Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is considered to be an essential part of educating practitioners and ensuring that levels of expertise continue to improve.
It is crucial for all healthcare professionals registered in South Africa to ensure compliance with the set standard of CPD activities each year, of which a certain number must be obtained in ethics, human rights and medical law.
There are three levels of CPD activities:
Level 1 – Activities that do not have a clearly measurable outcome and presented on a once-off, non-continuous basis. CPD activities specifically addressing ethics, human rights and medical law will earn two CEU’s for every hour.
Level 2 – Activities that have a measurable outcome, but do not have a full year of earned CEU’s. Level 2 activities include education, training, research and publications. Level 2 CEUs will be awarded according to a table contained in the HPCSA CPD guidelines
Level 3 – Involves activities structured learning programmes, such as formal programmes that are planned and offered by an accredited training institution and which are evaluated by an accredited assessor with a measurable outcome.
Every healthcare professional is required to maintain an official HPCSA Individual CPD Activity Record, which will constitute the individual’s CPD Portfolio, supported by documentary evidence, such as certificates of attendance of CPD activities during the previous 24 months. Random audits are carried out to determine the CEU’s for the 24 months. Below are the CEU’s required for each Profession over a 12 year period:
| Dental therapy and oral hygiene | DA Dental Assistant | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency care practitioners
|
BAA Basic Ambulance Assistant | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) |
| Medical and dental board
|
AN Anaesthetist’s Assistant | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) |
| HA Health Assistant | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| CA Clinical Associates (Effective 2015) | 30 CEUS (incl 6 ethics CEUs) | |
| Medical technology
|
GT Medical Technicians | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) |
| LA Laboratory Assistants | 10 CEUs (incl 1 ethic CEUs) | |
| SLA Supplementary Laboratory Assistant | 10 CEUs (incl 1 ethic CEUs) | |
| Occupational therapy and medical orthotics/prosthetics | AOS Assistant Medical Ortho Prosthetics & Leatherworker | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) |
| OSA Orthopaedic Technical Assistant | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| OTB Occupational Therapy Assistant | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| OTT Occupational Therapy Technician | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| OB Orthopaedic Footwear Technician | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| Optometry and dispensing opticians
|
OR Orthoptists | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) |
| Physiotherapy, podiatry and biokinetics
|
PTA Physiotherapy Assistants | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) |
| PTT Physiotherapy Technicians | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| MA Masseurs | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| RM Remedial Gymnasts | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| EE Electro-Encephalographic Technician | 15 CEUs | |
| RLT Radiation Laboratory Technologist | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| SDR Supplementary Radiographer | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| RSDR Restricted Supplementary Diagnostic Radiographer | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| SEE Supplementary Electro-Encephalographic Technician | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| SRLT Supplementary Radiation Laboratory Technologist | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) | |
| Speech, language and hearing professions
|
STB Speech Therapy Assistant | 15 CEUs (incl 2 ethics CEUs) |
For all other professions except those mentioned below, have to obtain 25 CEUs of which at least 5 CEUs must be for ethics, human rights or medical law in a one year period.
Last Updated on 15 April 2016 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs