The Optometry Board of Australia (OBA) has announced changes to the continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for registered optometrists. These changes will come into effect from 1 December 2020. The current CPD requirements will remain in place until 30 November 2020.
Key changes coming into effect from 1 December 2020, are:
- CPD requirements will be measured in hours rather than points,
- CPD requirements will be considered annually rather than over a rolling two year period:
- All registered optometrists (with the exception of those with student or non-practising registration) will be required to complete at least 20 hours of evidence-based CPD annually, that contributes to improving professional competence,
- Registered optometrists with an endorsement in scheduled medicines will be required to complete an additional 10 hours of CPD each year that relates to therapeutic practice,
- Optometrists will be required to complete a minimum of five of their 20 hours of CPD “in an interactive setting with other practitioners”,
- A maximum five of the 20 hours of CPD undertaken by an optometrist, may be nonscientific/non-clinical education relevant to optometry practice. This includes CPD related to optical goods and equipment, and
- Optometrists will be required to maintain a portfolio, which includes learning goals,planned CPD activities and reflection of how these activities are expected to improve (or have improved) their professional practice.
Requirements regarding CPR will not change. For re-registration optometrists will be required to have completed CPR training within the three previous registration periods.
Lyn Brodie, National Chief Executive Officer of Optometry Australia said the Association would assist optometrists to transition to the new CPD system.
“Changes always take some getting used to, but we will be supporting our members before and during the transition period to the new CPD registration standards to ensure it’s easy for them to manage their CPD.”
