Acts Online
GT Shield

Allied Health Professions Act, 1982 (Act No. 63 of 1982)

Board Notices

Guidelines for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for the professions of Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Osteopathy, Phytotherapy, Reflexology, Therapeutic Aromatherapy, Therapeutic Massage Therapy, Therapeutic Reflexology and Unani-Tibb

5. Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

 

5.1. The system operates on a basis of trust. CEUs are linked to a hierarchy of learning activities based on whether the outcome is measurable or not, or is a structured learning programme.

 

5.2. CPD will run over a two (2) year cycle with all practitioners required to accumulate forty (40) CEUs per cycle, fifty percent (50%) of which shall be profession-specific.

 

5.3. A practitioner, who registers for the first time shall commence with his / her CPD programme immediately. CEUs will be calculated on a pro-rata basis for persons registering after the cycle has commenced, for the remainder of the cycle.

 

5.4. A practitioner who accumulates more than the required total of CEUs in a cycle will be permitted to carry over a maximum of ten (10) CEUs to the next cycle.

 

5.5. A practitioner shall be required to obtain a minimum of four (4) CEUs in AHPCSA-specific Bioethics and Jurisprudence per CPD cycle, by attending any CPD bioethics and jurisprudence lecture presented by an AHPCSA-approved lecturer, alternatively by successful completion of an AHPCSA-approved bioethics and jurisprudence course, available at www.aromasa.org.za, for which a minimum of 70% pass rate is required for this MCQ course to qualify for four (4) CEUs.

 

5.6. Ethics CEUS granted by any other statutory health council for mere attendance as part of any other CPD activity are not recognised by the AHPCSA for Level 2.B.2: BIOETHICS AND JURISPRUDENCE WORKSHOPS.

 

5.7. Cross Recognition of CEUs. If a CPD activity has been approved for a specific profession by a specific CPD Committee or approved by another South African statutory health council, all AHPCSA practitioners may attend that activity for CPD purposes if it is relevant to their specific Scope of Practice. Practitioners will, therefore, not need to apply for the activity to be reaccredited by their own CPD Committee or by the Registrar in order to claim the CEUs accrued for attending that activity. Only in the event that a practitioner is uncertain as to whether such activity falls into the relevant scope of practice, he/she is required to present information regarding that activity, prior to it taking place, for confirmation that it falls within the scope of practice of that practitioner, which confirmation will be given by the Registrar. In addition to the relevant CPD certificate issued by the Service Provider, the practitioner is required to present the following information: name of the South African statutory health council approving the CPD activity; the South African statutory health council CPD registration reference; and nature and duration of the CPD activity. CEU allocation will be as per the AHPCSA Guidelines. Note: Any course specific to any allied health profession may NOT be approved by any other South African statutory health council, or by any other body delegated by another South African statutory health council. You are required to take care to ascertain that courses specific to allied health professions have been approved by the AHPCSA.

 

5.8. Practitioners who are registered in more than one Allied Health profession will be required to obtain thirty (30) CEU’s per profession, fifty percent (50%) of which shall be profession-specific, with the minimum of four (4) CEUs for the AHPCSA-approved Bioethics and Jurisprudence course forming part of the first profession thirty (30) CEUs requirement.

 

5.9. Splitting of CEUs will not be allowed for practitioners registered for more than one profession who attend a CPD activity which is relevant to more than one of the registered professions. When attending a CPD activity which is relevant to more than one of the registered modalities, a practitioner must make a choice as to which modality the CEUs should accrue.

 

[Guideline 5 substituted by Board Notice 170, GG45536, dated 26 November 2021]