s Reproductive Health CPD requirements please see here.

 
Should you have any queries or concerns about your CPD during this time and how these changes apply to you, please contact the CPD team at [email protected].

 

On 25 March Council formally resolved that: "All doctors currently enrolled in BPACNZ’s Inpractice programme or in an accredited college recertification programme are exempt from the programme requirements until 28 February 2021. Council will expect doctors to be enrolled and actively participating in their required programmes from 1 March 2021."

Further information regarding COVID-19 response is available on the MCNZ website https://www.mcnz.org.nz/about-us/news-and-updates/recertification-requirements-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

On the 30 March 2020 the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) announced that no action will be taken if medical practitioners cannot meet the CPD registration standard when they renew their medical registration this year. The MBA does encourage medical practitioners to continue to do CPD that is relevant to their scope of practice, however it is understood that this may be difficult this year as a result of withdrawn/denied leave requests, conference cancellations and the re-prioritisation necessary to meet workforce needs.

Further information regarding COVID-19 response is available on the MBA website: https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/News/2020-03-30-COVID19-Board-response.aspx

The exemption applied for NZ Fellows does not apply to Fellows who are non compliant for not meeting requirements prior to the pandemic. If you are non-compliant from the triennium that ended in 2019, it is important you contact a member of the CPD team on +61 3 9412 2967 or [email protected] for further guidance and support.
 

There are three different pathways for retired Fellows returning to the workforce to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic.

These pathways are:

1. Fellows who retired less than 2 years ago.
2. Fellows who retired between 2-3 years ago.
3. Fellows who retired more than 3 years ago.

Please see information on how to apply for reinstatement to active Fellowship below for each category.

 

I have been retired for less than 2 years.

If you retired from active practice less than two years ago and would like to return to active Fellowship in order to practice during the Covid-19 pandemic, please contact the CPD team at [email protected] with your request to be reinstated to active Fellowship, where all reinstatement fees will be waived.

Please note: in order for your request for reinstatement to active Fellowship to be considered, you must be registered with the relevant regulatory authority (i.e. AHPRA or MCNZ).

• For AUS Fellows please seek further information regarding COVID-19 registration with AHPRA
• For NZ Fellows please seek further information regarding COVID-19 registration with the MCNZ

 
 

I have been retired for 2-3 years.

If you retired from active practice between 2-3 years ago and would like to return to active Fellowship in order to practice during the Covid-19 pandemic, you will need to follow the RANZCOG Re-entry to practice and retraining policy, where all reinstatement fees will be waived. The pathway for an absence from practice of more than 24 months, as outlined in the policy will apply to you. 

Please note: in order to be reinstated to active Fellowship, you will need active medical registration with the relevant regulatory authority (i.e. AHPRA or MCNZ). 

• For AUS Fellows please seek further information regarding COVID-19 registration with AHPRA
• For NZ Fellows please seek further information regarding COVID-19 registration with the MCNZ

Following approval of registration with AHPRA or the MCNZ, please contact the RANZCOG CPD team at [email protected] with your request to be reinstated to active Fellowship including all documentation as outlined in the re-entry to practice and retraining policy.

 

I have been retired for more than 3 years.

If you retired from active practice more than three years ago and would like to return to active Fellowship in order to practice during the Covid-19 pandemic, you will need to follow the RANZCOG Re-entry to practice and retraining policy, where all reinstatement fees will be waived. The pathway for an absence from practice of more than 24 months, as outlined in the policy will apply to you. 

Please note: in order to be reinstated to active Fellowship, you will need active medical registration with the relevant regulatory authority (i.e. AHPRA or MCNZ). 

• For AUS Fellows please seek further information regarding registration with AHPRA
• For NZ Fellows please seek further information regarding restoration to the register with the MCNZ

Following approval of registration with AHPRA or the MCNZ, please contact the RANZCOG CPD team at [email protected] with your request to be reinstated to active Fellowship including all documentation as outlined in the re-entry to practice and retraining policy.