SQP Number / Userid Password

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about
The AMTRA CPD Scheme

Updated 7 March 2012

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

CPD is Continuing Professiona 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 medicine advisors. Additionally, AMTRA is required by law to ensure that its SQPs undertake CPD.

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. The current CPD period runs from 1 July 2011 until 30 June 2013.

3. How many points do I need in the CPD period starting July 2011?

During each CPD period SQPs must obtain a minimum number of CPD points. The number of points that each SQP type will be required to obtain during the current CPD period (starting July 2011) is indicated below.

People who become SQPs in 2012 need only achieve half the number of points given below by June 2013; those who become SQPs in the first half of 2013 have no formal points obligation for this period. (See also the following answers on full allocation of points, and on adding modules, for more details.)

There is no maximum number of CPD points - all SQPs are encouraged to undertake as much CPD as they can.

All SQPs must gain a minimum of 15 points from attending seminars, and can claim a maximum of 5 points for personal study. There used to be a maximum of 25 points from quizzes and distance learning, but that no longer applies. For more details, see Q9, below.

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

Those who qualify as an SQP part-way through a CPD period should attain the following points:

• SQPs who qualify with less than 6 months of the CPD period remaining (e.g. during the first half of 2013): no formal CPD obligation
• SQPs who qualify with more than 18 months of the CPD period remaining (i.e. by 31 December 2011 in the case of the current CPD period): full CPD points obligation
• Other SQPs who qualify part-way through the CPD period (i.e. during 2012): half the normal CPD points obligation

Those absent due to maternity leave or long-term sick leave:

• for 6 to 18 months in the current CPD Period (July 2011 to June 2013) then CPD points obligation is halved
• for more than 18 months in the current CPD Period then CPD points obligation is waived.

You may be required to produce appropriate documentary evidence of maternity leave or long-term sick leave.

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

Some SQPs 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 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 2011, becomes a C-SQP, and thus needs 30 CPD points.
• She passes the Equine module in 2012 to become an E-SQP: as that is between 6 and 18 months from the end of the CPD period, her additional points requirement is half of the difference between a C-SQP and an E-SQP, i.e. an extra 10, making 40 in all.
• Finally, she passes the Farm Animal module in early 2013: 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.

From July 2013, the points requirement will be the full 80 for an R-SQP for the following two years.

6. What happens if I don't get enough points?

If an SQP did not earn the minimum number of CPD points by the end of first CPD period (ending on 30 June 2011) then that SQP will not be eligible to renew their SQP status for the following year unless they pass an examination to demonstrate ongoing competency, before the end of 2011, to maintain their SQP status and thus be eligible to renew for the next year.

More information is in the guidance for SQPs.

If you wish to book, please download the booking form, complete it and send to AMTRA with the appropriate payment.

AMTRA has no plans to offer such an option in 2013.

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

The easiest way is to log in to your AMTRA record - on the AMTRA website just click 'Login' in the top right-hand corner, then login with your SQP number (starting with the letter Q) and password. If you've forgotten your password, you can use the login page to request another password be sent to you.

CPD points earned are added to each SQP's records when they are received from the CPD provider. SQPs are advised of the number of CPD points they have accumulated from time to time. If we have an email address for you then we will send you an update every time your record is updated - another good reason to ensure that we always have an up-to-date email address that will reach you directly.

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 at least a month after the event to advise AMTRA of points earned. Please don't contact us until that month has elapsed.

If the points are wrong rather than simply missing, please email, fax or write to us with details of which points are 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 (though see Q13 if you are a vet nurse or pharmacy professional). Webinars (online seminars) and the like are eligible for accreditation as seminars.

2. Distance learning supported by multiple choice quizzes - i.e. by reading or watching supportive material and answering sets of accredited questions, such as online or in magazines;

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 third parties. The number of points allocated will be based on the duration and content of the seminar or study.

11. Can I gain points more than once for attending the same content from the same provider?

No, but you may gain points for similar topics from different CPD providers - for instance, both providers may be talking about equine parasitology, but the discussion and emphasis given will be different and the result is complementary, whereas there is much less additional benefit from hearing the same presentations twice in a short period.

12. 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 distance-learning quizzes 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. SQPs should keep appropriate records as they may be asked for details of personal study following the close of the current CPD period.

13. 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.

14. What about veterinary nurses and pharmacy professionals who are SQPs?

AMTRA recognises that veterinary nurses and pharmacy professionals who are also SQPs do undertake a significant amount of CPD through the obligations of their other profession, though much won't be directly relevant to the SQP role. VNs and pharmacy professionals are still required to undertake the same amount of SQP CPD as other SQPs, but may earn 50% of their points requirement via certified attendance at non-AMTRA-accredited events which are CPD for the other profession and which the SQP asserts as relevant to their SQP role.

15. What has changed from July 2011?

The second CPD period runs from 1 July 2011 until 30 June 2013. There are some adjustments to the system in the light of experience, but the fundamentals haven't changed. The questions above have been updated to reflect the new requirements, but in summary:

1. The scope of accreditable CPD has been widened, with some earning more points per hour than others.
2. Points value of distance learning (supported by multiple choice quizzes) will take greater account of the time taken to study the supportive written or audiovisual material
3. Some credit will be given for relevant Further or Higher Education courses passed
4. The points targets have been adjusted slightly
5. Vet nurses and pharmacy professionals who are also SQPs have greater recognition of their twin professional status

This page last updated 07/03/2012

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