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Deferral or exemption from CPD
The rules for CPD deferral or exemption are set by the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) and Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ)
You can apply for a deferral or exemption from your full annual CPD requirements if you are on a break in practice of more than 6 months and up to 12 months in a calendar year for any of the following reasons:
- extended leave (for example, long service leave, extended travel, sabbatical)
- parental leave
- prolonged carers leave
- prolonged illness
- special consideration (for example, bereavement, compassionate grounds).
Your annual CPD requirements are set by the medical regulator based on the duration of your break / exemption.
Annual CPD requirements
| Duration of exemption (months) | <6m | 6m- <7m | 7m- <8m | 8m- <9m | 9m- <10m | 10m-<11m | 11m- <12m | 12m | 12m + |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Duration of exemption (months) Section 1: Professional Development Plan | <6m 2h | 6m-<7m 2h | 7m-<8m 2h | 8m-<9m 2h | 9m-<10m 2h | 10m-<11m 2h | 11m-<12m 2h | 12m 0h | 12m + |
Duration of exemption (months) Section 2: Peer review | <6m 10h | 6m-<7m 7.5h | 7m-<8m 5h | 8m-<9m 5h | 9m-<10m 4h | 10m-<11m 4h | 11m-<12m 2h | 12m 0h | 12m + |
Duration of exemption (months) Section 3: Performance improvement | <6m 5h min | 6m-<7m 5h | 7m-<8m 5h | 8m-<9m 3h | 9m-<10m 2h | 10m-<11m 0 | 11m-<12m 0h | 12m 0h | 12m + |
Duration of exemption (months) Section 2 + 3 combined | <6m 23h | 6m-<7m 12.5h | 7m-<8m 10h | 8m-<9m 8h | 9m-<10m 6h | 10m-<11m 4h | 11m-<12m 2h | 12m 0h | 12m + |
Duration of exemption (months) Section 4: Self-guided learning | <6m 12.5h | 6m-<7m 6h | 7m-<8m 5h | 8m-<9m 4h | 9m-<10m 3h | 10m-<11m 2h | 11m-<12m 1h | 12m 0h | 12m + |
Duration of exemption (months) Section 5: Additional hours | <6m 12.5h | 6m-<7m 5.5h | 7m-<8m 5h | 8m-<9m 4h | 9m-<10m 3h | 10m-<11m 2h | 11m-<12m 1h | 12m 0h | 12m + |
Duration of exemption (months) Total hours CPD | <6m 50h | 6m-<7m 26h | 7m-<8m 22h | 8m-<9m 18h | 9m-<10m 14h | 10m-<11m 10h | 11m-<12m 6h | 12m Full exemption (0h) | 12m + Apply to CCPD |
Breaks of less than 6 months
If you take a break from practice for less than 6 months in a calendar year, you are still required to complete the full 50 hours of CPD.
Working reduced hours or part-time also does not qualify you for a deferral or exemption from annual CPD requirements.
Breaks of more than 12 months
Requests for breaks of more than 12 months are considered on a case-by-case basis by the Committee for Continuing Professional Development (CCPD). If approved, you may need to undertake a refresher or remediation program when you return to practice.
Apply for deferral or exemption
You will need to supply relevant supporting documentation with your application:
- Extended leave (e.g., long service leave, extended travel, sabbatical): Letter from employer or statutory declaration
- Prolonged illness: medical certificate
- Parental leave: medical certificate
- International CPD program: evidence of completion, certificate etc.
- Prolonged carers leave: medical certificate
- Special consideration (bereavement, compassionate grounds, cultural responsibilities): relevant evidence.
Application form for deferral or exemption
This form does not represent ratification by the CCPD.
Please also refer to the CPD Exemptions Policy [PDF; 121 KB]
Contact
Tel. 1800 337 448 (toll free Australia)
Tel. 0800 443 827 (toll free New Zealand)
