Accreditation & Certification

OPDES is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of all CME/CHE activities, whether live or web-based, that are approved for credits related to the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

Application Process

Renewal of Applications for Accreditation:

It is the responsibility of the program director (or delegate) to request CPD for an application for renewal. Renewal is possible if the program is run on an annual basis. Please contact CPD (cpd.che@queensu.ca) or FD (fac.dev@queensu.ca) for renewal of this event a minimum 6 weeks ahead of the start date of the next program.

Initiating the Application Process:

If you have not submitted an accreditation application before please consult with this guide for ease of reference. You will want to review the documentation content below before starting the application.

When you’ve familiarized yourself with the documentation you’ll be needing, please choose from one of the below application forms and you’ll be able to submit the form.

Continuing Professional Development Application Form (for programs that enhance healthcare prowess or knowledge)
Faculty Development Application Form (for programs that enhance teaching and learning within the health professions)

Earning and Redeeming Credits

For information on how to claim credits or credit requirements please visit the following links to your respective college below.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada

Mainpro+

Note: The College of Family Physicians of Canada launched the new MAINPRO+® on June 27, 2016. For more information, please click here.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Maintenance of Certification

Note: Beginning with new (or next) MOC cycles starting on or after January 1, 2014, all Fellows and MOC Program participants will be required to complete a minimum of 25 credits in each section of the MOC Program during their new 5-year MOC cycle. The annual minimum of 40 credits and a cycle overall minimum of 400 credits are still applicable. For additional information, please click here.

Glossary of Terms

“Mode of interactivity” refers to how the program, if group learning will have interactive components embedded. For group learning this needs to compose at least 25% of the accredited learning time in the agenda
“Didactic” refers to a style of learning whereby the instructor has primacy and delivers the learning in lectures or lecture like formats. It is characterized by limited interactivity for learners and must be explicitly supported with distinct engagement and interactive sections such as question and answer, group-work, and other active learning
“CME”- Continuing Medical Education- an older term that refers to continuing education efforts to improve the medical expertise of physicians. Considered an aspect of CPD
“CHE”- Continuing Health Education- an older term that adds in the health expertise of other health providers
“FD”- Faculty Development- refers to professional development programming in the health sciences that aims to augment teaching and learning skills and outcomes. Although it is up for debate, FD in health professions education is considered by Queen’s to be a crucial component of CPD, that has a specific purpose and expertise required for success.
“CPD”- Continuing Professional Development- an all-encompassing term for any continuing education in the health sciences.
“Asynchronous”- refers to learning designs where learning occurs on-demand and not at a defined time. For example, a lecture recording or online learning unit, where learners complete the program at their own pace on their own time.
“Synchronous”- refers to learning designs where learning occurs at a set time. For example, a live or virtual class held at 2pm where folks are all learning at the same time.