Among the many challenges currently facing postgraduate medical education, one ongoing tension is how to best support the growth and advancement of specialty education with national standards of excellence, while trying to ensure an appropriate blend of generalist and specialist physicians to meet the health human resource needs of Canadian society, and without causing harm to the existing system.
A draft proposal for the creation of new category of Royal College discipline recognition, driven by feedback from Fellows from the Core Competency Report was first presented to the Royal College Committee on Specialties (COS) in April 2009. After embarking on a broad national consultation with Fellows and key stakeholders, the Royal College Council approved the Areas of Focused Competence (Diploma) Program on February 25, 2011.
Areas of Focused Competence (Diploma) Programs
The format for diploma programs:
Typically 1-2 years of additional training, but competency-based
Built upon training in a broader discipline
Supported within the existing Specialty Committee of the primary discipline (unless one does not currently exist)
Assessed through summative portfolio
Training programs accredited by the Royal College
A separate annual dues fee and Maintenance of Certificate (MOC) requirements
Candidates successfully completing all requirements of an approved program would receive an added qualification known as a Diploma of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or DRCPSC. Members with a DRCPSC will be known nationally, and internationally, as individuals who have sought to advance their knowledge and expertise with additional complementary skills and competencies.
Implications for Royal College Fellows and Other Stakeholders
By introducing a mechanism to recognize established disciplines of medicine that enhance scope of practice, the diploma programs will:
Establish national standards for training and specialist competence, thereby improving quality of care and patient safety;
Avoid unnecessary fragmentation of specialty training, care and practice by mitigating the recognition of subspecialties;
Provide Fellows with another opportunity to acquire nationally and internationally portable credentials, DRCPSC;
Offer universities opportunities to enhance the academic environment, with new nationally accredited programs; and
Provide a mechanism for the Royal College to formally recognize disciplines that meet a legitimate societal health need, but that do not meet the current criteria for a primary specialty or subspecialty.
Current Status
Click here for more information about how to apply for recognition as a diploma discipline. To read our Frequently Asked Questions about the AFC (diploma) category, click here.
