New record for CPD compliance among VNs

New record for CPD compliance among VNs

The rates of compliance with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) requirements on continuing professional development (CPD) have seen a significant increase for both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses according to the results of recent audits.

The RCVS carries out an audit of CPD for vets and nurses on an annual basis to gauge if members of professions are undertaking the number of hours required by their respective Codes of Professional Conduct – these are 35 hours per annum for vets and 15 hours per annum for vet nurses.

Last year, a cohort of 1,010 veterinary surgeons responded to the CPD audit, which took place in September 2019, and included a random sample of 658 vets sourced from across all UK postcode areas. The audit found that 820 (or 81 per cent) of respondents met the annual requirement – a 13 per cent increase from the 2018 audit. This followed a decline in compliance rates from 82 per cent in 2014 to just 68 per cent in 2018.

For veterinary nurses, a total of 1,077 responded to the request for their CPD records, which took place in June 2019 and which also included a random sample of 761 veterinary nurses sourced from across all UK postcode areas. The audit found that 854 (or 79 per cent) respondents were compliant with the annual CPD requirement – a seven per cent increase on last year’s compliance rate and the highest compliance rate yet from a veterinary nursing CPD audit.

Speaking on the results, Dr Linda Prescott-Clements, RCVS director of education, said they were ‘fantastic’ and expressed a hope that they were part of ‘a long-term trend’:

‘This year we have made a number of changes that should make CPD compliance even easier now, including a clearer and simpler annual CPD requirement of 35 hours for vets and 15 hours for vet nurses, and the 1CPD platform and app which can be signed into through the My Account area and provides the professions with the ability to record, plan and reflect on their CPD.’

Further information about the changes to the College’s CPD policy and the 1CPD platform can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/cpd2020. The 1CPD app can be through the Apple App Store and Google Play.