The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is reminding all registered veterinary surgeons and nurses that it is mandatory to adhere to the continuing professional development (CPD) requirements. This includes recent updates to the policy.
The updated requirements, which were introduced on a voluntary basis in 2020 and fully implemented in 2022, focus on an outcomes-based approach, centring around the quality, impact and relevance of CPD.
The annual CPD hourly requirements are 35 hours for veterinary surgeons and 15 hours for veterinary nurses.
To meet the requirements, veterinary surgeons and nurses also have to record their CPD using the College’s 1CPD platform and use it to reflect on their learning.
Any learning or development relevant to the individual as a professional can count towards the requirement, both clinical and non-clinical.
All veterinary surgeons and registered veterinary nurses working in the UK must use the RCVS 1CPD recording platform to plan, record and reflect on their CPD.
RCVS director of education, Linda Prescott-Clements, said: “Undertaking regular CPD is a professional responsibility and requirement for all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses on the RCVS Register under the Codes of Professional Conduct.
“The veterinary world is fast paced and constantly evolving. It is therefore essential that veterinary professionals are given the tools to learn and grow in a structured and manageable way.
“CPD is enormously important in maintaining high levels of professional competence and should be viewed as a rewarding opportunity for growth.
“The requirement to record CPD using the 1CPD platform, and reflect on CPD, is there to help to maximise the professional and personal benefits of CPD and streamline the continuing professional development process in its entirety.”
RCVS members who fail to comply with the new CPD requirements in full will be contacted by the RCVS to see if they need support or have extenuating circumstances.
If not, cases of non-compliance will be considered by the CPD Policy and Compliance Subcommittee.
It should be noted that CPD requirements for RCVS members living and working overseas will slightly differ to UK-based professionals. Overseas members will be contacted by the RCVS via email with further guidance on how to adhere to the requirements.
For further information on the RCVS 1CPD platform and the requirements, visit the dedicated RCVS Continuing Professional Development page.
For a more in-depth overview, members can access the RCVS CPD: Record and Reflect course for free via their digital learning platform, The RCVS Academy.
If you have any questions regarding the new requirements, contact the RCVS Education team by email or call 020 3795 5595.
