CPD

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a commitment by members to continually update their skills and knowledge in order to remain professionally competent. In 2003, the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) officially renamed Continuing Medical Education (CME) as the Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Continuing Professional Education (CPD) must provide professional and practical learning opportunities for members. In general, Continuing Professional Development, (CPD) practices in some form of training or learning activities, including topic training seminars, academic lectures, practical technology promotion, distance learning systems, innovative practice skills learning and concept sharing, etc. It is to allow members to consciously and actively learn. Its purpose is to enable members to make progress and effectively develop and improve professional skills.

The formal submission of the CPD shows that traditional CME is changing from the renewal of professional knowledge to the CPD. Its basic philosophy is to practise properly throughout its career, and doctors must continually update their knowledge to provide patients with the highest quality of care. It is inevitable to participate in various forms of CPD,

CPD is a broader concept that must be designed to improve doctors’ responsibilities and abilities (theoretical knowledge and clinical skills). It runs through the entire career of doctors after completing the stage of education and training after graduation. Compared with CME, CPD emphasizes the characteristics of self-learning. However, as the concept of “continuing medical education” is widely accepted by the public, the concept of “continuing medical education” is still available.

The particularity of continuing education in overseas Chinese medicine determines that the form and content of its CPD should have distinctive characteristics of overseas Chinese medicine industry. In view of this, FTCMP has kept pace with the times. In 2013, it formulated the CPD System (Draft) and designed a series of CPD activities in hopes of helping members improve their skills and expand their knowledge of TCM education.

In 2017, FTCMP has launched a new PCD plan, requiring all members to participate in the program and complete it in the year to retain its membership.