What is it - CPD accreditation and CME accreditation? Why do you need CPD points?

The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) includes different educational programs - including CME (Continuing medical education), Continuing Nursing Education (CNE), Continuing Dental Education (CDE) etc.  From October 2014, all healthcare specialists are required to obtain a continuing education hours. It has been made to keeping professional skills up to date, development of  self-knowledge, skills and behaviors for good professional practice of high quality medicine.

One credit is equal to one CPD hour. 

The CME is the complex of learning activities that have been approved for providing CME credits and that are required for developing and increasing the professional skills and knowledge in order to provide services for patients.  All specialists should retain their capacity to practice safely,  effectively and legally within their evolving scope of practice.

For the current moment, the CPD system is rapidly expanding through all the globe and covers new and new countries. So, if you decide whether to stay in traditional educational system or explore the new one, look how extensively the CPD system “conquer” the world.

How to receive the CPD points? 

In every country that meets the requirements of necessary CME, there are specified authority that officially receive applications for such a process. 

Selecting a CME provider inside your country, make sure that this authority has obtained the accreditation from legalized bodies. 

1.  You have to find such a provider in your country. But! Make sure that this authority has obtained the accreditation from legalized bodies.
2. Select a program that suits you, send an application to the provider, collecting all required documents that are necessary. Clarify the date of points  accrual and receive the confirmation from a provider that you have sent all required documents.
3. After completing educational webinars, courses or other learning formats, receive your certificate with CPD points or other relevant document. 

In UAE, the online application can be submitted by CPD providers in DHA ) (Dubai health authority). All required documents can be found through this link.

There are 5 accrediting authorities within the UAE Recognized by DHA: 

•  Dubai Health Authority (DHA) 
• Ministry of Health (MOH) 
• Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD) 
• College of Medicine and Health Science (CMHS), UAE University 
• University of Sharjah

Note: All CPD organized and held within the UAE should be reviewed and accredited by local authorities. International accreditation will not be considered.

Within the Gulf  CPD accreditors recognized by DHA include, but are not restricted to, the following bodies:

•   Cooperation Council (GCC)
• Saudi Commission for Health Specialties
• Ministry of Health, Bahrain
•  Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization
•  Ministry of Health, Oman 
• Ministry of Health, Qatar 

 How many CPD credits should I obtain every year? 

As a Registered Exercise Professional, you must obtain 20 CPD every two years. If more than 20 points have been achieved in two years, 6 of the points can be rolled over into the next two year period. https://www.repsuae.com/training/cpd-providers 

Take a look to this table to know more specialized details :

The Important requirements for CPD obtaining (including documents)

• Only 30% of the CPD points required per year can be obtained with the online CPD programs.
• Completion certificates for online activities will be accepted only from CPD accredited bodies recognized by DHA (see the details below).
• The CPD activities should take place no earlier than 12 calendar months prior to the date of application for re-licensure. 
•  Extra points gained in a year will not be counted for the next year unless it was obtained in less than 12 calendar months prior to license renewal
•  The Health Regulation Department (HRD) has the discretion to approve or reject any educational event’s validity or its assigned CPD-Points value.
• Each renewal of license application must include a proof of satisfactory demonstration of meeting CPD Points’ requirements in accordance with this document. Only CPD topics aligned with the work requirement of the healthcare professionals shall be considered for licensing purposes. Generally, no less than 70% of the CPD-Points requirements shall be in the area of the professional specialty and 30% can be in the area of general professional development. 
• The licensee should present written proof of attendance and completion of these CPD activities, including certificates of completion that list the amount of CPD-Points awarded. 
• Examples of CPD activities accepted for re-licensure include, but not limited to: 
• Open live activities targeting participants from different organizations, such as open courses, seminars, symposia, meetings, conferences, etc. 
•  Live internal activities limited to groups within a particular organization like practice based activities, case studies, grand rounds, journal clubs, internal teaching, consultation with peers and colleagues, etc. 
• Self-study activities such as accredited distance learning programs with verifiable self-assessment (e.g. Medscape/e-Medicine, BMJ Learning, etc.). Publication in peer reviewed journals (please refer to appendix I).

What should I do, if during the year I didn’t receive the required CPD points ?

1. These healthcare professional should applicate a valid reason for the same to the Health Regulation Department (HDR).
2. Upon HRD approval, the healthcare professional will be allowed to add the unmet points to the following year CPD requirement points. (for example, if a nurse could not meet 5 credit points of the total 20 points required prior to her license renewal, then the 5 points will be added to her next year’s requirement, making the requirement to 25 points

What activities are not eligible for CPD credit points? 

• Regular morning meetings, endorsements, ward rounds and case revisions.
• Departmental or medical society internal meetings.
• Community and patient awareness sessions.
•  Public directed activities.
• Software skills training.
•  Induction and orientation programs.
•  Basic product training and product-specific knowledge.

The DHA notices that these activities are not limited.