Understanding Mainpro+® Certification
Effective December 16, 2024
In this section:
Introduction
All continuing professional development (CPD) programs seeking Mainpro+ certification must meet or exceed the criteria established by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)’s National Committee on Continuing Professional Development (NCCPD), and other relevant CFPC committees/groups. Standards established by bodies external to the CFPC—including the Canadian Medical Association (CMA)—are also considered when determining certification eligibility.The CFPC considers the criteria listed below to be the foundation upon which all high-quality CPD programs must begin—these are the basics of CPD programming. Individuals and groups involved in the design, development, and dissemination of CPD programming should review these documents in their entirety and understand the policies and standards contained within.
Before designing a CPD activity, all program providers and scientific planning committees (SPCs) are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Mainpro+ Certification Standards. CPD provider organizations are responsible for ensuring that activities have been designed to meet the standards prior to submitting an application for review.
The CFPC has three recognized CPD activity categories: Certified Activities, Certified Assessment Activities, and Non-Certified Activities (see samples in Table 1).
- Certified credits are awarded for activities that have been reviewed and approved by the CFPC, a CFPC Chapter, or a Canadian university’s CPD office accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education (CACME) and judged to have met the Mainpro+ standards for certified CPD
- Non-certified credits may be claimed for activities that have not been formally reviewed by the CFPC but that comply with the CFPC’s definition of CPD are non-promotional in nature, and provide valuable professional learning opportunities.
Certified Activities | Certified Assessment Activities | Non-certified Activities |
|
|
|
Activity categories
Certified Activities
Activities (seminars, conferences, clinical rounds programs, webinars, asynchronous online activities, etc.) that have been formally reviewed and approved as per the standards for certified CPD set by the CFPC.Certified Assessment Activities
Certified activities (practice audits, practice assessments, chart audits, simulation activities, etc.) in which analysis of data, including the provision or receipt of feedback, stimulates self-reflection and leads to practice/performance improvement. These may be self-directed or conducted with others.Promotion of social justice and accountability in CPD program development
Embedded within the Administrative, Ethical, and Educational standards are elements designed to encourage and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in CPD activities. The CFPC is committed to meeting the evolving health care needs of all communities and advocating for equitable health outcomes for equity deserving groups. We believe that the Mainpro+ certification standards can contribute to this commitment. We approach this work with humility and with the acknowledgement that this will be an ongoing process of feedback and quality improvement. We recognize that the requirements outlined herein may be adapted over time as we work together to seek social justice and create CPD that is equitable and inclusive, which addresses the diverse population of learners and patients in Canada.-
Application for certification
Providers seeking certification of their CPD activities must request to be an eligible provider organization via an application form available on the CERT+ platform. Refer to the Administrative Standards for details about eligible provider status. The application for eligible provider status is subject to a fee. Contact [email protected] for details.
Content review: Full content review is required for most programs seeking Mainpro+ certification. The only exceptions are single-delivery conferences, hospital or clinical rounds, journal clubs, and regularly scheduled series (live and online). CFPC Staff, Mainpro+ reviewers, and CACME accredited CPD offices may request content reviews for these activities at their discretion. -
Certification application fees
CPD providers will be charged a non-refundable application fee based on the type of activity as well as whether national or provincial certification is required. Contact [email protected] for the most up-to-date fee schedule.
Administrative Standards
All activities seeking Mainpro+® certification must meet the following standards for organizing and planning continuing professional development (CPD) activities.
In this section:
- Standard 1.0 CPD Provider Organizations
- Standard 2.0 Organization of Mainpro+ Certified Activities
- Standard 3.0 Marketing and Promotion of Mainpro+ Certified Activities
- Standard 4.0 CPD Activity Delivery
- Standard 5.0 Processes for Specific CPD Activities (Hospital/Clinical Rounds, Journal Clubs, and Faculty Development)
- Standard 6.0 Combining Activities
- Standard 7.0 Mainpro+ Certification Agreements
- Standard 8.0 Audits and Addressing Mainpro+ Certification Policy or Procedure Violations
Standard 1.0 CPD Provider Organizations
In this section:
- 1.1 Eligible CPD provider organizations
- 1.2 Ineligible CPD provider organizations
- 1.3 Application process for eligible provider organization status
- 1.4 Maintaining eligible provider status
A CPD provider organization is one that assumes responsibility and accountability for the development, delivery, and evaluation of Mainpro+ certified CPD activities. The CPD provider organization must form a scientific planning committee—independent of sponsor influence—to conduct this work. CPD provider organizations that meet the following criteria may submit applications to the CFPC and its Chapters for review and awarding of Mainpro+ credits for CPD activities they develop. University CPD offices accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education, (https://cacme-caemc.ca) a national body of which the CFPC is a member, may also certify activities in which they have had substantial involvement that respect these standards (see Administrative Standard 6.0 ).
