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Outlined below are the Continuing Veterinary Education/Continuing Professional Development expectations for Australian and New Zealand Veterinarians
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1.1 The public has the right to expect that registered veterinarians providing professional services do so in a competent and contemporary manner.
1.2 CVE/CPD is essential to maintain and enhance professional skills and knowledge and the combined Veterinary Boards of Australia and New Zealand in consultation with the Australian Veterinary Association and New Zealand Veterinary Association, have adopted the following guidelines as to what is expected as a reasonable commitment to CVE/CPD by a veterinarian.
1.3 In Queensland, Section 26 of the Veterinary Surgeons Regulation 2002 provides that a veterinarian must keep a record of continuing education undertaken by the individual.
CVE/CPD is an interactive process by which veterinarians enhance the skills and knowledge they had at the time of graduation. It covers a continuous post-graduate programme of both structured and unstructured learning activities which contribute directly to the professional competence of the veterinarian.
3.1 One of the primary responsibilities of the veterinary registration boards is to protect the public from the practice of sub-standard veterinary science by registered veterinarians.
3.2 The proactive and preferred method of ensuring competent veterinary services are delivered is to establish appropriate mechanisms to influence registered veterinarians to undertake a level of post-graduate continuing education that will maximise the ability of a veterinarian to provide the optimal level of competent professional veterinary services.
4.1 Registered practising veterinarians
The level of participation in CVE/CPD programmes should be sufficient to maximise the individual's competency in the chosen field of work.
4.2 Registered specialists
Registered veterinary specialists are expected to maintain a superior knowledge of current veterinary practice in their area of specialty.
4.3 Registered non-practising veterinarians
Non-practising veterinarians who intend to recommence any veterinary pursuit, whether paid or honorary, should be current and compliant with the CVE/CPD guidelines at the commencement of that veterinary pursuit.
A large variety of learning activities may contribute to the professional development of an individual. It is important to try to define what are acceptable learning activities and to quantify these if there is to be a reasonable expectation for veterinarians to comply.
Acceptable CVE/CPD activities have been divided into two broad categories of 'structured' and 'unstructured' activities.
6.1 Requirements for CVE/CPD
CVE/CPD needs to be reasonable, achievable and useful to the veterinarian. A formal, structured one-week conference usually has a minimum of twenty hours (20) lectures. It has been determined that a basic unit, equivalent to a one hour formal structured lecture, be used as the benchmark unit of CVE/CPD against which all other types of CVE/CPD may be ranked. Over a period of three (3) years, an achievement of sixty (60) units of CVE/CPD has been determined to be a reasonable requirement, of which at least fifteen (15) units must be structured activities.
6.2 Applying CVE/CPD Points
When making decisions about how to apply CVE/CPD units the veterinarian should consider:
(a) whether the CVE/CPD resulted in the revision/retention of current knowledge and skills; and/or
(b) whether the CVE/CPD resulted in the acquisition of new knowledge and skills.
If either case is true, then units may be applied.
6.3 Documentation (evidence) of CVE/CPD
Records should show the type of activity and date undertaken, the number of hours claimed and the units that apply. A model record format is attached to this guideline. Many veterinarians would in the past have retained fully documented evidence of attendance at formal courses for taxation purposes. For the recording of both structured and unstructured units of CVE/CPD, it will be necessary for the individual to keep a formal record in a loose leaf form, in a log book or diary, or in any other easily readable stored format. This record would be supported by the retained course attendance documents.
6.4 Acquisition of recognised post-graduate qualifications in veterinary science related to the chosen field of work
The veterinarian who is currently undergoing formal post-graduate training with a view to the acquisition of a higher qualification in a chosen field of work or a related area of veterinary science is considered to be fulfilling the requirements for continuing education. The study programmes for such courses usually contain formal requirements to attend lectures and conferences and to read the published literature relevant to the field of study. Such individuals would be exempt from any further requirements of CVE/CPD while undergoing such training.
At least fifteen (15) units over each three (3) year period is required.
7.1 University Continuing Veterinary Education courses
It is not possible to fully assess the quality of formal post-graduate education courses offered by Universities and Post-Graduate institutions worldwide. However, for the purposes of CVE/CPD, all are considered to be fully acceptable and equivalent. One (1) unit may be allocated to each hour of lectures.
