CLASS Program

Calling on family physicians to help support other family physicians!

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)’s Critical Learning and Assessment Skills (CLASS) program is intended for physicians wishing to pursue certification through the practice-eligible route.

The CLASS program goals are to reinforce the CFPC’s principles of lifelong learning, continuing professional development (CPD), and evidence-based care, and to assess candidates’ critical learning and assessment skills to make sure they meet the standards and expectations set by the CFPC’s Board of Examinations and Certification (BEC).

• One CFPC Linking Learning to Practice exercise
• One CFPC Professional Learning Plan (PLP)

Although the CLASS program is considered an educational experience, its completion is a requirement candidates must meet to take the Certification Examination in Family Medicine (the Examination). The program is graded as complete/incomplete. Practice-eligible candidates who fail to complete the CLASS program will have their eligibility to take the Examination withdrawn.

The CLASS program provides candidates with an opportunity to work with a coach to help them complete the program’s required learning exercises, give feedback on their work, and attest to their completion of the required course elements.

Program goals

1. Reinforce the principles of the CFPC including a commitment to lifelong learning/CPD, evidence-based care, ongoing self-assessment, and quality improvement
2. Help candidates prepare for current Canadian family medicine practice environments and expectations including an increased emphasis on assessment and quality improvement by provincial and territorial medical regulatory authorities (MRAs) and local privileging organizations
3. Assess practice-eligible candidates’ application of critical appraisal and self-assessment learning skills
4. Reflect evolving CPD best practices and requirements, and the learning needs of participants through ongoing program evaluation and regular updates

Learning objectives

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the roles and importance of lifelong learning, critical appraisal, self-assessment, and quality improvement in family medicine practice settings
2. Identify personal knowledge gaps in their practice and formulate and execute a learning plan to address those gaps using a standardized, peer-assisted assessment tool
3. Assess the validity and impact of new practice-relevant information, tools, or skills on their practice using a standardized learning assessment tool

Program outline

• Participants are provided with a program orientation guide, including instructional materials, soon after applying to take the Examination
• Each participant is assigned a program coach
• Coaches will supervise and assess participants’ work and attest to their completion of all required program elements by submitting a participant evaluation form to the Certification, Assessment, and Examinations Department
• Participants’ registration fee includes a one-year CFPCLearn subscription
• Participants must complete all required elements by the course deadline to be eligible to take the Examination.

CLASS program fee: $1,230 CAD
 

CLASS program withdrawal/refund policy

The portion of the CLASS program fee refunded will vary depending on the date of receipt of a written, signed withdrawal/refund request.
Candidates who withdraw from the program prior to completing either requirement will be subject to a non-refundable administration fee of $250.
Candidates who withdraw from the program after completing one requirement and before completing the second will be subject to a non-refundable administration fee of $500.

Note: Withdrawal from the CLASS program will terminate your CFPCLearn subscription. You may resubscribe for non-exam eligibility CDP if you would like.

Mainpro+® credits

Candidates will receive 20 Mainpro+ Certified Assessment credits for completing the PLP, and five Mainpro+ Certified Assessment credits for completing the Linking Learning exercise.

Linking Learning exercise

Linking Learning exercises are guided assessment activities available to all CFPC members.

Exercises can be based on any formal or informal learning and require participants to validate and critically appraise that learning before deciding whether to integrate it into their practice.

Linking Learning exercises require participants to reflect on the impact on their practice after enough time has passed to allow adequate reflection and assessment.

CLASS program participants are required to complete one Linking Learning to Practice exercise.

1. Describe the learning activity
2. Consider the information that was presented during the activity
3. Critically appraise/validate the information provided by using additional resources
4. Make a decision about your practice based the new information
5. Evaluate the impact of your decision

Professional Learning Plan

The CFPC Professional Learning Plan (PLP) is a guided certified assessment activity available to all members of the CFPC. PLP activities are offered as self-guided or peer-supported. CLASS program participants must complete a peer-supported PLP.

• Step 1: Scope of practice
• Step 2: Identify gaps
• Step 3: Set CPD goals
• Step 4: Commitment to change
• Step 5: PLP goal reflection
• Step 6: Post-reflection activity

Steps 1 to 4 guide participants through identifying a learning gap relevant to their practice and creating a goal to address that gap, with the intent to help enhance their knowledge or skills and improve patient care. Step 5 allows participants to reflect on how successful they were in achieving their goal and barriers they encountered. Step 6, the post-reflection activity, allows participants to share their overall observations and consider how they might approach their next CPD plan.

Your coach

Each CLASS program participant will be assigned a coach.

CLASS program coaches serve a dual role—providing participants with feedback and guidance to support their educational experience while also attesting to their completion of the required course elements.

Participants will be provided with their coach's name and contact information at the beginning of the program, with their program orientation materials.

Participants will be required to meet with their coach at designated times during the program to review their work.

You are in control

The choice of questions and the clinical decisions emanating from your PLP and Linking Learning exercise are up to you. You are in control of the kind of information sought, and decisions about how to change your practice according to its own particular characteristics.

Support resources

A CLASS program manual, containing detailed instruction about the CLASS program and its required elements (the PLP and the Linking Learning exercise) will be provided to all participants. Other resources include:

• A one-year subscription to CFPCLearn to assist in accessing useful CPD activities to support the Linking Learning exercise and PLP
• A coach to offer advice throughout the process

CLASS program coaches are family physicians who have expertise in critical appraisal and evidence-based family medicine. They are available by phone or email to provide any direction you might need.