CPD for Australian trainees on a prolonged break in training

Australian trainees on a prolonged Break in Training must record their professional development activities as CPD and provide evidence of this to the Medical Boards. 

For trainees, RANZCP is your default CPD Home and is designed to accommodate this new requirement by helping you to complete your CPD with the College, at no additional cost.

Who this applies to

Australian trainees and SIMG candidates on the Partial Comparability Pathway who are on a prolonged break in training, where the break will result in fewer than 3 months FTE training in a calendar year.

If you are planning a prolonged break in training in the future, please contact the CPD team for advice at cpdhelp@ranzcp.org.

How to complete CPD requirements as a trainee 

Upon enrolment, you will get access to the MyCPD online system, which will track your activity and compliance.

A detailed program guide has been developed to help you meet the requirements.

The CPD Team can help you with: 

• identifying training and other activities that qualify for CPD hours or CPD exemption 
• submitting CPD evidence via the MyCPD system. 

Timing 

CPD requirements may be tailored depending on when your break starts and ends in relation to the CPD year, starting 1 January and concluding 31 December each year.

Exemptions

CPD exemptions may be applicable for Trainees on a Break in Training. 

Fees 

There is no additional fee to access the RANZCP CPD Program while on a Break in Training. 

Example activities that qualify for CPD hours 

• Study for RANZCP assessments
• Balint groups
• supervision in the workplace
• RANZCP Congress
• journal and text reading
• critical incident review.

Frequently asked questions

1. Who does the BiT CPD apply to?

Australian trainees and SIMG candidates on the Partial Comparability Pathway who are on a prolonged break in training, where the break will result in fewer than 3 months FTE training time in a calendar year.

2. What is the definition of being in ‘active training’ and how much will cover CPD for the year?

Your annual CPD requirement will be covered if you are actively training. This is defined by 3 months FTE active training in a calendar year, and the submission of an In Training Assessment (ITA), noting the ITA does not necessarily need to be passed.

3. Why is CPD necessary when on an extended break in training?

AHPRA introduced the requirement of CPD for Australian trainees on extended breaks in 2023, and the College can assist trainees meet these requirements. The College is your default CPD Home.

The CPD requirement was initiated by AHPRA to ensure trainees on a break still maintain their connection with psychiatry and medicine in general. The College must report CPD compliance to AHPRA each year of all its members, including those in training. 

4. Is there an added CPD fee, and an enrolment form required?

There is no additional CPD fee. There is no additional CPD enrolment form, simply contact the CPD team to initiate your enrolment when your break is confirmed.

5. Can I use another CPD Home?

The College is your default CPD Home. Other CPD Homes are available, but will incur a fee, and may not have a psychiatry focus.

6. Is the CPD year the same as the training year, February to February?

No. The CPD year is based on the calendar year, January to December. Activities must be completed within the calendar year, but the College gives an extended reporting period to the end of February to complete the upload to the MyCPD online system.

7. Is it correct that a break of more than 9 months is the requirement for having to do CPD?

The CPD requirement is not necessarily whether the break is longer than 9 months. It is to do with the amount of training in a calendar year. CPD, or a valid exemption, will be required if a break will result in fewer than 3 months FTE training time in a calendar year.

8. Does working in a locum position during the break in training cover the CPD requirement?

No, the BiT CPD requirement remains.

9. Is it correct that if the only training in a calendar year is 0.5 FTE in one rotation, it will create 3 months training time, and thus cover for CPD for that calendar year?

Only if this is undertaken in the first rotation of the year will it do this. If the only training in a calendar year is 0.5 FTE in the second half of the training year (August to Feb rotation) only, it will not result in a full 3 months FTE of training time in the calendar year and CPD will be required.

 The CPD Team can assist if you have any questions regarding this.

10. Are exemptions available from CPD?

Yes. Learn about deferral or exemption from CPD.

11. Is informing InTrain of the BiT reason enough to cover an exemption from CPD?

Unfortunately, InTrain is unable to transfer this information to the MyCPD system. If an exemption is applicable, an exemption form must be completed, to ensure CPD is made exempt or part-exempt, and the College can report to AHPRA as such, when reporting CPD compliance.

12. Will supervision and other training activities undertaken during a break need to be recorded in MyCPD?

All CPD activities undertaken must be recorded in the MyCPD system to ensure compliance with the regulator’s requirements. Supervision can be recorded using a Supervision record form (linked below).

13. What happens when I become a Fellow? Will I be transferred to Fellow CPD? And will I have to do some of both BiT-level and Fellow-level?

The transfer to Fellow CPD is usually activated within the week after attaining Fellowship. You will be sent a ‘Welcome to CPD’ email when it is finalised. You may need to do some of each program, depending on the time of year you attain Fellowship, and the CPD Team can guide you through this process.

Help and advice 

Contact the CPD Team: 

cpdhelp@ranzcp.org
1800 337 448 (toll-free from Australia) 
0800 443 827 (toll-free from Aotearoa New Zealand)