Wed, Jan 26

Continuing professional development (CPD)

What is CPD?

The Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and other professional regulatory bodies initiated a CPD (Continuing Professional Development) program for some healthcare professions a number of years ago. CPD is the process of furthering learning after university and is absolutely essential in dynamic industries – specifically where the public relies heavily on the abilities of a professional. It helps maintain and update professional competence among professionals so that public interest is always protected and promoted. This ensures that the best quality service is offered to the public at all times.

Earn Healthcare CEUs with Unilever Health

As a healthcare professional with a busy schedule, hundreds of patients, and often overcrowded waiting rooms, have come to be the norm. That’s why we’d like to express our appreciation and thanks by offering you free and easy options to earn continuous education units (CEUs). For every twelve month period, professionals are required to have 30 health care CEUs. This means that you need to set aside enough time, every month, to ensure that you are constantly adding to your record. Five of the 30 points must be on ethics, medical law and human rights. Each CEU is valid for 24 months. Healthcare practitioners should work towards having a balance of 60 CEUs by the end of their second year of professional practice as this should ensure that they have 30 valid CEUs during any given period. Units can be earned by reading accredited articles online (on which tests can be written), attending specific workshops and by listening to accredited professional talks about healthy living. There are other various means, including research and paper writing. However, each sector differs – please visit your registration board to see what is revelent to your field. The following professionals are amongst those who should be accumulating healthcare CEUs:
  • Dieticians
  • Nutritionists
  • Optometrists
  • Radiographers
  • Medical doctors
  • Dentists
  • Oral hygienists
  • Emergency carers
  • Occupational therapists
  • Speech therapists
  • Physiotherapists
  • Podiatrists
  • Biokinetists
  • Psychologists
If you fall into any of these categories, be sure to keep up with the relevant trends and health resources to gain optimal CPD. If you’re working in a hospital or clinic, you’ll most likely be alerted about the latest events and workshops for earning CEUs. Forums and professional groups can also be joined to ensure that you find the latest information and health resources that are relevant to your field and which will boost your CPD status.
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