Organizations defined
Medical education company: An entity (either for-profit or not-for-profit) whose primary business is the dissemination of education on disease states, therapies, medical products/devices, and other pertinent medical practice topics to physicians and other health care professionals. These activities may be supported by educational grants from health care/pharmaceutical industry commercial interests, other commercial entities, government agencies, or charitable foundations, or by subscription or registration fees. Examples include CPD/continuing medical education (CME) travel companies, online educators, publishing companies, and simulation companies. These entities do not provide marketing, brand recognition, advisory board support, or other services considered primarily the work of medical communication companies.
Not-for-profit physician organization: A not-for-profit group of health professionals with a formal governance structure that is accountable to and serves, among others, its physician members through CPD, provision of health care, and/or research. The physician organization is accountable to and serves, among others, its physician members through a governance structure that enables the membership to vote on strategic directions and initiatives of the organization as a whole. This definition includes, but is not limited to:
- Canadian university faculties of medicine including associated departments/divisions
- Canadian hospital departments or divisions
- Medical societies/associations
- Medical academies
- Health care research organizations
- Health authorities not linked to government agencies
- Canadian provincial/territorial medical regulatory authorities
Scientific planning committee (SPC): A group of target audience representatives responsible for identifying the educational needs of the intended target audience; developing educational objectives; selecting educational methods; selecting SPC members, speakers, moderators, facilitators and/or authors; developing and delivering content; and evaluating the outcomes of a certified CPD activity. SPCs may also include educational experts.
Health care/pharmaceutical industry (HPI) commercial interest: These for-profit entities develop, produce, market, resell, or distribute drugs, devices, products, or other health care goods, services, or therapies that may be prescribed to patients or ordered by doctors in the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, management, or palliation of health conditions. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Medical device companies
- Medical and surgical supply companies
- Producers of non-prescription health care products
- Nutrition companies (infant formula, nutritional supplements)
- Pharmacies; diet, fitness, and weight-loss companies; prosthetic and orthotic stores; hearing-test centres; home care companies; etc.
- Clinical services that are owned or controlled by any of the above entities. This category does not include medical software (electronic medical record) companies.
-
1.1 Eligible CPD provider organizations
Organizations that are eligible to offer Mainpro+ certified activities (eligible organizations) include:
- Not-for-profit physician organizations (defined above)
- Disease-oriented patient advocacy organizations
- Government departments and agencies with an interest in and responsibility for health care
- Organizations and professional associations with an interest in and responsibility for health care that do not meet the definition of an HPI commercial interest (may include physician clinics)
- Medical education companies (including online educators, publishing companies, and simulation companies) that are not subsidiaries of or in the employ of an HPI commercial interest and are not developing an activity on behalf or under the direction of an HPI commercial interest
- An SPC composed of two or more CFPC members or a single CFPC member in affiliation with one or more other health care providers for the specific purpose of creating CPD activities
-
1.2 Ineligible CPD provider organizations
Organizations that are ineligible to offer Mainpro+ certified activities (ineligible organizations) are those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care products that may be prescribed or recommended to patients. Examples of such organizations include, but are not limited to:
- Advertising, marketing, or communication firms whose clients are ineligible organizations
- HPI commercial interests (see definition above)
-
1.3 Application process for eligible provider organization status
Organizations seeking the ability to submit activities for Mainpro+ certification must apply via the online platform. This application process includes providing information that Mainpro+ certification staff will use to assess whether the CPD provider organization is an eligible provider organization, as follows:
- Describe the organization’s core mission and purpose
- Identify the organization’s primary audience/market for educational activities
- Describe the organization’s governance and organizational structure. Provide details about any affiliated companies (parent/subsidiaries).
