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Pharmacy Board CPD requirements
The Pharmacy Board of Australia has introduced consistent, mandatory continuing professional development requirements.
All registered pharmacists (except those holding non-practising registration) must complete continuing professional development relevant to their scope of practice. The Board will audit compliance with this requirement annually.
The initial requirement for CPD credits are:
- 20 credits for the 12 months ending 30 September 2011
- 30 credits for the 12 months ending 30 September 2012
- 40 credits for the 12 months ending 30 September 2013.
Of greater importance than CPD credits is the approach the pharmacist takes to lifelong learning.
Other key points in the Pharmacy Board CPD registration standard
- CPD activities must ‘deal primarily with matters directly related to the practice of pharmacy’. The Pharmacy Board defines ‘practice’ as ‘any role, whether remunerated or not, for which the individual uses their skills and knowledge as a pharmacist in their profession’. It is ‘not restricted to the provision of direct clinical care. It also includes direct non-clinical relationships with clients; working in management, administration, education, research, advisory, regulatory or policy development roles; and any other roles that impact on safe, effective delivery of services in the profession and or use of their professional skills’.
- CPD activities must be ‘relevant to the scope of the registered pharmacist’s role’. Pharmacists can use the competency and practice standards to do this.
- CPD activities that consist of self directed learning must be ‘consistent with the maintenance of competence’. Further, all pharmacists ‘will be expected to self-assess their individual needs with reference to the Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia’. Pharmacists can develop a personal learning plan where learning needs are identified through self-assessment against competencies relevant to their role. Members can be guided through this process online by logging in to the PSA website, capturing the self assessment on their CPD record.
- CPD activities ‘must be of significant or practical content’ and ‘be conducted by persons who are qualified by practical or academic experience in the material covered’. While the Pharmacy Board does not require any CPD to be accredited, ‘accreditation provides an assurance that the activity has been reviewed for its educational quality and for its relevance to a pharmacist’s practice. Where non-accredited activities are undertaken, it is the responsibility of the pharmacist to assess for suitability and relevance’. PSA is authorised by the Australian Pharmacy Council to accredit providers of pharmacy CPD activities.