CPD for Chinese Medicine Practitioners

This summary outlines CPD activities that allow the requirements of the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia to be met. The standards discussed are in accordance with the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act.

CPD Cycle

The CPD cycle runs for 12-months, ending the 30th of November every year. By the end of the cycle Chinese Medical practitioners are required to sign a declaration of compliance with the CPD registration standard.

CPD Requirements

CPD must draw on the best available evidence, and contribute to developing your competence in performance and behaviour to improve patient outcomes and experiences. All practicing Chinese medicine practitioners must complete a minimum of 20 hours of CPD per year. Of these 20 hours:

A minimum of 4 hours needs to relate to professional, ethical and regulatory issues.
A minimum of of 5 hours need to be completed in an interactive setting with other practitioners.

Benefits of Inter-professional CPD

Interactive CPD activities are any activity that involves other practitioners.
This includes face-to-face education, in person or online.
Inter-professional CPD supports effect practice can improve inter-professional practice which, in turn, improves health outcomes, optimises health services and strengthens health systems.

CPD Activities

All CPD must be relevant to your field of practice, and help maintain competence. CPD activities can include:

Accredited courses, conferences, forums, seminars.
Undertaking or presenting research.
Online learning and workplace programs.
Private study of reference material.
Clinical case discussion with other health professionals.
Work-based learning contracts and employment-related professional development.

Activities that cannot be counted as CPD hours include:

Undertaking day to day work duties.
Mandatory remedial further education, training, mentoring or supervision.

CPD Documentation

All Chinese Medical practitioners are required to keep a CPD portfolio to submit to the Board if they are audited. A CPD portfolio should include sufficient evidence to support any claims and must be in English.

The following records are required:

Details of CPD activity (date, activity time, provider, participants, number of hours spent in each activity and resources).

A note of the goals and outcomes for CPD and a reflection on the contribution of that activity to the goals for enhancing competence.

Evidence of attendance.

For more information about these CPD guidelines click here.

Date of Issue: 1st December 2019
Last reviewed: 2nd April 2020
These guidelines will be reviewed every 3 years.