- Describe how the organization is funded including relationships with HPI and how these relationships are mitigated
- Provide details for organizational policies and procedures that ensure adherence to the Mainpro+ Certification Standards, as well as the National Standard for Support of Accredited CPD Activities
Mainpro+ certification staff will review the application and determine whether the provider organization is eligible to submit activities for Mainpro+ certification. If it is, the provider organization will be granted eligible provider status.
In cases where the information provided by an organization is insufficient or missing relevant details, staff may request further and additional information from the provider organization to assist with the eligibility determination.
In its sole discretion, the CFPC reserves the right to refuse or revoke eligible provider status or to refuse or cancel certification of a CPD activity at any time where it is determined that the provider is an ineligible organization or has failed to fulfill some or all of the Mainpro+ Certification Standards.
If eligible provider status is refused or revoked or if an activity is cancelled, the provider organization will have an opportunity to re-apply one year after the date of refusal, revocation, or cancellation, as applicable. -
1.4 Maintaining eligible provider status
Once eligible provider status is granted, organizations are required to attest, on an annual basis, that the information they provided in their initial application has not materially changed. If material details have changed the organization may be subject to an audit or review, in the CFPC’s sole discretion. Furthermore, eligible provider organizations may be subject to a random audit, or an audit triggered as a result of a member complaint or a violation of the Mainpro+ Certification Standards in the planning or delivery of a certified activity.
Standard 2.0 Organization of Mainpro+ Certified Activities
In this section:
- 2.1 Types of certification
- 2.2 Role of the SPC
- 2.3 Eligible topics for Mainpro+ certified activities
- 2.4 Ineligible topics for Mainpro+ certified activities
- 2.5 Eligible learning formats
- 2.6 Recording participation in Mainpro+ certified activities
- 2.7 Certification periods
- 2.8 Certification statements
- 2.9 Marketing statements
-
2.1 Types of certification
Provincial certification A program categorized as provincially certified is eligible to award credits only in the province/territory where certification is granted. Its SPC must include at least one Practising class CFPC member from the province/territory of program delivery. Programs seeking provincial certification must demonstrate that the target audience is provincial/territorial in scope and the program’s marketing is restricted to participants in a single province/territory. If an out-of-province/territory participant learns about the program and takes part, they are eligible to claim the credits earned for the activity. Provincially certified activities are certified by a provincial chapter.
National certification This applies to programs that are delivered in more than one province/territory and/or have a target audience that is national in scope. A program that is nationally certified is eligible to award credits in more than one province/territory. The process of national certification also applies to programs to be delivered outside of Canada. For national certification, a program’s SPC must include at least two Practising class CFPC members. Nationally certified activities are reviewed by the CFPC.
Nationally certified activities intending to deliver CPD in Quebec must adhere to the Conseil québécois de développement professionnel continu des médecins (CQDPCM) Code of Ethics for sessions taking place in Quebec. The logistics of these sessions, along with any associated documents (including websites), should comply with these requirements. Providers planning to deliver CPD in Quebec must demonstrate how they intend to meet these requirements. For detailed information about these requirements, please refer to the CQDPCM Code of Ethics. -
2.2 Role of the SPC
All Mainpro+ certified activities must have an SPC that is representative of the activity’s target audience. The target audience must be determined in advance so that the SPC members can be selected accordingly. The SPC’s composition, ways of working, and processes for programming and selecting themes must demonstrate a commitment to social justice, social accountability, and equity, diversity, and inclusion. This includes considering balanced representation for gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation/identity. If the target audience for a CPD activity is interprofessional, we strongly encourage having an interprofessional SPC. CPD activity planners are also encouraged to include patients or family members with lived experience in the design of the CPD.
