The College considers essential that there should be a CME /CPD programme for Fellows, to ensure professional development and maintenance of the highest possible standards of practice.

The CME /CPD programme will seek and receive formal approval from the Education Committee of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (HKAM) before implementation.

Any changes to the CME /CPD programme will also be approved by the Academy Education Committee before implementation.

All Fellows of the College who are also Fellows of the HKAM must satisfy the full requirements of the CME /CPD programme by the end of each cycle.

The College will ensure compliance with CME /CPD requirements. Any non-compliance will be recorded and reported to the Education Committee of the Academy. The Education Committee of the Academy may recommend to the Council of the Academy the suspension of a Fellow who has failed to comply with CME /CPD requirements by the end of the cycle, unless the Education Committee is satisfied that there are relevant and exceptional circumstances. Furthermore, the Education Committee has to be satisfied that the shortfall can be remedied within an acceptable time.

All operational issues related to CME /CPD will be undertaken by a Sub-committee on Continuing Medical Education of the College of Dental Surgeons of Hong Kong.

The CME Sub-committee is formed under the Education Committee of the College of Dental Surgeons of Hong Kong and deals with issues related to CME /CPD activities and their accreditation. The Chairman of the Sub-committee shall be a member of the College Education Committee and the Chairman of the Education Committee shall be an ex-officio member of the Sub-committee. The Chairman and members of the Sub-committee shall be nominated by the College Education Committee and appointed by College Council.   There shall be not less than four and not more than seven members in the Sub-committee, at least two of whom shall be members of the College Education Committee. This Sub-committee shall be accountable to the College Council through the College Education Committee. The Terms of Reference of the Sub-committee will be determined and revised from time to time by the College Education Committee and endorsed by College Council.

The CME Sub-committee of the College shall be responsible for implementing, monitoring and evaluating CME /CPD . The CME Sub-committee of the College will scrutinize and approve meetings, conferences, seminars, workshops and other educational activities suitable for accreditation, to capture information on CME/CPD undertaken by each Fellow and to provide feedback to Fellows on their performance.

CME/CPD activities are classified according to the principles laid down by the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine into the following categories:

Self-study
On-line Passive Learning
Passive participation
Active participation
Publications
Quality Assurance
Postgraduate Courses
Development of CME/CPD Materials
Other College and Academy Activities

 

A Cycle of CME /CPD shall normally consist of three years.

The CME/CPD cycle will be synchronised with the duration of practising certificates; and fixed cycles will be adopted once the Dental Council of Hong Kong has implemented linking of CME/CPD to the renewal of practising certificates. Once synchronisation is implemented, new Fellows will commence their first cycle on the first day of the following month upon their admission to Academy Fellowship; and the required CME/CPD points for the first cycle will be counted on a pro-rata basis.

The College will report to the Education Committee of the Academy any Fellow of the Academy who fails to comply with CME /CPD requirements at the end of the cycle. The Education Committee of the Academy will then consider such sanctions as are appropriate for recommendation to the Council of the Academy.

In this credit point counting system, points are given and accumulated for the various accredited CME /CPD activities in which Fellows participate.

A minimum of ninety (90) points have to be accredited over a three-year cycle period, and an average of thirty (30) points per year should be the aim of Fellows.

A point of CME /CPD activity is equivalent to one hour of passive participation in a Formal College Approved Activity (FCAA).

The categories of FCAA are as follows:

Category A: Dentally-related FCAA organized by CDSHK or by organizations on the pre-approved list in the Handbook on CME/CPD or by reputable organizations with prior accreditation.

Category B: Medically-related FCAA organized by Colleges of HKAM or by reputable organizations with prior accreditation.

Category C: FCAA other than those in Categories A & B including,

• FCAA on topics only indirectly or partly related to dentistry or medicine;

• dentally-related FCAA not organized by those organizations in Category A;

• submission of claims to dentally-related FCAA (local or overseas) without prior approval;

• non-dentally and non-medically related FCAA (e.g. medical statistics, information technology courses etc.)

Self-study may be accredited a maximum of 50 points per three-year cycle.

On-line passive learning may be accredited a maximum of 30 points per three-year cycle.

Passive Participation as defined above may be accredited a maximum of 75 points per three-year cycle. A maximum of 15 points from Category B and/or a maximum of 10 points from Category C may be awarded per three-year cycle.

Hands-on courses may be awarded 1.5 points per hour.

Active Participation may be accredited a maximum of 75 points per three-year cycle. A maximum of 15 points from Category B and/or a maximum of 10 points from Category C may be awarded per three-year cycle.

Publications may be accredited a maximum of 75 points per three-year cycle.

Quality Assurance activities may be accredited a maximum of 30 points per three-year cycle.

Such a part-time course may be awarded 5 points per year.

Development of CME/CPD materials for self-study or on-line learning may be awarded 2 points per submission.

Participation as Examiners in College Examinations may be accredited a maximum of 30 points per three-year cycle.

Research
Research activity in itself does not attract any CME /CPD Points.

Development of New Technologies
The Development of New Services and Technologies does not in itself attract CME /CPD Points.

Undergraduate Teaching
Undergraduate Teaching does not attract any CME /CPD Points.

Postgraduate Teaching
Postgraduate teaching activities, other than those already counted under passive and active participation, do not attract CME /CPD Points.

The CME Sub-committee will certify completion of CME /CPD requirements for Fellows at the end of each Cycle.

If there is any doubt regarding any FCAA, the Fellow should seek clarification from the CME Sub-committee. In the event of dispute, the decision will rest on the CME Sub-committee. Each and every case will be discussed and accreditation of any case will depend on individual merit.

If any Fellow who is unable to agree with the CME Sub-committee's decision, he/she may make an appeal to the Council of the College of Dental Surgeons of Hong Kong, in writing, to illustrate his/her reasons of disagreement. The Council will include his/her appeal in the agenda of a Council Meeting and make a final decision. The Council may support or overrule the CME Sub-committee's decision; and will advise the Sub-committee and the Fellow concerned accordingly.

The CME Sub-committee will maintain a Register of Fellows who have been awarded certification under Section 11.