Professional Conduct Corner

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Avoid the complaints process by completing your CPD

In this year’s first Professional Conduct Corner, we look at the importance of meeting your continuing professional development requirements

By Colin Basaraba, CPSA Associate Complaints Director, Hearing & Legal Referral

To continue providing patients with the best possible care, physicians are expected to grow their knowledge and expertise throughout their careers. Medicine is constantly evolving, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a foundational element of safe and ethical medical practice. CPD ensures physicians maintain clinical competence and continually strengthen the skills necessary for safe and effective patient care. Public confidence in the medical profession hinges on the expectation that physicians uphold their commitment to lifelong learning.

Non-compliance could be unprofessional conduct

Physicians are required to meet CPD requirements under CPSA’s Continuing Competence standard of practice. For most, this means active participation in and compliance with either the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s Mainpro+ program or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Both organizations provide structured support, reminders and outreach efforts to help physicians stay compliant.

If physicians do not meet CPD requirements, this may constitute unprofessional conduct and can result in involvement with CPSA’s complaints processes. For example, if the Professional Conduct team receives a referral for non-compliance, the Complaints Director is required to open a formal complaint against the physician under Section 56 of the Health Professions Act (HPA). This means that a physician may face investigation and potential disciplinary action for failing to meet their educational obligations. Non-compliance referrals originate from both internal CPSA processes and direct notifications from the Mainpro+ and MOC programs. Referrals are typically made only after attempts have been made to support and engage with the physician in achieving compliance.

Meeting CPD requirements

In 2025, more than 60 physicians were referred to Professional Conduct for failing to complete their CPD requirements. These types of complaints are almost always entirely avoidable. To ensure compliance with CPD requirements, physicians are urged to adopt a proactive approach:

• Log your CPD activities regularly with your national college and check your cycle status throughout the year.
• Respond promptly to all communications from CPSA and your national college regarding CPD status.
• If you are eligible for an exemption or deferral, apply early and ensure the request is formally processed.

Ultimately, maintaining CPD currency is one of the clearest and simplest ways for a physician to support high-quality care, uphold the profession’s credibility and avoid involvement in the formal complaints process.

Questions about CPD? Contact your national college, or email support@cpsa.ca.