Continuing Medical Education (CME) / Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Credits and System

The following is a brief overview of the CME / CPD requirements for maintenance of certification as a Certificant of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP) or as a Fellow of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCPC/FRCSC). The information presented below is adapted from College of Family Physicians and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Requirements for the College of Family Physicians of Canada

• Mainpro (Maintenance of Proficiency / Maintien de la comptence professionnelle) is the CFPC’s program that governs the CME requirements of its members.
• All members who are in full or part-time practice are required to participate in Mainpro and 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).
• Mainpro-C credits are now optional. Receive an extra Mainpro-M1 credit for each Mainpro-C credit submitted. New - Certificants who complete two consecutive 5-year Mainpro cycles, including 25 Mainpro-C credits in each cycle, will be recognized by being awarded Fellowship in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (FCFP).
• Up to 30 Mainpro-M1 and up to 5 Mainpro-C credits earned in the final year of a five year cycle can be carried into the next cycle if you exceed the total credit requirement of the present 5-year cycle.
• Residents may participate in Mainpro during their residency - The CFPC Board approved a motion allowing Family Medicine Residents to participate in Mainpro during their residency.  Residents may carry forward a maximum of 30 Mainpro-M1 and 5 Mainpro-C credits into their first Maintenance of Certification 5-year cycle. The College encourages residents to enter their credits online.
• Extension of Mainpro cycle – If a member takes a significant time off practice, the member may request an extension of their 5-year Mainpro cycle. A significant time off practice is defined as an absence of greater than 6 months from practice or related professional activities during the 5-year cycle for personal reasons.  Acceptable reasons include, but are not limited to: maternity / parental leave; disability / illness; extended care of immediate family member(s), including elderly parents.
• Submitting credits – Credits may be submitted to the CFPC at any time by mail, fax, e-mail, phone or on-line. The Credit Reporting Form is available on the CFPC web site.

Summary:

CME Requirements for each 5-year Cycle for the College of Family Physicians of Canada:

Please refer to the CFPC website www.cfpc.ca (CME tab) for more information and examples of Mainpro M1/M2/C credits. A calendar of current accredited Mainpro events is also available on the website.

Contact info - CFPC:
Tel: (905) 629-0900 / 1-800-387-6197
Fax: (905) 629-0893
E-mail: mainprocredit@cfpc.ca

Requirements for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

• MAINPORT is the RCPSC's online portal to assist members in managing their Continuing Professional Development activities for Maintenance of Certification, which is required for renewal of Fellowship in the College and for use of the designations FRCPC and FRCSC.
• Fellows are required to earn a minimum of 400 credits during a 5-year cycle of full-time or part-time practice by participating in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities based on the needs of their current professional practice.
• A minimum of 40 hours of CPD activities per year is required; however, a grace period of one year per cycle is granted during which one does not have to meet the minimum annual CPD activities.
• Extension of cycle – If a member leaves practice for a period of 4 months or more for reasons of a non-professional nature, such as sickness, maternity leave or other leave of absence, one may request an extension at the end of his or her 5-year cycle.
• Fellows who, immediately upon obtaining their RCPSC Certification, continue their Postgraduate training through recognized fellowships or residencies, will begin their 5-year cycle once they enter into practice. In such cases, you are required to notify, in writing, the Office of Professional Development that you will be continuing postgraduate training and the date you anticipate entering active practice. The 5-year cycle will commence on January 1st of the year following entrance into practice.
• Newly admitted fellows will begin their Maintenance of Certification program cycle on January 1st of the subsequent year; however, they may begin data entry for their first 5-year cycle upon their admission to Fellowship, thus having more than 5 years to complete the first cycle of the program.
• Submitting credits – Entries are to be made during the year of participation in the educational activities, and received no later than January 31 of the next year. Online entry form is available on the Mainport web site.

Summary:

CME/CPD Requirements for each 5-year Cycle for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

For Maintenance of Certification/Fellowship, Fellows are required to earn 400 credits during 5 years of full-time or part-time practice in educational activities of their choice as follows:

Please refer to the RCPSC website for more information and details.

Contact info
RCPSC:
Tel: 613-730-6243 / 1-800-461-9598
Fax: 613-730-2410