Accreditation is a tool for monitoring and promoting the quality of continuing professional development (“CPD”), as a way to ensure that the health care workforce is supported with unbiased, evidence-based, high-quality CPD. An activity is accredited only once it has been carefully reviewed and deemed to have met a strict set of standards, as outlined by an accrediting body.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (The Royal College) is a national professional association who accredits university programs that train residents for their specialty practice, and also support lifelong learning for physicians to build their skills, knowledge and expertise. The Royal College has declared Michener an accredited provider of CPD.

The Royal College outlines a rigorous set of (a) administrative (b) educational and (c) ethical standards that CPD activities must meet in order to be recognized as a Royal College accredited CPD activity. Royal College accreditation of a CPD activity, which can now be granted by Michener, signifies that the activity has adhered to this strict set of standards. This conveys to interprofessional learners, employers, professional associations, and the broader public that the CPD activity has been carefully planned, developed, and delivered to provide a high quality learning experience.

Once a CPD activity is Royal College accredited, it is assigned a certain number of Maintenance of Certification (“MOC”) credits in a specific category. Interprofessional learners participating in the Royal College’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program can then participate in the CPD activity and earn credits that will help them meet the MOC Program’s requirements. MOC credits can also be converted and used toward other CPD programs, such as the European Union of Medical Specialists’ European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®), and many more. See the FAQs to learn more about the MOC Program and credits.

Accredited activities are distinguished from non-accredited activities for the rigour that is involved in all stages, from the planning and development all the way to the implementation and continuous improvement. Accreditation certifies and conveys the educational excellence of the activity. The benefits of accreditation are included below:

• Accredited activities will be advertised by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (on its website, in its widely disseminated newsletters, and through other avenues)
• Accreditation credits incentivize interprofessional learners to participate in your CPD activity, including surgeons and physician specialists who have to meet annual requirements of accredited CPD
• Accreditation attracts learners from other countries, through international recognition of Royal College accreditation and the College’s agreements with accrediting bodies across borders
• CPD organizers will gain access to educational coaching, expertise, and resources throughout the development of their CPD activity
• CPD organizers will enhance their skills in developing, delivering, and evaluating CPD education throughout the application process

CPD activities are categorized into three different sections.

Section 1: Group Learning
Section 2: Self-Learning
Section 3: Assessments, which are sub-categorized into (a) knowledge assessments and (b)
performance assessments.

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What does this mean for developers of CPD programs (e.g. educators)?

Accreditation standards, or the requirements which must be met in order to have an activity accredited, vary for each section. The accreditation standards for each section are listed on the Accreditation Requirements page. As you progress through the application form for accreditation, you will be asked for specific information and documentation that demonstrate how your activity meets these accreditation standards.

You will therefore need to identify which section(s) your CPD activity falls under before completing the application form. Please see Step 1 of the Accreditation Process.

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What does this mean for MOC Program participants (e.g. physicians and specialists)?

Interprofessional participants in the MOC Program are required to complete a certain number of credits in each section every 5 years.

Hours of participation in a CPD activity are converted into credits. Hours are converted at different rates according to the section under which the activity falls. Examples:
1 hour of participation in a Section 1 activity = 1 MOC credit
1 hour in a Section 3 activity = 3 MOC credits.

These credit ratings are outlined in the CPD Activities. Hours are automatically converted into credits once a participant enters his/her participation in an activity into the MAINPORT ePortfolio.