International CPD/MOC recognition agreements

In support of global learning, the Royal College has several recognition agreements covering continuing professional development (CPD) and Maintenance of Certification Program (MOC) credits. These permit international education activities to be recorded within the MOC Program.

Credits for these CPD activities can be converted between the Royal College and international CPD accreditation systems, allowing physicians to record credits for their global CPD learning. The requirements and accreditation statement for each agreement are listed below.

Internationally accredited activities eligible for MOC Program credits without accreditation by a Royal College Accredited CPD Provider.

Royal College credit recognition for group learning completed outside of Canada

• All face-to-face conferences or courses, and all synchronous online conferences or courses (such as live webcasts and live webinars that allow participants to ask questions to the faculty). The Royal College will recognize the number of hours that learners participate as MOC Program Section 1 accredited group learning credits for group learning activities developed by a university, academy, college, academic institution or physician organization.

Royal College credit recognition for US activities

Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)

• Assessment activities completed after November 1, 2019. The Royal College will recognize the number of ACCME ”CME for MOC” points/credits as equivalent to MOC Program Section 3 credits (1 credit = 1 hour) for assessment activities accredited under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program for the following American Specialty Certifying Boards:
  • American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) MOCA
  • American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) MOC
  • American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) MOC
  • American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS) Continuing Certification
  • American Board of Pathology (ABPath) ContinuingcCertification
  • American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) MOC

  To see a list of eligible activities login to your MAINPORT ePortfolio account and search for accredited SAP programs or visit the ACCME CME Finder and search for activities registered for MOC for any or all of the boards listed above.

  Activities accredited by international accreditors can use the following recognition statement to inform Royal College Fellows and MOC Program participants of the credit agreement: “Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.”

• Agreement dates: November 1, 2019 to December 31, 2025
• Group learning activities (live). The Royal College will recognize the number of participation hours as MOC Program Section 1 accredited group learning credits for group learning activities developed by Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)-accredited physician organizations (university, academy, specialty society, hospital department etc.) that are held within and outside of Canada.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS)

• Assessment activities (self-assessment and simulation) completed after November 1, 2020. The Royal College will recognize the number of points/credits as equivalent to MOC Program Section 3 credits for assessment activities eligible under this agreement (1 credit = 1 hour).
• To see a list of eligible self-assessment programs login to your MAINPORT ePortfolio account and search for accredited SAP programs, use the advance search function to search by provider name, and select American College of Surgeons from the list of providers.
• Or visit the ACS and search for activities with this accreditation statement in the Continuing Medical Education Credit Information box featured in the program materials:
  “Through an agreement between the American College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, MOC Program participants may record completed self-assessment programs or simulation activities developed and accredited by the American College of Surgeons in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.”
• Agreement dates: November 1, 2020 – December 31, 2025

 

The American College of Radiology (ACR)

• Assessment activities (self-assessment and simulation) completed after March 1, 2021. The Royal College will recognize the number of points/credits as equivalent to MOC Program Section 3 credits for assessment activities eligible under this agreement (1 credit = 1 hour).
• To see a list of eligible self-assessment programs login to your MAINPORT ePortfolio account and search for accredited SAP programs, use the advance search function to search by provider name, and select American College of Radiology from the list of providers.
• Or visit the ACR and search for activities with this accreditation statement in the Continuing Medical Education Credit Information box featured in the program materials:
  “Through an agreement between the American College of Radiology and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, MOC Program participants may record completed self-assessment programs or simulation activities developed and accredited by the American College of Radiology in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.”
• Agreement dates: March 1, 2021 – December 31, 2025

 

Royal College credit recognition for European activities

The European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology (EBAC)

• Group learning activities (live and online) accredited by EBAC for EBAC CPD credits. The Royal College will recognize the number of EBAC CPD credits as equivalent to MOC Program Section 1 accredited group learning credits.
• Activities accredited by EBAC for EBAC CPD credits can use the following recognition statement to inform Royal College Fellows and MOC Program participants of the credit agreement: “Through an agreement between the European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, physicians participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record EBAC CPD credits as Royal College MOC Section 1 credits.”
• Agreement dates: May 5, 2017 to May 4, 2026.

European Union of Medical Specialists - European Accreditation Council for CME (UEMS-EACCME)

• Group learning (live) activities held within the European Union and the non-European Union countries represented at the UEMS as members and accredited by UEMS-EACCME® for ECMECs® (European CME credits). The Royal College will recognize the number of ECMECs® credits as equivalent to MOC Program Section 1 accredited group learning credits.
• Activities accredited by international accreditors can use the following recognition statement to inform Royal College Fellows and MOC Program participants of the credit agreement: “Live educational activities recognized by UEMS-EACCME® for ECMEC are deemed to be Accredited Group Learning Activities (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.”
• Agreement dates: December 20, 2016 to December 31, 2026.

Royal College credit recognition for Gulf region activities

Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners, Ministry of Public Health (QCHP)

• Group learning activities (live and online) accredited by a QCHP-AD accredited CPD provider for QCHP CPD credit.
• Self-assessment programs accredited by a QCHP-AD accredited CPD provider for QCHP CPD credit.
• Simulation activities accredited by a QCHP-AD accredited CPD provider for QCHP CPD credit.