7.2 Courses, conferences and seminars conducted by professional veterinary associations or recognised private providers
Post-graduate courses and conferences are run on a worldwide basis by non-university providers. Such courses tend to be of a high standard and presented at a level commensurate with the contemporary requirements of the profession. They are considered to be of equal value to the formal continuing education courses offered by Universities. One (1) unit may be allocated to each hour of lectures.
7.3 Presentation of scientific papers related to chosen field of work
This discipline requires considerable study and would constitute ample proof of CVE/CPD. This area is an ideal means for registered specialists to demonstrate their continuing professional development. Four (4) units may be allocated to the presentation of a one (1) hour lecture. The same material given as a presentation or prepared for publication cannot be recorded more than on the first occasion.
7.4 Preparation of papers
One (1) unit has been allocated for each hour devoted to the preparation of papers for publication or presentation.
7.5 Scientific lectures, seminars or educational programmes given by other professional groups (i.e. medical practitioners, dentists, physiotherapists etc)
Where such lectures and seminars demonstrably contain material that can assist in the professional development of the veterinarian in their field of professional activity, they are considered to be equivalent to lectures given under sections 7.1 and 7.2, above i.e. one (1) unit per lecture hour.
7.6 Distance Learning/Correspondence
Where distance learning courses offered by recognised training institutions and organisations in 7.1 and 7.2 are undertaken, one (1) unit may be allocated to each hour of active study.
7.7 Written Assessment Test
For written tests on veterinary literature articles, one (1) unit may be allocated to each successfully completed, critically assessed questionnaire.
7.8 Assessed audio/video tapes/information technology
For audio/video tapes and information technology accessed via printed or electronic medium (such as CD ROMs, the internet etc) with some form of critical assessment, used either privately by individuals or in a discussion group, one (1) unit may be allocated to each two (2) hours of participation.
7.9 Completion of Accreditation Program of Australian Veterinarians (APAV)
For veterinarians achieving APAV accreditation, one (1) unit may be allocated per chapter of the completed course.
At least 45 units over each three (3) year period is required.
8.1 In practice training and instruction from professional colleagues and specialists.
Both the instructor and the student may receive credits. (Restricted to twenty (20) units in each three (3) years).
The most common forms of in-practice training are:
(i) The type of training given to a new graduate for the first one or two years post-graduation by more experienced members of the profession. Such training is considered essential to reinforce and enhance the basic training given to undergraduate veterinary students and to impart the additional skills peculiar to the veterinarian's chosen field of professional activity. Recent graduates should be encouraged to participate fully at conferences and seminars wherever possible. One (1) unit may be allocated to each week of in-house training.
(ii) The training given to an experienced veterinarian moving from one type of veterinary practice to another by their colleagues in the new field of work. This training is analogous to that given to new graduates and should be supplemented where possible by other more formal forms of CVE/CPD related to the new field of work. One (1) unit may be allocated to each week of structured in-house training.
(iii) The training given to veterinarians by other more experienced veterinarians - for example specialists in a particular field. This training need not necessarily be for the purposes of acquiring a higher qualification and may be for self-development only. However where utilised as part of the CVE/CPD requirement, it should be fully documented. One (1) unit may be allocated to each two (2) hours of this type of training.
(iv) Documented discussion between professional colleagues. This form of discussion could include formal case presentations, medical or surgical rounds, journal article discussions or meetings to share knowledge gained at conferences, courses, seminars or workshops as well as time spent with veterinary specialists eg in a referral situation. One (1) unit may be allocated to each two (2) hours of discussion documented.
(v) The training given to foreign graduates seeking to sit the National Veterinary Examination. One (1) unit may be allocated to each week of this type of training.
(vi) Undergraduate veterinary supervision - One (1) unit may be allocated to each day of supervision of an undergraduate veterinary student.
8.2 Reading of books and journals related to the chosen field of work
One (1) unit may be allocated to each two (2) hours or reading veterinary literature. The date, time spent and literature read to be noted in the formal CVE/CPD record.
8.3 Audio/video tapes/information technology
Non-assessed audio/videotapes and information technology access via printed or electronic medium (such as CD ROMs, the internet etc) either used privately by individuals or in a discussion group. One (1) unit may be allocated to each two (2) hours of participation.
CVE/CPD units accrued in one veterinary registration jurisdiction will be recognised in all other registration jurisdictions in Australasia providing a formal record is presented in a recognised form. The requirement for a recording period of three (3) years will be uniformly implemented in all jurisdictions.
Also see:
Introduction:
Recording of Continuing Veterinary Education (CVE)/Continuing Professional
Development (CPD)
Sample
CVE/CPD Record
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