Continuing professional development

Board Guideline 10 requires all veterinary practitioners registered in Victoria to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) as a condition of their registration.

CPD is an essential part of a profession’s activities. It is a way for vets to continuously update and improve their skills and keep delivering veterinary services to the standard expected by the general public and professional peers.

More information: Guideline 10 - Continuing Professional Development

Declaring your CPD obligations

When you renew your registration, you will be asked if you have completed your CPD obligations.

Minimum CPD required

Over a 3-year cycle, you must undertake at least 60 units (points) of CPD activities. This means that when you renew before 30 June every year, you must be able to look back and confirm you have done 60 points of CPD in total over the last 3 years:

  • 15 of these units must be structured activities. Structured CPD means education provided in a more formal learning environment than self-directed learning. Structured CPD has a participatory / assessable component. Evidence of structured CPD outcomes includes results or certificates of attendance or participation etc.
  • The remaining 45 units can be either structured or unstructured CPD. Unstructured CPD includes activities such as reading or watching webinars. You do not need evidence for unstructured CPD. Just put it on your CPD record.
  • You might do less CPD in one year than another. Just ensure total CPD adds up to 60 points over the previous 3 years. 

Recording your CPD points

You must record and keep a record of your CPD. Keep the record for at least 3 years from the date you complete an activity. You do not have to submit CPD records to the Board unless requested.

You may use your own system or the forms below to record your CPD. Records must include the CPD date, name and type of activity, field of learning, specific learning or development achieved, points accrued and validation documents.
ACTIVITY TYPE  CPD UNITS (POINTS) PER ONE HOUR OF ACTIVITY  POINT LIMIT  VALIDATION REQUIRED 
Structured    
Learning:    
Postgraduate qualification courses  1  -  Enrolment receipt, certificate / degree
Conferences, seminars, webinars  1  -  Certificate
Workshops, wet labs  2  -  Certificate
Accreditation scheme by examination  4  -  Certificate or evidence of accreditation
Accreditation Program (APAV) courses  1 per chapter  -  Certificate or evidence of results
AVBC AVE MCQ trial test  1 per test  -  Evidence of results
Distance education / correspondence courses  1  -  Certificate or evidence of results
Assessed audiovisual / computer-based course  1  -  Certificate or evidence of results
Quizzes based on presentations or papers  1  -  Completed quiz or evidence of results
Written assessment tasks  1  -  Certificate or evidence of results
Structured learning reflection  1  -  Copy of reflection signed by supervisor
     
Educating and publishing:
      
Formal presentation to peers (in person / online)
 4 for first presentation only  -  Copy of script or marketing material
Talks to community / schools  2 for first presentation only  -  Copy of script or letter from organiser
Writing distance education / online course   4  -  Copy/Link or letter from employer
Assessment of peer submissions and exams   1  -  Letter from employer
Journal publication (peer-reviewed)  1  20 per paper  Copy of paper
Refereeing peer reviewed journal  1  4 per paper  Letter from editor
Journal / other non-peer-reviewed edited media  1  10 per paper  Copy of paper / media
     
Unstructured       
Learning  
Unassessed AV / audio / online / live activities
  0.5  -  Evidence of activity
Private reading (textbooks, journals, online, etc.)
  0.5  -  Title / author / pages
Clinical rounds
  0.5  -  Evidence of attendance, relevant CPD
Management / board / practice meetings
  0.5  -  Evidence of attendance, relevant CPD
Being mentored (graduate, post-grad, ANZCVS)
  1  -  Signature of mentor, relevant CPD
Clinical review project
  4  10 per review  Self - Copy of review
Learning plan (not more than one per year)
  3  -  Self - Copy of plan
Small group learning 
  0.5  -  Evidence of attendance, relevant CPD
Participation in moderated e-list (ANZCVS, Countdown Downunder, other)
  1  -  Transcript
Online professional forum contribution  0.5  3 per year  Self (description of forum name/type)
     
Educating and supporting
      
Mentoring undergraduate students  1  1 per day  Signature of mentee, relevant CPD
Mentoring (vets / nurses / post-grads / ANZCVS)  1  -  Signature of mentee, relevant CPD
Professional representation on committees and Boards (AVA, ANZCVS, VPRBV, GRV, RV, other)  0.5  8 per 3 years  Evidence of attendance, relevant CPD
Publishing referenced blogs/printed material  0.5  3 per year  Copy or link to published material