The Royal College will recognize the number of QCHP CPD credits as equivalent to MOC Program credits.

Activities accredited by an accredited by a QCHP-AD accredited CPD provider for QCHP CPD credit can use the following recognition statement to inform Royal College Fellows and MOC Program participants of the credit agreement: “Through an agreement between the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada physicians participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record QCHP Category 1 or Category 3 credits as Royal College MOC Section 1 or MOC Section 3 credits.”

Agreement dates: January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2026

All other activities require accreditation by a Royal College accredited CPD provider.

All activities must be accredited prior to the start of the activity. Credits will not be granted retroactively.

Activities accredited by a Royal College accredited CPD provider that are eligible for credit within international CPD accreditation systems.

Credit recognition for participants reporting credits in the US

American Medical Association (AMA) recognition of Royal College accredited CPD activities

• Group learning activities (live and online) accredited by a Royal College accredited CPD provider for MOC Program Section 1 credits.
• Self-assessment programs accredited by a Royal College accredited CPD provider for MOC Program Section 3 credits.
• Simulation activities accredited by a Royal College accredited CPD provider for MOC Program Section 3 credits.
  • Instructions, application form, and fee information for converting MOC Program credits to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ are on the AMA website.
  • Credit will be converted based on one hour of participation equalling one credit for all activities
  • Agreement dates: January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024.
• For AMA recognition of these activities:
  Include the designation statement: This must be included on promotional materials and all certificates given to physicians for participation in educational activities:
  “Through an agreement between the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Medical Association, physicians may convert Royal College MOC credits to AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Information on the process to convert Royal College MOC credit to AMA credit can be found at https://edhub.ama-assn.org/pages/applications.
• Provide certificates to participants: So that the appropriate conversion to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ can be calculated, certificates must delineate the number of credits awarded in the following categories: group learning activities, simulation, and self‐assessment.
• Send a copy of your certificate to the AMA: For AMA staff to compare certificates submitted with requests, Royal College recognized accredited CPD provider must submit an example of a certificate issued by the physician organization to the AMA. Please send a certificate to: cme@ama-assn.org

Credit recognition for participants reporting credits in Europe

The European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology (EBAC) recognition of Royal College accredited CPD activities

• Group learning activities (live and online) accredited by a Royal College accredited CPD provider for MOC Program Section 1 credits.
  • EBAC will recognize the number of Royal College MOC Program Section 1 group learning credits as equivalent to EBAC CPD credits.
  • May 5, 2017 to May 4, 2026.

Activities accredited by a Royal College accredited CPD provider can use the following recognition statement to inform international participants of the credit agreement: “Through an agreement between the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology, Royal College MOC Section 1 credits are deemed to be substantively equivalent to EBAC CPD credits.”

European Union of Medical Specialists - European Accreditation Council for CME (UEMS-EACCME) recognition of Royal College accredited CPD activities

• Group learning activities (live) held within Canada and accredited for MOC Program Section 1 credits.
  • Physicians must request UEMS-EACCME® to convert Royal College MOC Program Section 1 group learning credits to ECMECs®.
  • Agreement dates: December 20, 2016 to December 31, 2026.

Activities accredited by a Royal College accredited CPD provider can use the following recognition statement to inform international participants of the credit agreement: “Live educational activities recognized by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as Accredited Group Learning Activities (Section 1) are deemed by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) eligible for ECMEC®”

Credit recognition for participants reporting credits in the Gulf region.

Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners, Ministry of Public Health (QCHP) recognition of Royal College accredited CPD activities

• Group learning activities (live and online) accredited by a Royal College accredited CPD provider for MOC Program Section 1 credits.
• Self-assessment programs accredited by a Royal College accredited CPD provider for MOC Program Section 3 credits.
• Simulation activities accredited by a Royal College accredited CPD provider for MOC Program Section 3 credits.

   

  • QCHP will recognize the number of Royal College MOC Program credits for as equivalent to QCHP CPD credits.
  • Agreement dates: January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2026

Activities accredited by a Royal College accredited CPD provider can use the following recognition statement to inform international participants of the credit agreement: “Through an agreement between the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners, healthcare practitioners participating in the QCHP CME/CPD program may record MOC Section 1 or MOC Section 3 credits as QCHP Category 1 or Category 3 credits.”

All other activities require accreditation by an appropriate accreditor.

All activities must be accredited prior to the start of the activity. Credits will not be granted retroactively.

If your program is not accredited but eligible for Royal College MOC credits you may add this text to your program materials: “For information on how this activity fits in the Royal College Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program, please visit the Royal College’s website (royalcollege.ca/moc). For more personalized support, please contact the Royal College Services Centre (1-800-461-9598) or your local CPD Educator.”

Contact us

CPD Accreditation Coordinator
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
774 Echo Drive
Ottawa ON K1S 5N8
Telephone: 613-730-2587; toll-free 1-800-668-3740, ext. 587

Email: cpd-accreditation@royalcollege.ca