Continuing Professional Development Accreditation Scheme (CPDAS)

The Malta College of Family Doctors’ CPDAS is a system for formal accreditation of College members’ professional development, and takes the form of credit units assigned to each CPD event or initiative. The system of credit allocation takes into consideration both active and passive involvement of a College member in CPD activities, the former attracting more credit units than the latter.   Full (MMCFD) and Ordinary College members must accumulate 27 CPDAS units annually to retain the status of membership. Of these 27 units, at least one third (i.e. 9 units) must be obtained as passive learning during CPD activities organised directly by the College in any one year.

Accreditation of active learning may be retrospective, on presentation of the documentation to the Education Committee and the College Registrar. However, passive learning must be through attendance of events and activities that have been previously accredited by the College Education Committee through a formal application prior to the event taking place, allowing College to assess the educational content and its relevance.

Events and activities are assigned CPDAS credits by the Education Committee, whilst individual College member accreditation is the responsibility of the College Registrar. Thus event organisers should approach the Education Committee for CPDAS accreditation, whilst individual College members should apply directly to the College Registrar.

The address for correspondence (to the attention of the Registrar or the Secretary for Education, as appropriate) is: The Malta College of Family Doctors, PO Box 69, Gzira

However event organisers may wish to correspond with the College directly through e-mail at mario.grixti@gov.mt

CPDAS Log Book

A CPDAS personal folder was devised by the MCFD Education Committee for College members:

a) to keep a personal record of CPD activities;
b) to apply for CPD accreditation to the Malta College of Family Doctors.

As such, you are requested to please print out this document and insert it in a file. After undertaking an educational activity which qualifies for accreditation (see Pages 4 and 5 of document for details), you are advised to immediately fill out the details of the activity on the relevant Active or Passive Learning Record Sheet.

Moreover, in the case of Passive Learning, for each accredited meeting attended you should:
1. sign the attendance sheet made available by the organisers at the venue;
2. collect the certificate of attendance (where provided) and file it with this folder.

At the end of each calendar year, please send only the original/s of the Active and Passive Learning Record Sheets to:

The MCFD Registrar
Malta College of Family Doctors
PO Box 69
Gzira GZR 01
 

Download the CPDAS personal folder from here

CPDAS CREDIT UNITS

Each session must be of a minimum duration of one hour to warrant accreditation. Typically a one-session meeting will be an evening event, two-session meetings will last for an afternoon, and three-session meetings one whole day. Lectures may be of a duration of 15 minutes or more. Passive learning must be approved by the College Education Committee prior to the event taking place. 

Active Learning

Passive Learning

Lecturing at a CPDAS accredited event or activity – 5 units

Publication of an original paper in a peer-reviewed medical or related journal – 10 units

Participation in a journal club organised by the College – 2 points per session, maximum 10 points per annum.

Active participation in research, audit or peer review projects – 2 units for data collection; 10 units for active leadership in the project*

Acceptance of a medical student for a training-attachment with the Department of Family Medicine – 1 unit per student per week*

Completing the CME Self-assessment Quiz in the ‘Maltese Family Doctor’ – 1 unit*

Participation in postgraduate courses or workshops – 10-30 units, at discretion of Education Committee†

Active participation in Specialist Training for Family Medicine – 15 units per annum*

Approved on-line (via Internet) CME – 1 unit per hour (maximum 9 units per annum)*

Attendance at CPD activities organised by the College*:

  • One-session meeting – 3 units

  • Two-session meeting – 6 units

  • Three-session meeting – 9 units

Attendance at CPD activity not organised by the College*:

  • One-session meeting – 2 units if GP speaker, 1 unit if not

  • Two-session meeting – 4 units if GP speaker, 2 units if not

  • Three-session meeting – 6 units if GP speaker, 3 units if not

Attendance at other activities, including conferences, over a number of days‡ – up to 9 units, at the discretion of Education Committee*

 * On presentation of relevant certificate/letter of successful participation/attendance

† A diploma, masters or doctoral degree in general practice/family medicine/primary health care or other relevant clinical topic may, at the discretion of the Education Committee, be accredited up to 27 CPDAS per annum of participation, subject to successfully passing the exam or assessment.

 ‡ Including any extracurricular activities approved by the College Council (e.g. voluntary medical services)

 

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