The SPC may consider data or advice from all sources, but must ensure that decision making related to the following CPD activity elements is under its exclusive control independent from financial sponsors of the activity:- Identifying educational needs of the intended target audience
- Developing learning objectives
- Selecting educational methods
- Selecting speakers, moderators, facilitators, and authors
- Developing and delivering content
- Evaluating outcomes
Substantial involvement is required by all SPC members and must be attested to by the mandatory Practising class CFPC member(s) identified in the application. Substantial involvement is confirmed when the CFPC member attests that:
- They are a member of the SPC
- They have had substantial input into the program being submitted for certification
- The program content is relevant to family medicine
- The planning, content, and delivery of the program meet pertinent ethical standards
- They have been informed of any financial or non-financial incentives associated with the program
The CFPC member(s) on the SPC will be held accountable for how a program is presented and will be required to respond to any concerns regarding standard(s) violations. Representatives of a commercial interest (e.g., pharmaceutical company, medical cannabis producers/providers, medical device company, or marketing or communication firm) cannot participate as members of the SPC, nor may they participate as observers, scribes, etc., for SPC activities or meetings.
-
2.3 Eligible topics for Mainpro+ certified activities
In addition to the clinical and therapeutic topics traditionally addressed in family physicians’ CPD activities, the following are considered acceptable topics for Mainpro+ certified programs:
- Faculty development programs that aim to improve teaching skills that are applicable to family medicine (See Mainpro+ Certification Education Standards for Faculty Development Activities)
- Programs that aim to improve primary care research skills
- Topics aimed at supporting learning goals relevant to social justice and social accountability, including anti-racism, cultural competency, cultural safety, and health equity
- Programs focusing on increasing health care provider resiliency and preventing burnout that can be linked directly to one or more CanMEDS‐FM competencies
- Practice management topics that emphasize quality assurance, patient flow, patient satisfaction, medical record keeping (including electronic), and programs designed to increase physician knowledge of billing in a practice setting
- Programs designed to increase physicians’ skills in administration in hospitals, medical organizations, or other health care organizations
- Programs on alternative health practices that are designed to increase physicians’ awareness of these techniques and how they might affect patients
-
2.4 Ineligible topics for Mainpro+ certified activities
Any topic outside the generally accepted scope of medical practice, or peripheral to it, is not acceptable for Mainpro+ certification. Such topics include, but are not limited to:
- Clinical topics outside the usual scope of practice of family physicians
- Business management topics that focus on physician benefits (e.g., personal financial planning)
- Programs on alternative health practices that are designed to teach associated techniques
- Programs that focus on self-growth or the personal development of physicians (e.g., yoga/fitness classes, life-coaching, personal grooming advice)
- Programs aimed at preparing individuals to take the College’s Certification Examination in Family Medicine or the Examination of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine (though participants can self-claim these hours for non-certified credits)
-
2.5 Eligible learning formats
CPD may be delivered in a wide variety of formats. These include, but are not limited to:
Live, in person: This is CPD delivered in a face-to-face format (e.g., conferences, workshops, in-person courses, journal clubs, clinical rounds).
Live online learning: These activities are delivered via the Internet to live audiences (e.g., webcasts of live, in-person conferences; virtual conferences; virtual workshops; virtual rounds programs; live webinars).
Asynchronous online learning: This is also known as self-study or self-paced activities. Learners access this type of CPD independently via online platforms. Examples include online module-based learning, recorded webinars with interactive elements, online simulation activities, mobile app-based learning, and virtual reality-based learning activities.
Faculty development: A broad range of activities used to renew or assist faculty, supervisors, preceptors, field instructors, and clinical educators in their roles. These activities are designed to improve an individual’s knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours related to teaching, educational administration and leadership, and scholarship.1 Scholarship is defined as those activities described in the CanMEDS-FM Scholar Role.
Hospital or clinical rounds: These scheduled education sessions are developed by hospital, health system, or academic departments and delivered from or within a hospital, clinical, or academic setting. The SPC must be accountable to a clinical or academic department head.
Journal clubs: These involve groups of physicians and other health professionals who meet on a regular schedule to review and critically evaluate recent articles in scientific and medical literature. Members of a journal club are also the SPC for the club.
Simulation based education: These provide a structured, learner-centred environment in which novice, intermediate, and advanced practitioners can learn or practise skills without causing harm to patients. Simulation exercises are followed by a feedback and debriefing session with the learners.
Small-group learning activities: These activities are planned by an organized group of physicians and other health care professionals, for approximately 12 participants or fewer, to review and discuss practice related issues. Members of the small group act as the SPC for the group.
