What must I do to meet Professional Competence requirements?

What must I do to meet Professional Competence requirements?

The Professional Competence year runs from 1 May to 30 April. All Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities must be completed within the relevant scheme year to count towards your annual requirements.

What must I do?

You must:

• Be appropriately enrolled on a Professional Competence Scheme.

• Record your CPD activities in your MyCPD for Professional Competence to meet the Medical Council's annual requirements.

• Maintain appropriate evidence of your CPD activities in case it is requested for verification.

• Declare your Professional Competence compliance when completing your Medical Council Annual Retention Application Form (ARAF).

What are the requirements for 2026–2027?

Under the Medical Council's Framework for the Maintenance of Professional Competence, which came into effect on 1 May 2025, doctors engaged in the practice of medicine must complete a minimum of 50 CPD credits annually, across the following categories:

You must also assign all eight Domains of Good Professional Practice at least once within a three-year cycle.

Doctors who are not engaged in the practice of medicine must also complete 50 CPD credits annually, but may have greater flexibility in how these credits are distributed.

For further information, see Annual Requirements from 1 May 2025.

Absence from Practice

If you are absent from medical practice for 90 days or more during a Professional Competence year (1 May–30 April), you may be eligible for an annotation on your Annual Statement of Participation.

Eligible absences include maternity leave, medically certified sick leave, parental leave, adoptive leave, bereavement leave and carer's leave.

You must remain enrolled on a Professional Competence Scheme and record your absence through your ePortfolio (MyCPD).

For further information, see What to do if you are absent from practice.

Keep your enrolment up to date

You must renew your Professional Competence enrolment each year to remain compliant with Medical Council requirements.

RCPI will issue an annual notification reminding you to renew your enrolment.

Plan and record your CPD activities

You should plan your professional development activities throughout the scheme year and ensure they are recorded in your ePortfolio (MyCPD) before the end of the year on April 30.

Completing a Personal Development Plan (PDP) will help you identify your learning needs, set professional development goals and plan activities relevant to your practice.

Recording your activities regularly will ensure they are reflected accurately in your Annual Statement of Participation in Professional Competence.

For more information, see Personal Development Plan.