CPD – the bane of your budget and time? Or a mandatory life learning facilitator and source of inspiration!
While the latest HPCSA newsletter that was released this month has everyone stressing! We at The OT Link wanted to take a minute to support the ultimate goal. HPCSA has a duty to promote good healthcare practice for the benefit of our clients. CPD aims to inspire new ideas, maintain innovation in clinical practice and ultimately support best practice that will offer the client’s we serve hope, healing and quality of life. The health professions for most of us, began as a passion to serve others and make a difference. Let’s commit to continuous learning to meet this ultimate goal.
There is still time before CPD could become a threat to your professional practice! You have at least 4 months to work on your CPD Portfolio and build it up to meet requirements. OTs need 30 points a year of which 5 must be Ethics Points. You need to have 24 months points active on your profile at all times (rolling calendar). This means you must have 60 points active at all times of which 10 must be Ethics. You can check your professions requirements here: https://www.hpcsa-blogs.co.za/continuing-professional-development-cpd-guidelines/
Worst case scenario – if you need 60 CEUs – you need to do 15 CEUs a month until then.
It is also good to remember service providers need a month to submit your records to HPCSA and they still need time to upload the points onto your profile. Make sure you build this into your plan and try to have your points and certificates ready by end of February to be safe and avoid penalties come 1 April 2025.
There are so many ways to earn points – studying and research, presentations, articles, video courses, journal clubs and live courses and workshops. Find topics and formats that suit your budget and time and really contribute to your clinical practice or interests. You owe it to yourself and to your clients.
We at www.theotlink.com love CPD. Love being inspired by the amazing work being done every day by new graduates, clinicians of every level, researchers, and even clients who teach us and help us to grow everyday. There is always something new to learn and a new way to be inspired.
We wish you freedom from the CPD and HPCSA Register panic and inspiration to keep learning and keep “being the change you want to see in the world” and in your client’s lives!
Happy Friday!
Regards
Jennifer Hooper
Partner at The OT Link.
