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Professional Development

Continuing professional development (CPD)

Updating, developing and enhancing the knowledge, skills and attitudes as Physician Associate

Continuing professional development (CPD) is the educative means of updating, developing and enhancing the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to work safely and effectively as a physician associate. The CPD Diary provides the tools to reflect on CPD activities and enable support changes to practice.

All qualified physician associates who are members of the FPA will get access to the FPA CPD Diary for free as a member benefit. Physician associates are required to fulfil their CPD requirements, the FPA recommends a minimum of 50 hours of CPD per year/250 hours every 5 years. This is a requirement to remain in good standing and be listed on the Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR).

Physician associates must keep up to date with their learning and continually update their CPD on the FPA ePortfolio by recording reflections of their learning during each CPD year.

The FPA will audit the CPD Diary annually to ensure they are complying with the guidance and are evidencing appropriately their learning. Failing to comply, the member may be referred to the FPA Professional Standards Committee (PSC).

The FPA continually reviews and updates the guidelines.

FPA ePortfolio

The Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) ePortfolio is a tailored online web-based tool that has been designed by physician associates for physician associates.

The ePortfolio supports lifelong learning for physician associates at every stage of their career by providing a bespoke central location to evidence development, reflect on accomplishments, highlight experiences and progress, and set future objectives.

What does the ePortfolio offer?

The ePortfolio will allow qualified FPA members to:

  • evidence their development and competence mapped to the FPA curriculum.
  • complete annual appraisals.
  • complete workplace-based assessments and reflections.
  • receive multi-source feedback.
  • receive patient feedback.
  • access a personal development plan.
  • access e-learning.
  • enhance interaction with supervisors.
  • evidence CPD.

Physician associate revalidation

By keeping a record of all activities, performance, progression and learning, this will support physician associates when the General Medical Council (GMC) begin the revalidation process. Further guidance on revalidation will be provided by the GMC.

Who can access the ePortfolio?

The ePortfolio is only accessible to qualified members of the FPA who are listed on the PA Managed Voluntary Register and in good standing.

Support and user guides

All qualified FPA members have access to a suite of ePortfolio user guides and FAQs available inside the exclusive FPA members area . 

If you’re a qualified FPA member and have a question regarding the ePortfolio that hasn’t been answered in the user guides and FAQs available, get in touch with the FPA administration team via [email protected] . 

CPD external accreditation 

The FPA’s accreditation process has recently been reviewed and updated. Please read the guidance on how to apply for CPD approval. Please read this guidance document in full before completing the External Category CPD Accreditation application form (downloadable inside the 'Guidance' tab).

CPD providers 

Organisations or event planners who wish to apply for CPD approval will need to follow the FPA guidance on completing the application form. Completed forms should be emailed to [email protected] 

Documents 

To avoid delays in processing applications, it’s important that all necessary information is provided and included with your submission such as speaker bios, declaration of interests, agenda/programme.

Retrospective approval 

The FPA will not be accepting retrospective applications after 31 March 2024. We strongly encourage applications are submitted at least 6– 8 weeks in advance of the date of the event taking place. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch via [email protected] 

Events and courses 

The FPA offers an annual conference to support physician associates with their ongoing development and CPD requirements. The conference covers a wide range of topics across primary and secondary care. To stay informed, visit the events area of the FPA website.

Physician associate members of the FPA also benefit from accessing RCP Player – the RCP’s streaming service.

CPD diary

CPD requirements 

Physician associates are required to keep up to date with the 18 specialty areas in the Core Clinical Practice Curriculum (CCPC). Physician associates are expected to obtain 50 CPD annually and 250 CPD very 5 years. These are split into:

  • Category A (core CPD) – 125 CPD
  • Category B (additional/supplementary CPD) – 125 CPD

From the total hours achieved in category A and B, 20% should be verifiable CPD (learning that have been awarded formal certification from a body such as RCP, FPA or other accredited body).

From the total hours achieved in category A and B, 80% should be non-verifiable CPD (this includes self-directed learning you have done without formal approval of the content).

Physician associates need to record their CPD activities whether they are clinical or non-clinical events. At least 25 CPD must clinically related and 25 CPD on professional developing.

FPA ePortfolio – maintaining a record of CPD activity 

From 1 April 2024, the FPA requires all qualified physician associates to be registered with the FPA ePortfolio and using this to record all CPD activities This is access if free to all members. Should a qualified physian associate member not have access, they are encouraged to contact the FPA via [email protected] for assistance.

The FPA ePortfolio allows qualified physician associate members to:

  • Maintain a consistent record of their CPD activity.
  • Review the CPD that they have logged and display their activity in a simple easy to understand format.
  • Monitor progress on how much CPD they have completed.
  • Summarise all your annual CPD activities.
  • Allow their supervisor to review their activities as part of their annual appraisal.

CPD diary guidance for physician associates 

Guidance and information on the requirements for physician associates is available in the CPD guidance document. This includes details on:

  • credit requirements
  • eligibility
  • how to access the CPD Diary
  • how credit is rounded up/down
  • clinical/non-clinical events
  • audit
  • verifiable and non-verifiable CPD.

CPD diary cycle

The CPD diary runs from 1 April to 31 March each year. Please note that this period is separate and operates differently to the FPA membership year. It is vital that all qualified physician associate members ensure that they undertake and record their CPD and reflections each CPD year, as this is a requirement for continued FPA membership. At the end of each CPD year, members can export a PDF of their annual CPD report detailing their CPD credits. This can be used as evidence during the annual appraisal process.

The General Medical Council's Good Medical Practice domains 

As of December 2024, it is expected that the General Medical Council will regulate the physician associate profession. It is therefore vital that qualified physician associates are aware of the GMC’s expectations. The four domains from within Good Medical Practice, the GMC’s professional standards guidance and what physician associates will be required to adhere to are:

  • knowledge, skills and development
  • patients, partnership and communication
  • colleagues, culture and safety
  • trust and professionalism.

RCP CPD diary

Please be aware that from 1 April 2024, physician associates will no longer be using the RCP CPD Diary. All physician associates must transition to the FPA ePortfolio where they must start recording their CPD. Physician associates are no longer able to register for an account on the RCP CPD Diary.

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