In 2004 the Dental Practice Board of Victoria introduced mandatory CPD.  Whilst the full text of the Code, along with a CPD Information Sheet, can be accessed at the Board's website the following summary reiterates key features of the current system of mandatory CPD.  It is strongly recommended that all practitioners make themselves familiar with the details of the Code of Practice. 

CYCLE
The system is based on fixed two-year cycles, with the current cycle commencing in 1 January 2009 and ending on 31 December 2010.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Dentists and specialists must undertake a total of 40 hours of CPD activity.  Dental prosthetists, dental hygienists and dental therapists must undertake a total of 30 hours of CPD activity.  
Within the total of hours, you must complete:
 * not less than three hours of infection control activity in every two-year period. 
 * not less than two hours of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in every two-year period. Practitioners may only  claim  credit for a maximum of four hours of CPR training in every two-year period.

80% of the total hours, that is 32 hours per two-year period for dentists and specialists and 24 hours per two year period for other practitioners, must be scientific based activities  (including infection control and CPR).  The  remaining 20% can also be scientific, or they can be non-scientific topics, such as practice management, dento-legal matters etc.  The CPD obligations are the same for part time workers as they are for those working full time.

PROOF
The Board will seek an annual declaration (along with declarations about professional indemnity, claims and criminal and civil matters) from each registered person.

Each registered person must maintain a CPD log book and provide it on request to Board officers (e.g. when they are investigating a complaint or conducting an audit).  Logs must be kept for at least 6 years from the date of attendance at a recognised event. The Board has available on its website a Log Sheet Record that you can use.

Course providers must provide each participant with a certificate of attendance showing:
*Name of attendee
*Name of provider
*Name of course or activity
*Date, time and location of course or activity
*Course identifier (a number assigned by the Board)
*Number of hours to be credited.
If you receive a certificate that does not have this content, then it may not constitute acceptable verification of CPD compliance to the Board.

COMPLIANCE WITH CPD REQUIRMENTS
During an investigation of an allegation of unprofessional conduct, the Board will usually request that evidence of CPD activities be provided.

From time to time, the Board will conduct general audits of CPD compliance.  If a practitioner is audited the Board will ask to see his or her logbook of CPD activities in addition to documentation to support those activities listed in the logbook (i.e. certificates of attendance). 

APPROVED CPD ACTIVITIES
For an activity to count towards CPD, it must be approved by the Board or be run by an approved Educational Activity Provider. 

If a practitioner undertakes an activity that is not conducted by an EAP or has not been approved by the Board, he or she can apply to the Board (either before or after an event) to have attendance counted towards the total CPD hours.

EXEMPTIONS
Exemptions are granted to registered persons who provide a declaration that they are not practising, and who agree to this condition being placed on their registration and their registration certificate being annotated to this effect.  This would cover retired persons and those on short term (e.g. maternity or study) leave. Application must be made to the Board prior to ceasing practise.

A pro rata reduction in requirements is granted for practitioners completing only part of the two-year cycle (e.g. transferring from interstate or new graduates mid-cycle). However there is no reduction in CPR or infection control requirements.

There is no reduction in obligations for part-time workers.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION POLICY
In 2007, the Board introduced a special consideration policy whereby practitioners can apply to have their case evaluated for exemptions from complying with CPD requirements.  For more details, refer to the Special Consideration Policy Statementand the Application for Special Consideration form. 

FURTHER INFORMATION
Dental Practice Board of Victoria
PO Box 7050, St Kilda Road,
8004 AUSTRALIA
Tel: (03) 9694 9900 Fax: (03) 9699 4711  Email: office@dentprac.vic.gov.au

http://www.dentprac.vic.gov.au/cpdactivity.asp