Regularly scheduled series: These live (online or in-person) activities are planned as series with regular schedules. They can be offered outside a clinical or hospital setting and there is no restriction on the number of participants. Regularly scheduled series may be organized by eligible CPD provider organizations (see above), including medical education companies.
Non-traditional learning formats: The use of non-traditional learning models that disrupt western/Eurocentric approaches is welcomed. These can include more oral based approaches, including learning circles in the community, incorporating and supporting creative expression (e.g., creative arts therapy methods), etc. -
2.6 Recording participation in Mainpro+ certified activities
All providers of certified Mainpro+ activities must maintain attendance records and provide participants with a certificate or letter (hard copy or digital) of attendance that must clearly indicate the:
- Participant’s full name
- CPD activity or module title
- CPD provider organization name
- Activity date
- Activity location
- CERT+ session ID number
- Appropriate certification statement including the number of credits for which the session is certified (including the credits for completed optional enhanced activities when applicable)
- Signature of an official from the CPD provider organization for activities delivered in Quebec
Mainpro+ participants are required to submit proof of participation only when requested to do so by the College. However, all Mainpro+ participants and program providers should retain records for a minimum period of six years in case they are selected to participate in credit validation or program auditing.
-
2.7 Certification periods
Certified Activities will have a certification period of 12 months from the date of approval.
Certified Assessment Activities will have a certification period of 36 months from the date of approval.
Faculty Development Activities (Certified or Certified Assessment) will have a certification period of 36 months from the date of approval.
CPD providers may request extensions to certification periods by contacting the CFPC at [email protected]. Typically, one-time extensions of eight weeks are granted by request. Any other extensions shall be considered on a case-by-case basis and are at the sole discretion of the CFPC.
2.8 Certification statements
Providers may make no reference to the CFPC or to Mainpro+ certification before their program has received approval. Providers must not state or indicate “application for CFPC credits pending” nor imply it through similar wording. Use of such a reference prior to review and Mainpro+ certification is a violation of Mainpro+ standards and could trigger the Mainpro+ certification standards violation process.
Once a program has been approved,2 program providers may use the certification statements described in this section on correspondence and promotional materials. The statements must be presented exactly as they appear here, with the relevant fields filled in. To find the appropriate certification statement, start by selecting from the following options for how the program is being presented and/or certified:
-
National Mainpro+ programs offered outside of Quebec
Certified Activity or Certified Assessment Activity
This activity has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+® [Certified Activity or Certified Assessment Activity] credits.
Combined learning activity
This activity has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+® Certified Activity credits and up to [insert # of credits] Certified Assessment Activity credits.
-
Provincial Mainpro+ programs offered outside of Quebec
Certified Activity or Certified Assessment Activity
This activity has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the [insert province] Chapter for up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+® [Certified Activity or Certified Assessment Activity] credits.
Combined learning activity
This activity has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the [insert province] Chapter for up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+® Certified Activity credits and [insert # of credits] Mainpro+ Certified Assessment Activity credits.
-
National and provincial Mainpro+ programs held in Quebec
Certified Activity or Certified Assessment Activity – Nationally certified
This activity meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Quebec College of Family Physicians, a continuing professional development accrediting organization recognized by the Collège des médecins du Québec and has been approved for up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+® [Certified Activity or Certified Assessment Activity] credits.
Combined learning activity
This activity meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Quebec College of Family Physicians, a continuing professional development accrediting organization recognized by the Collège des médecins du Québec and has been approved for up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+® Certified Activity credits and for up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+ Certified Assessment Activity credits.
Certified Activity or Certified Assessment Activity – provincially certified
This activity meets the certification criteria of the Quebec College of Family Physicians, a continuing professional development accrediting organization recognized by the Collège des médecins du Québec and has been approved for up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+® [Certified Activity or Certified Assessment Activity] credits.
Combined learning activity
This activity meets the certification criteria of the Quebec College of Family Physicians, a continuing professional development accrediting organization recognized by the Collège des médecins du Québec and has been approved for up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+® Certified Activity credits and up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+ Certified Assessment Activity credits.
-
Mainpro+ Programs certified by a CACME-accredited Canadian university faculty of medicine CPD office
Certified Activity or Certified Assessment Activity
This activity meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by the [university CPD office name] for up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+® [Certified Activity OR Certified Assessment Activity] credits.
