Veterinary science is constantly evolving, with new research, treatments, and diagnostic tools emerging regularly. This is just one of the reasons CPD is crucial for veterinarians.
What Is CPD?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the process of actively engaging in learning to enhance and maintain professional skills, knowledge, and competence throughout your career. It encompasses a wide range of activities, such as attending workshops, seminars, or online courses, participating in training programs, or engaging in self-directed study.
CPD helps you stay up to date with advancements in veterinary medicine, technology, and best practices, ensuring you’re able to provide the highest standard of care for your patients. Additionally, the regulatory bodies for our profession require you to complete CPD annually to maintain your registration as a veterinarian.
How Many CPD Points Are Required?
There is no single regulatory body for all veterinarians in Australia, and each state Veterinary Board has slightly different requirements for CPD and registration. That said, both the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) and the Australian Veterinary Board Council (AVBC) recommend an average of 60 CPD points over a rolling three-year period, of which 15 must be “structured” CPD.
For specific guidelines, including how to report and submit your CPD, refer to the Veterinary Board in your state or territory:
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- Veterinary Practitioners Board of New South Wales
- Veterinary Practice Board of Western Australia
- Veterinary Board of Tasmania
- Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland
- Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia
- ACT Veterinary Practitioners Board
- The Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria
- Veterinary Board of the Northern Territory
Structured vs Unstructured CPD
The specific definition of “structured CPD” varies slightly depending on the veterinary board in your state. Generally, structured CPD includes activities such as postgraduate courses, written assessments, and preparing papers for publication. Unstructured CPD includes activities such as in-practice training and independent reading.
It’s important to keep detailed records of both types of CPD to ensure you meet your triannual requirements.
Barriers to Fulfilling Your CPD Requirements (and How to Overcome Them)
Many vets report two main challenges when fulfilling CPD requirements: time and cost.
Time: We get it – you’re busy! Balancing work and personal life can be challenging enough without adding the extra stress of study. Increasingly, vets are opting to study online, giving them more flexibility to learn when and where they choose.
You can also consider:
- Weekend workshops: These often provide a significant number of structured CPD points in a short period and allow you to develop hands-on skills quickly.
- Webinars: These are often available on demand and require a relatively small time commitment.
Cost: Although plenty of free CPD options are available, it can be difficult to accrue all your points (especially structured ones) without investing in paid training. When considering paid CPD, it’s worth researching to ensure the course meets your needs. Additionally, ask your manager about the CPD budget for your clinic—most practices allocate an annual budget to support their vets in upskilling, which can help cover the cost of programs you’re passionate about.
Choosing a CPD Provider
With so many CPD providers available, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are a few things to consider:
- Who is the presenter, speaker, or tutor? Look into their qualifications and check if they’re a specialist in their field.
- Is the course or program accredited (e.g., by organisations such as RACE or the ISVPS)?
- Do you receive a qualification at the end of the program?
- Are there assessments to test your knowledge?
There’s a lot to think about, but asking these questions is a great starting point. Alternatively, you could just, ahem, pick one of our programs…
CPD by Improve Veterinary Education
We offer a range of online programs across various specialities, as well as face-to-face workshops for veterinarians. Improve Veterinary Education is the leading global provider of veterinary CPD, and over the last 25 years, we’ve helped over 40,000 veterinary professionals reach their full potential. Our courses are accredited by RACE and the ISVPS, with many allowing you to work towards a globally recognised postgraduate qualification while you study.
To learn more about who we are and the CPD we offer, you can download our 2025 Course Guide here.
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Written by Suari Price