Overview of the CPD Program

Overview of the CPD Program

Continuing professional development (CPD)

Participating regularly in CPD is a requirement of the MBA and applies to all registered GPs including those taking a leave of absence from clinical practice. For more information visit Medical Board Registration Standards.

GPs requiring practice accreditation and GPs seeking visiting medical officer credentials with local hospitals, particularly in rural areas, are also required to participate in regular CPD.

Some GPs have specific requirements with other colleges or third-party organisations for topics such as women’s health, general practice anaesthesia, general practice surgery, diagnostic radiology, mental health and medical acupuncture. These GPs are required to undertake mandatory or recommended CPD specific to that topic to maintain their relevant skills. This is part of, not in addition to, the overall CPD requirements applicable to all registered medical practitioners who are engaged in any form of medical practice under MBA or Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) standards.

The RACGP CPD Program 

The RACGP CPD Program is integral to the profession of general practice, supporting the clinical and professional development of GPs that leads to improved patient outcomes and high-quality primary healthcare in Australia. The RACGP works closely with providers to develop an environment of high-quality activities and acknowledges the important service provided to GPs through this collaborative relationship.

MBA CPD requirements

As per the 2023 MBA CPD Registration Standard, registered medical practitioners (unless exempt) are required to complete the following CPD requirements.

1. have a CPD home

2. complete a Professional Development Plan (PDP) annually

3. record 50 hours of CPD annually, which includes:

   • 25 hours reviewing performance (RP) and measuring outcomes (MO), with a minimum of five hours of each type. RP are activities that require reflection on feedback about your work, and MO are activities that use your work data to ensure high quality results

   • 12.5 hours of traditional learning or educational activities (EA), for example reading, lectures, podcasts, webinars and conferences. EA are activities that expand your general practice knowledge, skills and attitudes related to your scope of practice

   • 12.5 hours of free choice activities, which may be allocated across one, two or all three activity types.
     (A CPD activity can cover a combination of two or more activity types. This is referred to as a hybrid activity)

4. complete CPD activities related to the program level requirements (PLRs) annually, including culturally safe practice, health inequities, and professionalism and ethical practice

5. for specialist GPs, complete a CPR course once each triennium – for example once in the 2026–28 triennium

6. retain records of your annual CPD activity for audit by your CPD home and the MBA for three years after the end of each one-year cycle.

Refer to Table 1. For more information visit Medical Board Professional Performance Framework

The 2026–28 triennium commences 1 January 2026 and concludes 31 December 2028.