MOC Program regulations and policies for health care professionals

Definitions

"MOC Program" is the Royal College's continuing professional development program for Fellows of the Royal College. Other Health Care Professionals who are not Certificants or Fellows of the Royal College can also register in this program.

The “Royal College Directory" refers to an online public register that lists the Royal College MOC Program participants' names and other information as prescribed by the Royal College in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

"Related professional activities" are activities that either directly or indirectly contribute to or enhance specialty medicine including aspects of medical administration, research, teaching and consulting.

"Cycle" refers to the MOC Program cycle. Each cycle is five years, unless an extension is granted for extenuating circumstances.

"MAINPORT" refers to an online application participants use to report hours and track continuing professional development activities.

"Non-Adherence" refers to the failure of participants to report a minimum of 40 credits in any year of a cycle.

"Non-Compliance" refers to the failure of participants to achieve a cycle minimum of 400 credits and a cycle minimum of 25 credits in each MOC Program section by the end of a cycle.

2. Registration

2.1 To participate in the MOC Program, health professionals must register in the program.

2.2 Participants will pay a registration fee at the beginning of each year within the cycle. The fee provides access to MAINPORT, the Royal College Services Centre, the CPD Educators and a listing in the Royal College Directory.

3. MOC Program requirements

3.1 Participants are required to complete a minimum of 40 credits in each year of a cycle by selecting and completing learning activities included in the Framework of Continuing Professional Development Activities.

3.2 Each participant is required to complete a minimum of 400 credits during his/her cycle.

3.3 Beginning with new (or next) MOC cycles starting on or after January 1, 2014, all Fellows and MOC Program participants will also be required to complete a minimum of 25 credits in each MOC Program section during their five-year cycle. Learn more

3.4 Participants are responsible for reporting completed continuing professional development activities and documenting outcomes (where required) through MAINPORT (mainport.royalcollege.ca). All continuing professional development activities must be self-reported no later than January 31 of the following year.

3.5 Participants can access a variety of online reports including a credit summary, transcripts and completion certificates on MAINPORT which show the number of credits earned to date.

4. MOC Program cycle

4.1 The MOC Program cycle is five (5) years.

4.2 Each cycle begins January 1 and concludes on December 31 of the cycle's final year.

4.3 A bonus period of up to 12 months less one day may be provided to participants who begin their cycle after the January 1 commencement date. All activities completed and reported during the bonus period contribute to the program requirements of reporting a cycle minimum of 400 credits and a cycle minimum of 25 credits in each MOC Program section.

4.4 Participants absent from practice or related professional activities for more than four (4) months but less than one year (e.g., medical or family leave) are eligible for a one-year extension of their cycle, if required, to achieve the cycle minimum of 400 credits and the cycle minimum of 25 credits in each MOC Program section. To receive an extension, please contact the Royal College Services Centre during the year of the leave.

4.5 Participants absent from practice or related professional activities for a period of more than one year (e.g., medical or family leave) will be granted a new cycle subsequent to returning to part-time or full-time practice or related professional activities. Please notify the Royal College Services Centre during the absence.

4.6 Participants may access an online certificate upon completion of each cycle.

5. Royal College Directory

5.1 The Royal College Directory is a public register the College maintains on its website.

5.2 The Royal College Directory includes the participant's name and certified specialty, information on whether the participant has begun to participate in the MOC Program, and other information as prescribed by the Royal College in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

6. Credit validation

6.1 Each year specialists who report continuing professional development activities to the Royal College for a previous year may be selected to participate in credit validation and submit evidence (relevant to individual sections in the Framework of Continuing Professional Development Activities) supporting these activities to the Royal College’s Office of Specialty Education.

6.2 If a specialist does not submit evidence that validates self-reported activities, these activities and credits will be removed from their submissions.

7. Non-adherence

7.1 MOC Program participants are required to report a minimum of 40 credits of continuing professional development in each year of a cycle. Participants who fail to meet the requirement will be notified by the Royal College at the end of the first year of non-adherence and provided with information on how to seek assistance through the Royal College Support Program to enhance their understanding of the MOC Program and select relevant continuing professional development activities. All non-adherent participants will be required to participate in the Credit Validation Program in one of the remaining years of that cycle.

7.2 Non-adherent participants will be monitored and informed of their status regarding the program. Participants who remain non-adherent for a second year or longer will again be provided with information from the Royal College Support Program and required to participate in the Credit Validation Program in one or more remaining year(s) of that cycle.

8. Non-compliance

8.1 Participants who have not met the cycle minimum requirements of 400 credits and minimum of 25 credits in each MOC Program section by the end of their cycle will be subject to having their registration in the MOC Program terminated for non-compliance. An opportunity to appeal the termination of their registration will be provided.

Contact us
Royal College Services Centre 1-800-461-9598/ 613-730-6243
For MAINPORT ePortfolio enquiries, please contact cpd@royalcollege.ca