Combined learning activity
This activity meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by the [university CPD office name] for up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+® Certified Activity and up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+ Certified Assessment Activity credits.
-
Reciprocal agreement for Mainpro+ and American Academy of Family Physicians Prescribed credits
The CFPC and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) have an agreement that allows members to participate in each others’ live CPD/CME activities and claim CPD/CME credits under their own programs. That is, AAFP members can claim AAFP Prescribed credits for attending a program certified by the CFPC for Mainpro+ credits, and CFPC members can claim Mainpro+ credits for attending a program accredited by the AAFP. CPD/CME providers can explain this in their programs using the statements below.
CFPC approved activities
Members of the American Academy of Family Physicians are eligible to receive up to [insert number] Prescribed credit hours for attendance at this meeting/event due to a reciprocal agreement with the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
AAFP approved activities
Members of the College of Family Physicians of Canada are eligible to receive up to [insert number] Mainpro+® [Certified Activity/Certified Assessment Activity] credits for participation in this activity due to a reciprocal agreement with the American Academy of Family Physicians.
2.9 Marketing statements
Once a program has been approved and certified, providers may use the following brief descriptions for marketing purposes in the circumstances outlined below. No such statements may be used while a program is awaiting approval or final certification.
For programs being offered nationally and provincially (including in Quebec) and for those certified through Canadian faculty of medicine CPD offices, the following statements may be used for marketing purposes as long as the full certification statements are provided as outlined above in the full program:
- This [program/conference/activity/event] has been certified for up to [insert # of credits] Mainpro+® credits
- Earn up to [insert # of credits] certified Mainpro+® credits!
Participant certificates of attendance must use the full certification statements provided in Administrative Standard 2.8; the shorter marketing statements cannot be used for this purpose.
Similar informal marketing statements cannot be used for programs that refer to the reciprocal agreements between the CFPC and AAFP. Only the full certification statements may be used to describe these activities.
.
Standard 3.0 Marketing and Promotion of Mainpro+ Certified Activities
The Mainpro+ certification review and approval processes apply to every aspect of CPD programming, from development to delivery. The following standards outline some requirements and restrictions that apply to promotional and presentation materials.
In this section:
-
3.1 Required content of invitations and brochures
Invitations or brochures (paper or digital) about the certified CPD activity must include the following:
- Program title; must be the exact title as approved at time of certification
- Activity learning objectives
- Speaker name(s) (if applicable)
- Moderator name(s) (if applicable)
- Start and end times of the certified content
- Times at which meals and breaks occur, including how these will be managed in a virtual format (if applicable)
- Location (if applicable)
- Mainpro+ certification statement and/or marketing statement
- Financial support acknowledgement statement (if applicable)
-
3.2 General use of logos and branding
The following refers to activities delivered outside of the province of Quebec. The use of sponsor logos outside of an exhibit hall or on promotional material is prohibited for Mainpro+ certified activities delivered in Quebec.
Multi-page booklets or brochures
Sponsor logos must not be included on the cover page or title page of a multi-page booklet or brochure (print or digital).
The CFPC permits the use of sponsor logos only on the end or back page of the booklet or brochure (print or digital). Where a commercial or industry logo is used, it must not incorporate or include the name or title of a specific product. When acknowledging sponsorship, the following statement must be used: “This program has received an educational grant or in-kind support from [name(s) of funding organization(s)].”
Also, the company name or logo must not appear on the same page as the program description (e.g., its agenda, speaker information, course outline).
When using logos as part of advertising/promotional materials for a Mainpro+ certified event, the size of text in the sponsor logo(s) must not exceed 100 per cent of the body text font size used in the advertisement or brochure.Single-page brochures, posters, flyers (print or digital)
For single-page brochures, posters, or flyers, sponsors may be acknowledged at the bottom of the document in an unobtrusive manner. The following approved sponsor acknowledgement statement must be used: “This program has received an educational grant or in-kind resources from [name(s) of funding organization(s)].” Logos may not be used in this instance.
-
3.3 Use of the CFPC logo
The CFPC trademarks, including the CFPC or Mainpro+ logos, may not be used without explicit, written consent from the CFPC through a trademark licence agreement. Mainpro+ certification does not confer the right to use the CFPC logo.
