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Revalidation 2007 - What does it mean for you?

Glossary

Continuing Professional Development - (CPD) - The development of clinical knowledge and skills, and the professional roles of family physicians and specialists, as set out in the Four Principles of Family Medicine from the College of Family Physicians of Canada and CanMeds from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

CCFP, FCFP - Means Certification or Fellowship in Family Medicine by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. This is granted to family physicians who meet their requirements for certification or fellowship.

FRCP, FRCS - Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. This is granted by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada to physicians with specialty training who meet their requirements for fellowship.

Mainpro - the program of the College of Family Physicians of Canada to track physicians' continuing professional development activities. Physicians are required to submit a total of 250 credits every 5 years. At least 125 of these must be from accredited CME (Mainpro-M1 and / or Mainpro-C credits). The rest can be from non-accredited CME (Mainpro-M2 credits). Members of the College of Family Physicians of Canada are required to meet the requirements of Mainpro in order to retain their membership.

Maintenance of Certification - the program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada to track physicians' continuing professional development activities. Physicians are required to submit a total of 40 credits per year and 400 credits every 5 year cycle. Physicians holding FRCP or FRCS are required to meet the requirements of Maintenance of Certification in order to retain their status.

The College's Revalidation Program

  1. The revalidation requirement will affect you in 2007.
  2. If you currently are a member of the CFPC or hold FRCP or FRCS you will need to meet the requirements of Mainpro or Maintenance of Certification at the end of your cycle, and provide proof that you have done so. There is nothing further you need to do.
  3. If you currently are not currently enrolled in either Mainpro or Maintenance of Certification, you will need to enroll prior to applying to renew your licence for 2008.
  4. The College of Family Physicians of Canada has agreed that non-members can enroll in Mainpro and have their Continuing Professional Development activities tracked in the same way as members currently have their CPD activities tracked.
  5. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has agreed that physicians who don't hold fellowship can enroll in the Maintenance of Certification program and have their Continuing Professional Development activities tracked in the same way as physicians holding FRCP or FRCS currently have their CPD activities tracked.
  6. You will have to confirm that you have enrolled in either Mainpro or Maintenance of Certification in order to renew your licence for 2008.
  7. If you hold only a temporary or educational licence, you are not required to enroll for Mainpro or Maintenance of Certification.
  8. You can apply to the Registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons for an exemption from the Revalidation requirement. Unless an exemption is granted, you will not be able to renew your licence for 2008 without enrolling in either Mainpro or Maintenance of Certification. Exemptions will be only granted sparingly, and only for compelling reasons.
  9. When you reach the end of your renewal cycle, if you have not met the requirements of Mainpro or Mainpro, you can apply to the Registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons for permission to renew your licence notwithstanding the failure to meet the requirements. The Registrar, if he grants that request, can do so with conditions.
  10. You will not be required to confirm to the College of Physicians and Surgeons on a yearly basis what CPD activities you have undertaken. You will need to confirm that you have met the requirements at the end of your renewal cycle.
  11. At the end of your five year renewal cycle, you will be required to provide proof that you have met the requirements of Mainpro or Maintenance of Certification. Failure to do so will mean that you will be unable to renew your licence unless you receive an extension or an exemption from the Registrar.

Enrolling in Mainpro or Maintenance of Certification

The contact information for the two Colleges is:

The College of Family Physicians of Canada
2630 Skymark Avenue
Mississauga, ON L4W 5A4

You may call the CFPC dedicated hotline at 1-866-224-8104 or
call toll free 1-800-387-6197 ext 204
Website: http://www.cfpc.ca

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
774 Echo Drive
Ottawa ON Canada
K1S 5N8

You may call the RCPSC Department of Professional Affairs at 1-613-730-6243 or
call toll free 1-800-461-9598
Website: http://rcpsc.medical.org