The Professional Board of Dietetics and Nutrition (DNB) would like to thank the registered health practitioners who are compliant with the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme, see table 1 below. The effort made to ensure compliance is appreciated by the Board. Engaging in CPD activities gives health practitioners the opportunity to keep abreast with new developments in the profession, to recognise new opportunities, enhance current knowledge, learn new skills to improve themselves as well as patient care and overall health outcomes, and to refresh knowledge in necessary areas of professional practice.
With this newsletter we address the implications of non-CPD-compliant DNB registered practitioners.
The DNB remains concerned about the high number of non-compliance and urges all registered Dietetic and Nutrition practitioners to comply with the minimum CPD requirements as per rules defined in terms of Section 26 of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) (as amended). Registered Dietetics and Nutrition practitioners are reminded that CPD compliance is a pre-requisite for continued registration with the HPCSA. CPD compliance is determined over a two-year period, meaning that to be a compliant registered Dietitian and Nutritionist one is required to maintain a minimum of 60 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) (that is, 50 clinical and 10 ethics/health law).
Practitioners are reminded to verify:
- That the CPD activity is conducted by an accredited provider.
- Practitioners are not required to submit CPD evidence if is it has already been done by the service provider.
- If the provider does not submit practitioner CPD evidence, the practitioner must submit their CPD documentation to the HPCSA.
- The onus remains on the practitioners to check their CPD compliance, and if required, take the necessary steps to resubmit evidence..
Non-compliance to CPD requirements is an ethical offence as it contravenes the CPD Rules and also Ethical Rule 27A(e) of the HPCSA. Sections 19A(1)(d) of the Health Professions Act empowers the DNB to initiate suspension of any CPD non-compliant Dietitian or Nutritionist on register of the HPCSA. As per section 19(A)(3)(b) of the Health Professions Act, a suspended person must immediately cease to practise the health profession in respect of which he or she is registered or to perform any act which he or she in his or her capacity as a registered person is entitled to perform, until such time as the suspension of his or her registration is lifted. To practice the profession while suspended or removed from the register of the HPCSA is an offence and may lead further stringent actions, including laying a criminal charge against the offender.
All Dietetics and Nutrition practitioners registered with the HPCSA are given a grace period of six months to comply with the CPD requirements, that is from 1 December 2023 up until 31 May 2024. Failure to comply with this request will leave the DNB with no other choice but to suspend the non-compliant practitioner.
To learn more about the CPD system, to establish if you CPD complaint, upload any CPD certificate or have any question regarding CPD, visit: Online Services (custhelp.com)
All submissions/queries by service providers regarding CPD shall be directed to: cpdproviders@hpcsa.co.za.
The HPCSA is committed to protecting the public and guiding the professions.
Last Updated on 22 December 2023 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs