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CPD Learning Credits for Revalidation

As part of proposals for revalidation, there is a new system coming into the UK of CPD 'learning credits' that GPs will have to accrue to keep themselves licensed. The RCGP launched this in January 2010. See www.rcgp.org.uk/cpdcredits for more information.

What are learning credits?

Each year a GP will be required to demonstrate they have earned a minimum of 50 credits per year, with 250 credits earned over the 5 year revalidation cycle. The numbers of credits claimed will be self assessed and then reviewed at appraisal. The over-riding message is that this should be a simple process, which merely records (and rewards) you for what you are most likely already doing. It should not be complicated!

Roughly speaking:

• A credit is 1 hour of educational activity, which can include planning and reflection. Each hour of education that has a demonstrable impact, leading to improvements in care or practice, will qualify for 2 credits. So, if you can demonstrate how your learning has had a positive impact on your practice, you can claim ‘double credits’.

• We need to accrue roughly 50 credits per year, across a range of different activities, and 250 credits across a 5 year revalidation cycle. This sounds like a lot, but most GPs do more than this already.

• Credits should be balanced across a range of learning activities e.g.
  • attending courses and meetings (suggested maximum 20 credits pa)
  • unstructured reading (suggested maximum 10 credits pa)
  • targeted reading according to learning needs (suggested max10 credits pa)
  • on-line learning (suggested maximum 20 credits pa)
  • changes to practice made as a result of above (no upper limit)

How can I claim credits for attending this course?

You can claim 6 hours or credits for attending the course today, and will receive a certificate for this. However you then claim additional credits for the subsequent time you spend on targeted reading, reflection and the further CPD work that results. For example, the course today highlights a number of learning needs for you. You take additional time for targeted reading of these subjects, including looking at the original sources, and claim credits for this time spent. If you then demonstrate an impact of this learning in practice you claim extra credits. We place a lot of emphasis on the course on learning points that will have an impact factor, and how they can change practice.

What does impact actually mean, and how do you demonstrate it?

Impact refers to a positive change in patient care, service delivery, individual personal development or impact on others (e.g. through teaching). If we can demonstrate an impact factor, we can then increase the value of the credits. Impact may be demonstrated, for example, through:

• Case histories e.g. showing a change in practice
• Personal audit
• Significant event analysis
• Devising new practice guideline/policy/protocol and teaching

So, how do I get started?

We include below:

• An example of a very simple example CPD plan which demonstrates how this system works and how you can use it to record learning credits.
• A blank CPD plan
• Blank CPD templates

You can download these, fill them out and then upload them into your appraisal folder. We believe these templates should be kept as simple and non-threatening as possible. They are not meant to be like an exam or intrusive!

Simon Curtis and Barrie Ferguson, April 2010