Should you not qualify for an exemption, you must nominate a CPD Home to continue to meet the CPD requirements. You can nominate the RACP as your CPD Home and access the RACP MyCPD during your interruption. As a Trainee, to access RACP MyCPD as your CPD Home a small fee will apply. 

While maintaining CPD is a registration standard, it's beneficial for trainees on interruption, particularly during a critical time in building their career pathway: CPD can help maintain and enhance skills, knowledge, and competence, and refresh clinical skills before returning to a clinical setting. It also helps you stay up-to-date with the latest advancements and best practices, ensuring you are more confident when you return to your trainee pathway.  

Fellows 

As you're aware, to maintain your professional development and registration with AHPRA, all Physicians are required to undertake 50 hours of CPD throughout a calendar year.  

In the circumstances that will be taking an absence from practice, you may be exempt from completing CPD in some circumstances, which include: 

• You will be absent from practice between 6 and 12 months within a calendar year
• Your leave of absence falls under one of the following circumstances: 
  • Parental leave (maternity, paternity, adoption leave, whāngai, or pregnancy loss)
  • Carer leave
  • Medical / illness
  • Cultural responsibilities
  • Compassionate leave.  

Additionally, the RACP also provides exemptions for Fellows that have been training for greater than 6 months in accredited specialist training, for example a second or third specialty. 

All applications made for an exemption from CPD are assessed on a case-by-case basis, in line with Australian or Aotearoa New Zealand regulatory requirements. 

Should you not be exempt, you'll be required to continue your CPD. Don’t worry, we can help during this time. If you need assistance or advice on maintaining your CPD records, our CPD team can help (contact details below). 

Applying for an exemption 

Trainee 

If you're a trainee needing to interrupt your pathways, you should seek advice on whether your meet the MBA’s exemption criteria (such as for parental or carer leave, serious illness, or other approved circumstances).   

Before contacting the RACP CPD team with your exemption you'll also need to complete and submit the relevant form available on our website (please note, different forms are available for Basic Trainees and Advanced Trainees).  

Fellows 

Fellows looking to apply for an exemption to CDP during an absence from practice can choose any of the following:   

• Log into your MyCPD portal to complete an exemption form 
• Email the CPD team at MyCPD@racp.edu.au  
• Ring the RACP Member Support Centre during business hours 
  • Australia: 1300 697 227 (+61 2 9256 5444) - 8:30am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Aotearoa New Zealand: 0508 697 227 (+64 4 472 6713) - 8:30am to 7:30pm, Monday to Friday  

A few important things to note 

Medical education and training are our bread and butter. We know the legislation inside and out. We’ve compiled a list of things that are in the small print that you might find interesting to note. 

• Your period of exemption must fall within the same year. 
  • For Trainees: this will be within the same calendar year  
  • For Fellows: this will be within the same calendar year 
• Have you achieved your Fellowship after 1 July? If this is the case, hurrah, your CPD will have been recorded by the RACP in your final months of your Advanced Training. Therefore, you're not required to submit your CPD Hours for that calendar year. It is imperative to note that your new CPD year commences on 1 January of the following year, and CPD Hours as a Fellow run by calendar year (not training year). 
• Applying for consecutive exemptions? You may need to think again. The RACP doesn't offer consecutive exemptions. We highly recommend you consider switching to a non-practicing registration if you require consecutive exemptions. The RACP also doesn't offer the option of pro-rata time for absence from practice. 
• Can you be audited for the previous year’s CPD while on an absence from practice? If you're exempt, you can't be selected for audit. The only time you would be selected for audit is if you are withdrawn from MyCPD due to completing CPD with an alternate home, in which case we would ask for proof.  

The RACP is here to support you 

We understand that an absence from training or practice may be by design or life circumstance, and we want to ensure that this period is as easy as possible.  

If you don't qualify for an exemption and are required to undertake and submit your CPD, the RACP CPD team is here to help. 

Sure, you can go it alone and work through setting up your RACP MyCPD, or completing your CPD categories. Our advice? Let us make this a smoother process for you.  

• For Trainees, our team can help you set up your MyCPD record, and make sure you’re ready for your return to training with confidence. Our CPD team is on hand to support your CPD journey during your trainee interruption period and will assist your pathway back to your training when it’s time to jump back into practice.
• For our Fellows, our team is on hand to assist with applying for your exemption and assisting with any questions regarding undertaking and recording your CPD Hours.  

Remember, the RACP has a vast library of resources you can access and record to complete your required CPD Hours.  

Next steps 

Understanding how to manage your CPD and then maintaining your CPD doesn’t need to be difficult, we’re here to support you as much as you need.  

Read the RACP CPD Participation Policy (PDF) for more information.

Our team is on hand to assist you through this period. 

How to contact the RACP CPD team 

The best way to contact the RACP and CPD team is as follows: 

• Email the CPD team at MyCPD@racp.edu.au  
• Ring the RACP Member Support Centre during business hours 
  • Australia: 1300 697 227 (+61 2 9256 5444) - 8:30am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Aotearoa New Zealand: 0508 697 227 (+64 4 472 6713) - 8:30am to 7:30pm, Monday to Friday