Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

All AMTRA SQPs are required to undertake Continuing Professional Development. The amount of CPD required depends on the type of SQP and on when the SQP qualified. With the exception of small amounts of personal study, all CPD must be accredited by AMTRA in advance. AMTRA will keep a record of CPD points accumulated by SQPs, and those not achieving the required minimum will not be able to renew their SQP registration unless they pass a fresh exam.

• Frequently asked questions about the AMTRA CPD Scheme
• CPD seminars open to SQPs
• Information for CPD organisers

Frequently Asked Questions about
The AMTRA CPD Scheme

Updated 22 February 2010

1. What is CPD? Why do I need to do it?

CPD is Continuing Professional Development. It is compulsory for all AMTRA SQPs.

The whole purpose of CPD is to ensure that SQPs keep themselves up to date, which is appropriate to a professional group of animal health advisors. Additionally, AMTRA is required by law to ensure that its SQPs remain up to date.

2. When do I need to do CPD?

In order to maintain SQP status, SQPs have to achieve a minimum number of CPD points during each AMTRA CPD period. Normally each CPD period will run for 2 years, from July to June. But the first period runs for 33 months, from October 2008 until June 2011.

3. How many points do I need?

During these CPD periods SQPs must obtain a minimum number of CPD points. The number of points that each SQP type will be required to obtain during each CPD period is indicated below.

People becoming SQPs during 2010 need only achieve half the number of points given below by June 2011 (see also the following answers on full allocation of points, and on adding modules, for more details).

Essentially this means 20 points per animal group module included in an SQP's qualification, plus 10 points, are required (though at present SQPs can choose to do CPD in the subject areas most appropriate to them). There is no maximum number of CPD points - all SQPs are encouraged to undertake as much CPD as they can.

4. Does everyone have to get the full allocation of points?

Those who qualify as an SQP part-way through a CPD period, and those who are absent from work on maternity leave or on long-term sick leave should attain the following points:

• SQPs who qualify with less than 6 months of the CPD period remaining, or who are absent from work due to maternity leave or long-term sick leave such that they work as an SQP for less than 6 months of the CPD period: no formal CPD obligation
• SQPs who qualify with more than 18 months of the CPD period remaining (i.e. by 31 December 2009 in the case of the first CPD period), or whose maternity leave or long-term sick leave is such that they work as an SQP for more than 18 months of the CPD period: full CPD points obligation
• Other SQPs who qualify part-way through the CPD period (e.g. during 2010), or who are absent on maternity leave or long-term sick leave, but for whom the above two bullet points don't apply: half the normal CPD points obligation

You may be required to produce appropriate documentary evidence of maternity leave or long-term sick leave. We will advise nearer the end of the first CPD period how this will be managed in practice.

5. What if I do additional modules after I become an SQP?

Some SQPs choose to add additional species modules after they first become an SQP - this might be a career progression, or the other module exams may have been failed at the first attempt.

Additional CPD points are added to the total needed, consistent with the principle of 20 points per module and half points or no points for part-way through the CPD period, as described in the previous two answers.

The number of CPD points required is best illustrated by an unusual example:

• Chris passes the Base and Companion Animal modules in 2009, becomes an SQP, and thus needs 30 CPD points.
• She passes the Equine module in 2010: as that is between 6 and 18 months from the end of the CPD period, her additional points requirement is half of 20, i.e. an extra 10, making 40 in all.
• Finally, she passes the Farm Animal module in early 2011: as that is less than 6 months from the end of the CPD period, there is no additional CPD points obligation, so the total required stays at 40.

In the first CPD period, those 40 points can be accumulated in whatever species areas Chris feels are most relevant to her. From July 2011, the points requirement will be the full 70 for an R-SQP for the following two years.

6. What happens if I don't get the number of points needed?

If an SQP does not obtain the minimum number of CPD points by the end of the CPD period – the first one ending on 30 June 2011 - then that SQP will not be eligible to renew their SQP status for the following year. However, such SQPs will have an option of sitting an examination (similar to the upgrade/conversion exams that took place in 2006-2008), before the end of 2011, to maintain their SQP status and thus be eligible to renew for the next year.

7. How do I know how many CPD points I've got?

AMTRA provides CPD record cards to all SQPs on which you should keep a note of CPD you have undertaken.

CPD points earned are added to each SQP's records when they are received from the CPD provider. SQPs will be advised of the number of CPD points they have accumulated to date on their annual renewal form each October, and we may include an update with SQP newsletters.

Additionally, if AMTRA already has an email address for you, you can request a CPD points update by email.

8. What if the number of points you have recorded for me is wrong?

If there are points missing, please contact the organisation or company that provided the CPD - but do leave them a month after the event to advise AMTRA of points earned.

If the points are wrong, please email, fax or write to us with details of which points are missing or wrong. Please do not telephone us as we will not be able to deal with such queries on the phone.

9. How can I obtain CPD points?

1. Attending AMTRA-accredited CPD seminars – each SQP must gain a minimum of 15 points from attending one or more accredited seminars - there is no maximum number of points from attending seminars. The seminars need not be run by AMTRA (most aren't) but must be accredited by AMTRA in advance. Webinars (online seminars) and the like are eligible for accreditation as seminars.

2. Quiztionnaires – i.e. by answering questions posed online or in magazines – each SQP may gain a maximum of 25 points in any one period from quiztionnaires.

3. Personal study - this may be of AMTRA training modules, updated Code of Practice, magazine articles, IT expertise, etc. AMTRA recognises the increasing professionalism of its SQPs and will accept a degree of self-certification of this form of CPD. However, only 5 points may be allocated to personal study in any CPD period. SQPs are required to maintain a record of this activity for inspection if required.

10. How many points are gained from attending a CPD Seminar?

CPD Seminars and online studies will be accredited and allocated points by the AMTRA CPD Accreditation Panel, who will ask AMTRA Assessors to advise on the CPD Seminars and Studies submitted by Organisations and Companies. The number of points allocated will be based on the duration and content of the Seminar or Study.

11. How do CPD points get onto my CPD record?

Seminar organisers provide AMTRA with details (name & SQP number) of those who attended the whole seminar with the number of points accredited to the seminar. Those marking "quiztionnaires" provide AMTRA with the names & SQP numbers, together with the number of CPD points gained, of those answering the questions. SQPs can each claim up to 5 CPD points for personal study in each CPD period.

12. Can I carry over CPD points from one period to the next?

No – the whole purpose of CPD is to ensure that SQPs keep up-to-date.

This page last updated 22/02/2010