Continuing professional development (CPD) Standards

RACGP CPD Activity Standards

Last revised: 19 Apr 2023

RACGP CPD Activity Standards

Overview 

The RACGP CPD Activity Standards focus on ensuring a high quality of education is provided to RACGP members. Providers are required to offer high-quality education under the guidance of the RACGP, which measures and monitors the development and delivery of CPD activities.

These standards are broad and outcomes-focused to meet the requirements of the MBA types of CPD and to encourage innovation in how RACGP members can satisfy CPD requirements. There may be exceptions, for example, the requirement that CPD activities are mapped to the 2022 RACGP curriculum and syllabus for Australian general practice and the MBA types of CPD.

There are four main standards relating to: 

  1. the need for an activity and its relevance to general practice 
  2. the learning outcomes 
  3. the activity design 
  4. evaluation of an activity.

Each standard includes criteria and indicators to assist education providers. The indicators use the word ‘must’ to indicate what is mandatory, and ‘could’ to indicate what is optional though recommended. This will allow providers to be flexible in their approach to meeting the various types of activity requirements in ways that best suit their organisation’s resources and expertise.

Guidance is also provided for each standard for added context and to explain its importance to GPs’ CPD activity.

Links to policies and other documents have been included where relevant. 

CPD Activity Standards   

  1. CPD activities are based on identified needs relevant to Australian general practice.  
  2. CPD activity learning outcomes are informed by the needs assessment.
  3. CPD activities are designed to achieve the learning outcomes. 
  4. Evaluation informs quality improvement of the CPD activity. 

Criterion 1.1 The needs assessment process involves a specialist GP (or GPs)

Indicators for meeting this criterion 

The CPD representative (formerly Education Activity Representative or EAR) must provide information on how GPs were involved in the needs assessment process. For example, the GP/s: 

  • conducted the needs assessment using RACGP publications and other evidence-based references as a source for assessing needs
  • reviewed the needs assessment and confirmed its relevance to general practice. 

Criterion 1.2 A comprehensive evidence-based needs assessment informs the activity and is relevant to the 2022 RACGP curriculum and syllabus for Australian general practice and the MBA CPD Registration Standard

Indicators for meeting this criterion 

The CPD representative must provide references to information used in developing a needs assessment, including:

The CPD representative could also use data from other current, reliable and reputable evidence-based sources.

Criterion 1.3 The activity supports safe and responsible practice

Indicators for meeting this criterion 

The CPD representative must provide information about how culturally safe practice, health inequities, professionalism and ethical practice are considered and embedded within activities where relevant.

Criterion 2.1 CPD activity learning outcomes are clear, measurable,relevant and feasible

Indicators for meeting this criterion

All CPD activity learning outcomes must be:

  • clear – learning outcomes are specific, unambiguous and easy to understand 
  • measurable – learning outcomes can be objectively assessed so that GPs know if the learning outcomes have been achieved
  • relevant – the learning outcome should be directly linked to the needs assessment and the context of general practice
  • feasible – the learning outcomes are achievable considering the GP’s current level of knowledge and skills and the learning activity design including resources and time frames.

Criterion 3.1 The CPD activity design is consistent with contemporary educational practice

Indicators for meeting this criterion 

The CPD representative must detail:

  • how educational practice has informed their activity design, for example, how opportunities for interaction and reflection have been included
  • the use of CPD expertise in activity development.

Criterion 3.2 The learning activities are designed to achieve the learning outcomes

Indicators for meeting this criterion 

The CPD representative must: 

  • outline the most suitable category(ies) described by the MBA CPD registration standard for the activity design 
  • provide a rationale for why a particular design (for example, workshop, eLearning, audit) has been selected for achievement of the learning outcomes 
  • provide evidence of how the delivery components of the learning activity are mapped to the learning outcomes 
  • provide evidence of a program plan or activity template – where relevant, this should include details of facilities, facilitators and participant numbers.

Criterion 3.3 The content is evidence-based and relevant to Australian general practice

Indicators for meeting this criterion

The CPD representative must: 

  • provide information on how a specialist GP was involved in the development, design and evaluation of the activity
  • demonstrate that the content is not influenced by sponsorship or commercial interests
  • provide a list of evidence-based resources used in the development of the activity content
  • provide samples of activity content.

Criterion 3.4 Assessments are fit for purpose

Indicators for meeting this criterion 

The CPD representative must: 

  • consider the role and justify any method of assessment that has been selected for the activity, including where assessment will occur
  • describe how the method of assessment measures achievement of the learning outcomes. 

Criterion 4.1 An evaluation strategy reviews and documents all elements of the activity

Indicators for meeting this criterion 

The CPD representative must: 

  • provide evidence and methodology used in an evaluation process
  • incorporate a range of perspectives in the collection of data
  • ensure that any mandatory questions are included in the evaluation 
  • describe how evaluation data will be provided to those involved in activity development and/or delivery.

Criterion 4.2 CPD activity quality improvement is based on the evaluation strategy outcomes

Indicators for meeting this criterion 

The CPD representative must: 

  • provide information about how evaluation data is used in a review of the activity and how this informs current and future CPD activities
  • provide the RACGP with the evaluation report, which includes quality improvement (QI) recommendations
  • provide evidence of changes to an activity made as a result of evaluation data.

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