-
3.4 Advertisements
Advertisements and promotional materials may be included in programs (print or digital) or on CPD event handouts (print or digital) only if they are:
- Included at the end of the document (final pages only)
- Not facing any page containing certified educational content (agenda, speaker information, course outline, etc.)
- Marked clearly as advertising/promotion
- Not product-specific advertising
-
3.5 Websites
Brochures, programs, and promotional websites for Mainpro+ certified events may not be housed or advertised on a sponsor or ineligible provider organization website, including online registration pages for Mainpro+ certified events. For example, “www.pharmaX.com/Mainpro+_events” is not acceptable.
Where a website for Mainpro+ certified events includes an active link to non-certified materials, content, or services, it must provide a pop-up warning to inform the user that the site and content are not part of the Mainpro+ certified program site and content.
In addition, the following conditions apply:- The destination page must appear in a new window or tab
- Users must have the option to not click on an advertisement or link; the advertisement or link cannot be established in such a manner that requires the user to click on the advertisement or link to proceed
Sponsor and/or product logos must not be included on the home page or front page of the website for a Mainpro+ certified event. The CFPC requires that when logos are used, they are reserved for a separate supporter acknowledgement web page/tab. The company name or logo should not be on the same web page as the Mainpro+ certified program (e.g., agenda, speaker information, course outline). Product-specific logos or branding may not be used in any capacity.
Standard 4.0 CPD Activity Delivery
CPD providers are required to ensure that Mainpro+ certified activities are delivered according to the Mainpro+ certification standards.
In this section:
-
4.1 Modifying approved content
Once an activity has been certified for Mainpro+, changes cannot be made to the activity without explicit, written consent from the CFPC. No modification is acceptable (beyond the correction of spelling or grammatical errors)—including modifying or adding data points to a chart, changing the colour or theme of slides, inserting new studies, revising case studies, etc.
Failure to deliver a program in the exact manner in which the program was reviewed and certified might result in revocation of certification status or other such penalties. If changes or modifications to a certified program are required, the program provider must notify the CFPC and seek permission accordingly. If changes are deemed by the Chapter or CFPC to be substantial, the program must be resubmitted for review and certification (along with payment of the administrative fee plus applicable GST/HST). -
4.2 Faculty/presenter compliance
CPD providers must stipulate specific instructions to faculty and presenters regarding their involvement in the program and its delivery. Without this guidance many programs are faced with certification compliance challenges when faculty and presenters take liberties with the content and activities and modify them to meet their personal needs or beliefs. Specifically, faculty and speakers must be provided with the following:
- The CFPC-approved learning objectives for the program
- A copy of all CFPC-approved materials associated with the program (e.g., slides, handouts, evaluations)
- Details on the CFPC-approved program format/teaching methodologies (e.g., small-group activities, lecture)
- Information about the target audience (e.g., experience level)
- Instruction on the requirement to deliver the program and associated content/materials only in the manner in which the program was approved.
Representatives of an HPI commercial interest (e.g., pharmaceutical company, medical cannabis producer/provider, medical device company) cannot assume the role of a facilitator, speaker, and/or instructor for any Mainpro+ certified program under any circumstances. Industry (pharmaceutical/biotechnology company) representatives may attend live certified CPD programs as non-contributing members to the discussion to provide logistical support such as facilitating registration, audiovisual set-up, seating, and distribution of certificates of attendance. Industry representatives may attend a live certified program only with the consent of the SPC chair and only if seating remains, preferably at the back of the room. These individuals may be identified as exhibitors, or sponsors via a name tag but cannot be wearing corporate branded clothing or paraphernalia during a live event. For virtual events, representatives should make reasonable efforts to identify themselves (e.g., changing zoom name to include Sponsor or Exhibitor).
-
4.3 Maintaining activity records
CPD providers are responsible for maintaining records related to the certified activity, for an activity audit and help with quality improvement should the activity be repeated. CPD providers must retain copies of completed evaluation forms or response summaries for at least one year after the activity is presented as the CFPC may require submission of evaluation results for audit or other purposes.
The CFPC recommends that organizers provide a summary of the evaluations to all speakers and presenters for personal and professional development. Participants’ feedback must be used by CPD providers to improve future presentations of the program and evidence of this must be demonstrated in subsequent applications for certification.
