RCVS CPD compliance changes
As of 1 January 2020, the RCVS has announced that the way in which they assess CPD compliance has changed. The changes support the need for every veterinary surgeon and veterinary nurse to undertake regular and relevant CPD. The three key changes are:
Annual requirement. They have changed the way in which they assess CPD compliance to an annual requirement, rather than the previous rolling three-year requirement. For veterinary surgeons the requirement is 35 hours a year, and for veterinary nurses it is 15 hours a year. The number of CPD hours required overall has not increased but the way in which CPD is managed has changed. The RCVS is allowing vets to carry over 25 hours of accumulated CPD, and VNs 10 hours of accumulated CPD from 2019 to 2020. This will apply once in 2020 only, to vets and VNs who have been CPD-compliant from 2017-2019.
The policy change takes individual circumstances such as parental leave and long-term sick leave into account, allowing you to apply to pause your CPD requirement for up to 6 months if needed.
New recording platform. On 27 January 2020, the RCVS is introducing a new digital recording platform, 1CPD, for you to manage your CPD. This will replace the online Professional Development Record. 1CPD will be available as an app for iOS and Android as well as a web version. Positive feedback has been received from vets and VNs who have been involved in the testing of 1CPD and it includes a number of features designed to make recording your outcomes-focused CPD (see below) much easier.
Outcomes-focused CPD is also being introduced this month including a ‘reflect’ element in the ‘plan, do, record, reflect’ learning and development cycle. This CPD model focuses on the quality, impact and relevance of CPD in order to improve learning outcomes. The RCVS is encouraging all veterinary professionals to begin reflective practice as soon as possible; it becomes mandatory from January 2022.
What you need to do
To find out more about the changes, please visit rcvs.org.uk/cpd2020. If you have any questions, please contact the Education team by email cpd@rcvs.org.uk or call 020 7202 0701.
