To comply with Medical Council New Zealand requirements to maintain an annual practising certificate (APC) all surgeons must participate in appropriate continuing professional development. That appropriate CPD programme for NZ, is the RACS accredited CPD programme. Any surgeon not completing the RACS CPD programme could be reported for non-compliance.
For full details, see Recertification and continuing professional development booklet
Each NZAGS Member is expected to maintain and update their annual CPD return on the RACS website.
RACS must allow non-fracs general surgeons access to the NZMC accredited CPD programme. There is a fee for this. The fee must be justifiable. The fees can be found here:
RACS runs a Maintenance of Professional Standards Program (MOPS) to assist non-fellows with their CPD compliance.
To confirm you are enrolled as a registrar and actively participating in an accredited vocational training programme your supervisor of training must complete the CPD7 form. Once you are conferred as a Fellow you will need to comply with the annual CPD requirements.
If you are going overseas for a Fellowship you will need to submit a wriiten letter of exemption to the Department of Professional Standards at RACS.
For a list of all approved CME activities
Planning a CME activity? The RACS website has a comprehensive guide and application forms to assist with the accreditation process.