Tools and resources for accredited CPD providers
This web page gathers together resources that may be useful to accredited continuing professional development (CPD) providers.
CPD Provider Tip of the Month
Written for CPD providers by CPD providers, the CPD Provider Tip of the Month will be featured in our Tools and Resources website.
September 2020 – Best practices for Evaluating Online Programs
Brought to you by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS)
COS found that in moving to host digital events (webinars and meetings) instead of in-person activities we had improved evaluation response rates by including the evaluation as a poll at the end of the session. We had a captive audience and were able to gather their immediate feedback. To capture more detailed information from the participants in relation to the session content, series, or overall meeting of which the sessions were a part, we would send a post-session evaluation through survey gizmo that allowed for deeper evaluation.
- Take time to craft clear evaluation questions, well-crafted questions provide useful data
- Objective of evaluation is to measure the success of a session/program; how effective was the program? Did it meet objectives? How can we use this feedback to determine perceived and unperceived needs of our target audience?
- Integrate session evaluation as Polling questions at the end of the session
- In session poll-style evaluation captures the responses of those actually participating
- Polls were set up with yes/no, true/false or multiple choice questions. We did not use text answers in the polling-style session evaluation
- When sessions are part of a series, it is important to ensure that you still evaluate the whole series or overall meeting. To do this, COS sent an email to attendees including a link to overall meeting evaluation in survey gizmo etc. This is where we captured more detailed text response data
- In planning the session evaluation and the overall meeting evaluation, you need to determine which evaluation questions are best for the short in-session poll and which need to provide a more detailed analysis in the post-session survey
- Evaluate evaluation process after meeting and review findings
- Implement lessons learned into future meeting delivery
COS saw an increased session evaluation response rate: a 75% increase in responses at our June 2020 virtual meeting and through the webinar series A Path to a New Vision
CPD activity toolkit
- Creating learning objectives
- Educational delivery methods
- Evaluations
- Needs assessment
- Relationships with speakers and sponsors
- Sample Conflict of Interest Form
- Sample Certificate of Attendance
- Sample Certificate of Attendance (multiple accreditation statements)
- Sample Participant Transcript
- Web-based CPD events
Sample accreditation application forms
The forms below are samples only. Royal College-accredited CPD providers should have their own specific application forms.
- MOC Section 1 Group Learning Application Form (SAMPLE)
- MOC Section 3 Self-Assessment Application Form (SAMPLE)
- MOC Section 3 Simulation Activities Application Form (SAMPLE)
Accreditation Activity Standards
- MOC Section 1 Group Learning activity accreditation standards
- MOC Section 3 Self-Assessment program accreditation standards
Sample accreditation statements
International accreditation agreements
- American Medical Association PRA Category 1 Credits™
- Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education Substantive Equivalency
- European Union of Medical Specialists ECMEC Credits
Mark your calendar
Royal College-Accredited CPD Provider Innovation Awards
Find out about these awards and how to apply.
Accrediting simulation programs
All providers of health care simulation programs in Canada are invited to apply to be recognized as a Royal College-accredited simulation program. Applicants must be not-for-profit organizations with a formal governance structure. They must also be accountable to and serve medical professionals through continuing professional development and research activities.
Accreditation of simulation programs
Directory of accredited CPD providers
Definition of terms
| Term | Royal College definition |
|---|---|
| Co-development | The process by which two or more organizations, at least one of which must be a physician organization, prospectively collaborate to develop and implement an accredited educational activity, learning resource or tool. |
| Educational grant | The mechanism by which a sponsor provides support to a CPD organizer for a specific educational activity, learning resource or tool. |
| Physician organization | A physician organization is a not-for-profit group of health professionals with a formal governance structure, accountable to and serving, among others, its specialist physician members. |
| Sponsor | A sponsor is an individual, group, corporation or organization who contributes funds, goods or services to support accredited educational activities, learning resources or tools. |
| Sponsorship | Sponsorship is the process by which individuals, groups, corporations or organizations provide support (financial or in-kind contributions) to a CPD organizer to support an accredited educational activity, learning resource or tool. |
| Tagging | The linking or alignment of a sponsor’s name to a specific educational session within an accredited group learning activity. |
| Transparency | To provide transparency means to clearly disclose, divulge or make known. (The opposite of transparency is ambiguity.) |
- Conferences and workshops
- Rounds, journal clubs and small groups
- Self-assessment programs
- Simulation activities
- List of accredited CPD activities
- CPD activity toolkit
- Accredited CPD Provider Innovation Awards
- National CPD Accreditation Conference
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
