CPD Online

Welcome to the CPD online programme. The purpose of this programme is to assist generally registered doctors who are working in general practice to meet the annual practising certificate (APC) CPD requirements of the Medical Council of New Zealand.

MCNZ requirements
RNZCGP role
CPD programme
Reporting schedule
Online process
Forms
Resources

MCNZ Requirements

In order to practise medicine in New Zealand, you must be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand and hold a current practising certificate issued under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. The Annual Practising Certificate (APC) is issued by the Medical Council provided the following CPD requirements are met:

  • Clinical audit – at least one per year
  • Peer review – a minimum of 10 hours per year
  • Continuing medical education (CME) – a minimum of 20 hours per year

The Medical Council audits 10% of its practitioner base each year. If you participate in the RNZCGP MOPS or CPD programme, the Medical Council will ask the College to provide the necessary evidence of your participation in CPD activities, rather than asking you as an individual.

RNZCGP Role

As a Branch Advisory Board of the Medical Council, the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) provides a Maintenance of Professional Standards Programme (MOPS) that meets the requirements of the Medical Council.  This programme is only available for vocationally registered general practitioners.

Doctors working in general practice who are not vocationally registered general practitioners are able to register with the College and use its CPD online recording facility.

Each year the College asks you to submit details of your CPD activity. At the end of your reporting year you will be issued with a CPD credit summary.  If you have met the CPD requirements, a certificate of completion will also be sent to you.

If you are selected for the MCNZ audit, the College will provide the Medical Council with evidence of your participation in and completion of the CPD Online programme.

CPD Programme

The CPD programme requires the following:

  • Participation in an RNZCGP endorsed resuscitation course to at least NZRC Level 5 every 3 years

  • A minimum number of credits in each category (except APDA), as outlined below

        o  Continuous quality improvement activities (CQI)                           10

        o  Continuing medical education (CME)                                             20

        o  Peer review activities (PR)                                                             10 *

        o  Additional professional development activities (APDA)             No min

        o  Collegial relationship meetings                                                         8

* Those enrolled in GPEP2 have a minimum of 15 PR credits per year.

  • Gain a minimum of total credits per annum.
  • Take part in a minimum of 8 interactive hours per annum in a collegial relationship.

Click here for a more detailed summary of the CPD online programme.

The CPD programme for General Registrants is a one-year cycle and must be completed on an annual basis.

Click the links below for further information about the CPD online categories.

Reporting schedule

The reporting dates of the College’s CPD online programme align with the Medical Council’s quarterly reporting schedule for Annual Practising Certificates (APCs).

Online Process

The College provides an electronic recording system for the CPD online programme. Once you are registered for CPD online, you can use the online facility to log your activities during the year (for your own record) and to submit your annual credit summary when requested.

Once your registration is confirmed, you can follow the procedure below to use CPD online.

  1. Go to the website www.rnzcgp.org.nz and click “CPD Online” from the Education menu.
  2. Click on the “login” link.
  3. Enter your User ID and password (as provided in your CPD online registration pack). 
  4. Click on “CPD Annual Credit Summary Return”.
  5. Click on “Annual Return”.
  6. Choose the MOPS reporting period, for example 12 2008-11 2009.
  7. Work down the Annual Credit Summary to add activities, date and credits for the four MOPS sections – CQI, CME, PR and ADPA.
  8. You can add activities throughout the year for your own record.
  9. If your registered provider has entered your CME participation there is no need to re-enter this information.
  10. When the College requests you to post an Annual Credit Summary at the end of your reporting year, click on “Post Credits”.