You have been asked to provide all materials relevant to your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities over the past two years. This information includes:
- A copy of the CPD goals you set in your last completed Self-Assessment Guide and Continuing Professional Development Plan (SAG)
(e.g., if you are audited for the 2022-2024 CPD cycle, please submit the CPD goals documented in your 2022 SAG) - A copy of the tracking sheet you have used to list your CPD activities and credits
- Copies of all available documentation to verify your participation
An article entitled Lessons from a “Mock Audit” of Member CPD Records was originally published in the January, 2019 e-bulletin and some of the information provided is summarized here to guide members in preparing their materials for submission.
Calculating the Total of 50 Credits Using Only the Maximum Number Permitted within Each Category
Category maximums have been established as the mandatory CPD program is based upon the understanding that members will learn more effectively if they engage in a variety of different learning experiences. Members are likely to exceed the maximum number of credits permitted within some categories and those credits which exceed the maximums may not be used towards the total of 50 required credits.
Using Credits Only for Activities Occurring Within the Correct Two-Year Cycle
Only those activities conducted within the two years before the end of the cycle are eligible for credit. Please check the beginning and end dates of the cycle being audited when reporting your CPD activities.
Including Sufficient Detail about Activities
In determining how much detail to record in a CPD tracking sheet or other record, members should consider what information an auditor would need to understand what may have been learned and how the activity reported could be independently verified should the Quality Assurance Committee seek corroboration.
For example, more information is required than the simple declaration that “supervision” or “reading” had occurred. If reporting credits for supervision, identifying the supervisee as well as the date and length of each meeting, as well as a general description of the nature of the supervision will make it easy to understand what had occurred. It would also facilitate verification should that be necessary.
If reporting on a client-related activity, such as supervision, consultation, or outcome monitoring, please do not include identifying information about clients.
If reporting credits related to reading or other forms of self-study, please record information such as the name of the publication and article, webcast or other media source, and the author or recorded presenter. Including web addresses and length of time spent on the activity is also necessary.
If using acronyms to record and report activities, consideration should be given to how widely known the acronym is. Although it may be expected that acronyms like “WISC” or “CBT” may be recognized by most within the profession, the full names of local associations, organizational committees and less widely known tools and techniques should be used.
Retaining and Providing Documentation of Activities
Documentation that verifies registration or attendance at an event or involvement in an activity should be collected, retained, and provided in the event of an audit. This may include certificates of completion or, if certificates are not provided, registration documents or program agendas and correspondence confirming events like Committee meetings, Professional Interest Groups or Grand Rounds would also be acceptable.
Registrants must ensure that all Quality Assurance participation records, including activity tracking sheets, supporting documentation and completed Self-Assessment Guides, are retained for a minimum period of five years, as required under the Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act, 2021.
Documenting Relevance to Professional Ethics and Jurisprudence
The content of at least 10 of the 50 mandatory credits reported must be focused on enhancing ethical knowledge and practices.
Unless the name of the activity makes it clear that the subject matter is directly related to professional ethics, please explain how the activity satisfied this requirement. While there would be no need to explain the relevance of workshop titles like “Informed Consent with Children in Care” or “Developments in Privacy Legislation”, it is necessary to explain how, for example, a webinar about scoring a new test would satisfy this requirement, in the event that such an activity has a dedicated component related to Professional Ethics or Jurisprudence.
Documenting Relevance to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The content of at least 5 of the 50 mandatory credits reported must be focused on activities promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Unless the name of the activity makes it clear that the subject matter is directly related to EDI-related topics, please explain how the content considered assisted with your understanding of practices which might be experienced as harmful or oppressive to some individual or groups, and how to avoid these practices.
If you wish to download a CPD Tracking Sheet template to document your activities, please click here.
If you require assistance when preparing your CPD Audit submission, please contact Quality Assurance staff via e-mail at qualityassurance@cpbao.ca.