RCVS makes CPD requirement changes

The RCVS has agreed changes to its policies on CPD in the veterinary and VN professions.

The jointly approved changes – approved separately by RCVS council and RCVS VN council – are:

• To change the CPD requirement to 35 hours per calendar year for veterinary surgeons and 15 hours in the same period for veterinary nurses, from the start of 2020. This replaces the previous requirement of 105 hours and 45 hours of CPD over a rolling three-year period for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses respectively.
• Making the use of the new CPD platform (currently in development) for recording learning and development mandatory from 2022.
• Giving veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who, on renewing their registration have confirmed their compliance with the requirement, the opportunity to download a certificate demonstrating this.
• The introduction of an administration fee (which is currently yet to be determined) that will be charged to any veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses who continually (defined as two or more years in a row) fail to confirm their compliance with the requirement and/or fail to respond to requests from the college for their CPD records.
• Changing the words of the codes of professional conduct for veterinary surgeons and VNs to include the fact CPD should be “regular” and “relevant”.
• The continuation of the RCVS CPD Referral Group, which meets to consider what further steps should be taken in cases of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who continually fail to comply with CPD requirements and/or respond to requests.

Importance

RCVS council member Sue Paterson, who introduced the paper and is the incoming chairman of the RCVS’ education committee, said: “While the majority of both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses do recognise the importance of continuous learning and development for their professional practice, their clients and, ultimately, animal health and welfare, it’s clear there has been a cohort of people in both professions who take a more lax view of undertaking CPD.

“The changes to our CPD policy are intended to tighten up our processes and are targeted at those who, when challenged about why they have not undertaken sufficient CPD, say they will meet the requirement one or two years down the line as part of the rolling three-year system.

”The administration fee also recognises the amount of time and effort spent by staff in the college in contacting and chasing up those people who aren’t compliant.

“However, we also recognise the fact that some members of the profession may have personal circumstances that means they are unable to meet their CPD requirement in a given year – whether that’s because of parental leave or other caring responsibilities, or long-term sick leave. So we will be retaining flexibility within the system and will be considerate and compassionate when taking into account individual circumstances when considering non-compliance.”