CPD requirements for podiatrists
Ensuring registrants maintain the knowledge, skills, and judgment necessary for safe, effective, and ethical practice
Purpose
The purpose of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is to support lifelong learning, maintain professional competence, and promote the delivery of safe, effective, evidence‑informed patient care.
The CPD framework is based on principles of continuing competence, reflective practice, and self‑directed professional learning. The focus of the program is meaningful engagement in professional learning and its application to clinical practice, rather than the accumulation of hours alone.
Regulatory authority
These Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements are established under the College’s statutory mandate to regulate the profession in the public interest. The College is authorized to set, monitor, and enforce continuing competence requirements to ensure registrants maintain the knowledge, skills, and judgment necessary for safe, effective, and ethical practice.
Reference to the Nova Scotia RHPA
Nova Scotia has enacted the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), SNS 2023, c. 15, which establishes modern regulatory principles including public protection, transparency, fairness, and continuing competence. Although CPSNS and podiatry were operating under the Medical Act at the time this document was approved, the CPD program is aligned with the regulatory principles reflected in the RHPA.
Public protection principle
The CPD program is a core component of the College’s public‑protection mandate. Requirements are designed using a risk‑based regulatory approach that prioritizes competencies most relevant to patient safety, quality of care, and the clinical risk profile of podiatric practice.
Relationship to the reflective learning guide
This document must be read in conjunction with the CPSNS continuing professional development reflective learning guide for podiatrists.
The reflective learning guide provides detailed instruction and examples regarding the reflective documentation component of these requirements.
CPD requirements
Podiatrist registrants must:
- complete a minimum of 125 hours of CPD during each five‑year cycle
- complete a minimum of 15 hours of CPD in each registration year
- complete activities from at least two of the three CPD categories described below
- complete a minimum of 25 hours of CPD in an interactive setting with other practitioners during each five‑year cycle
- ensure CPD activities are relevant and appropriate to their professional practice
- maintain supporting documentation for all CPD activities
- complete reflective documentation for all CPD activities in accordance with the Reflective Learning Guide
- maintain complete and accurate CPD records for a minimum of five years
Accommodation and exceptional circumstances
The College recognizes that registrants may experience circumstances that temporarily limit their ability to meet CPD requirements, including medical leave, parental leave, disability, or other significant events. Registrants may request reasonable accommodation, and the College will assess such requests in accordance with principles of fairness, equity, and public protection.
Relevance to professional practice
All CPD activities must be relevant to the registrant’s professional practice, scope, and responsibilities. Activities must support the maintenance or enhancement of competencies required for safe and effective patient care, consistent with RHPA‑style continuing competence expectations.
Mandatory training
Registrants must maintain certification in:
- cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- automated external defibrillator (AED) use
- recognition and management of anaphylaxis
Training must be renewed at intervals approved by CPSNS.
Universal documentation requirement
For all CPD activities, registrants must retain:
- evidence of participation in the activity
- reflective documentation completed in accordance with the reflective learning guide
Supporting evidence will vary according to the nature of the activity undertaken.
Accuracy and integrity of documentation
Registrants are responsible for ensuring that all CPD records, evidence, and reflective documentation are accurate, truthful, and complete. Falsification or misrepresentation of CPD documentation may constitute professional misconduct.
Definitions and clarifications
- Interactive CPD: Interactive CPD involves real‑time engagement with other practitioners. Examples include:
- live conferences, workshops, and webinars
- facilitated discussion groups
- peer review meetings
- case‑based learning sessions
- mentorship meetings
- Asynchronous activities (e.g., recorded webinars, independent reading) do not qualify as interactive.
- Partial hours: Partial hours may be claimed in increments of 0.25 hours.
- Travel time: Travel time does not count as CPD.
- Duplicate claims: A single activity may not be counted in more than one category.
- Maximum hours per activity:
- self‑directed reading: maximum 5 hours per activity unless substantial documentation is provided
- teaching activities: preparation time may be claimed once per presentation cycle
- conferences: claim only actual educational content, excluding breaks and social events
- Conflict of interest in CPD activities: CPD activities must be free from commercial bias. Vendor‑sponsored sessions that primarily promote specific products or services do not qualify as CPD unless they include substantive, evidence‑based educational content. Registrants are responsible for ensuring that CPD activities meet standards of professional independence and objectivity.
CPD categories
Category one – formal and academic CPD
Maximum: 100 hours per cycle
Examples of activity types:
- postgraduate education
- formal coursework
- research activities
- publication of peer‑reviewed articles
- editing or reviewing professional publications
Examples of evidence:
- official transcripts
- course certificates
- published articles
- academic records
- reflective documentation
Category two – accredited CPD
Maximum: 100 hours per cycle
Examples of activity types:
- conferences
- workshops
- webinars
- accredited courses
- facilitated discussion groups
- journal‑based learning activities
Examples of evidence:
- certificates of attendance
- completed workbooks
- discussion records
- learning transcripts
- reflective documentation
Category three – informal CPD
Maximum: 25 hours per cycle
Examples of activity types:
- self‑directed reading
- peer discussion
- workplace learning
- mentorship activities
- professional presentations
- community or volunteer activities relevant to professional practice
Examples of evidence:
- study notes
- learning summaries
- certificates of appreciation
- reflective documentation
CPD reporting and documentation process
The CPD program for Podiatrist Registrants is administered by the Podiatry Advisory Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS).
Ultimate Podiatrist has been approved by CPSNS as the electronic platform for the storage and reporting of CPD activities and supporting documentation.
Registrants are responsible for maintaining complete and accurate records of all CPD activities on an ongoing basis.
For each CPD activity, registrants must record:
- date of activity
- title and description of activity
- category of activity
- number of hours claimed
- provider or organizer
- evidence of participation or completion
- reflective documentation
Reflective documentation is a mandatory component of the CPSNS CPD program.
Registrants are not routinely required to submit CPD records to CPSNS. Records must be retained for a minimum of five years and must be produced upon request for audit or review.
Audit
CPSNS may conduct audits of CPD records to verify compliance with CPD requirements.
Registrants selected for audit may be required to provide:
- a summary log of CPD activities
- supporting evidence of participation
- reflective documentation
Transparency and fairness
The College conducts CPD audits in a manner that is transparent, fair, and consistent with RHPA‑style regulatory principles. Registrants will be informed of audit expectations, timelines, and documentation requirements. Where deficiencies are identified, the College will provide clear guidance regarding corrective actions and reasonable timelines for compliance.
Remediation and educational focus
The CPD program is intended to support learning and professional growth. Where a registrant does not meet CPD requirements, the College may require additional CPD, reflective exercises, or other remedial actions. Remediation is educational in nature and is not considered a disciplinary process unless non‑compliance persists or poses a risk to the public.
Need more information?
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