CPD Credits

CPD is recorded through credits that encompass a broad range of activities in public health practice.

Achievement of a minimum of 50 credits every year is obligatory to remain in good standing with the Faculty (unless the Faculty has formally agreed exemption).

Credits can be given for planned and unplanned CPD; for planned CPD, the activities will relate closely to the personal development plan.

 

 

The CPD Credits Guide

  • As a guide, count 1 credit per hour of ‘real educational time' , 3 credits for half a day and 5 credits for a full day.
  • To remain in good standing, those Faculty members who are in active public health practice are required to complete a minimum of 50 credits per year unless the Faculty has formally exempted them from this requirement. Gaining more credits does not necessarily equate with better learning or higher quality of practice.
  • For each activity you should write a reflective note, which need not be long and should refer to key learning points.
  • Activities should be linked to your personal development plan wherever possible.
  • When deciding whether an activity is suitable for inclusion in your CPD log, the critical consideration relates to individual new learning having taken place.
  • There is no requirement for any activity to be formally accredited.
  • You should record each activity in the log and keep the programme/agenda/short description of the activity and your reflective note.
  • There should normally be a balance across a range of activities, but it is not necessary that all categories are represented. Categories of activities (non-exhaustive) which may include new learning are:
  1. Learning as part of your job
  2. Group work, seminars and journal clubs
  3. Conferences, workshops and educational meetings
  4. Formal courses
  5. Private study and reading
  6. Public health audit, appraisal and reflective practice
  7. Training, teaching, examining and preparation time
  8. Research
  9. Organisational development activities
  10. Inspection and review activities.
  • No single category (a-j above) should normally contribute more than 50 per cent of the total hours achieved.
  • Private reading should form no more than 20% of the total claimed and should be supported by a reflective note.
  • Publications and preparation under category h) is allowed up to a maximum of 5 hours for each item.
  • Certain major pieces of work , such as the writing of books, external courses and higher degrees, may be apportioned across the categories and spread over a period of more than one year.
  • Before claiming credits for any CPD activity, consider:
    • Was there new learning?
    • Have I recorded this in a reflective note?
    • How is the activity linked to my personal development plan?

 

Excluded activities

Normally, meetings, committee activity, routine operational work and academic activities with no significant new learning are not creditable as CPD. For example:

  • Examining for the Faculty's Part A or Part B (OSPHE) examinations (unless participating or preparing a question for the first time)
  • Lecturing which does not involve substantial new learning (for example the same lecture given regularly and minimally updated)
  • Attending routine committee meetings or other business meetings
  • Articles in peer-reviewed journals, chapters in books, reports and official documents where the author has not undertaken new learning and substantial writing.