CPD providers must track records of registration for certified activities and provide proof of registration to participants.- CPD providers should retain attendance records for a minimum of six years in case participants are selected to participate in credit validation or the activity is selected for an audit
Standard 5.0 Processes for Specific CPD Activities
Some types of CPD activities have additional or exceptional requirements that differ from what is required of all other activities. These exceptions are highlighted below.
In this section:
- 5.1 Faculty development activities
- 5.2 Hospital or clinical rounds, and journal clubs
- 5.3 Medical regulatory authority (MRA)-developed quality improvement and practice assessment activities
5.1 Faculty development activities
Activities that meet the definition of faculty development should refer to the Education Standards for Faculty Development Activities for detailed certification requirements.
5.2 Hospital or clinical rounds, and journal clubs
These activities must adhere to the Mainpro+ certification standards in their development and delivery; however, these activities have a simplified application and review process. The application is attestation based and requires the following documents for submission:
- Copies of the program/session evaluation form/format
- Program invitation or brochure/agenda/schedule
- List of intended topics for discussion or list of topics presented in previous year
- Template of participant letter of attendance
The SPC for hospital/clinical rounds must be accountable to the department head, chief of staff, or equivalent. Both hospital/clinical rounds and journal clubs will undergo an administrative review and will not be subject to a peer review.
5.3 Medical regulatory authority (MRA)-developed quality improvement and practice assessment activities
Contact [email protected] for details about the simplified process for certifying these activities. Please note that all other MRA CPD activities should be certified through the usual process.
Standard 6.0 Combining Activities
When planning CPD activities, providers may need to source content and speakers from outside of their organizations. They may, on occasion, wish to combine certified and non-certified activities as part of a single event. The following standards outline what is permissible for Mainpro+ certified activities.
In this section:
- 6.1 Combining separately certified activities
- 6.2 Non-certified CPD activities
- 6.3 Promotion of non-certified CPD activities
- 6.4 Other non-certified activities
-
6.1 Combining separately certified activities
CPD providers cannot create a new CPD activity by combining certified activities from other provider organizations and marketing these as a new activity. CPD activities (in any delivery format) that include two or more individually certified Mainpro+ activities must be certified in their entirety and must conform to certification standards. These activities created out of combined certified activities must be planned and organized by an eligible CPD provider organization with an SPC, valid needs assessment, learning objectives, and overall activity evaluation. If sponsors are sought for these activities, the sponsorship agreements must be arranged with the eligible provider organization responsible for the activity.
-
6.2 Non-certified CPD activities
If during the certification application process the provider knows that both certified and non-certified CPD sessions will be offered in the program, the provider must include this information with the application. Non-certified CPD activities cannot be scheduled to take place at times and locations that interfere or compete with certified CPD activities. When planning for different sessions, providers must group all the certified sessions separately from all the non-certified sessions. For example, all certified sessions can be held in the morning (or first in the series of sessions) and all non-certified sessions in the afternoon (or at the end of the series of sessions) or vice versa.
-
6.3 Promotion of non-certified CPD activities
In the invitations and marketing material (paper-based and online/digital), the certified sessions must be clearly identified as being certified by the CFPC as per the current Mainpro+ certification standards. Non-certified CPD activities cannot be listed or included within activity agendas, programs, or calendars of events (preliminary and final) that include certified activities. Non-certified CPD sessions must be listed separately and identified as being non-certified by the CFPC. Non-certified CPD activities can be listed in a separate tab in an app or in a separate section in a printed program. Inserts about the activity can also be placed in the registrants’ packages. In each of these cases, it should be clear to the participants that these activities are not certified and may be sponsored by a commercial interest. Non-certified CPD activities funded with for-profit support must use the following statement: “This session is not certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.” Non-certified CPD activities funded with support from non-profit organizations may use the following statement: “This activity has not been formally reviewed by the CFPC; however, it is eligible for non-certified credits. Mainpro+ participants may also earn additional certified credits by completing a Linking Learning exercise.”
-
6.4 Other non-certified activities
Non-certified activities that are not CPD activities can be listed in the preliminary and final programs. The following are examples of non-certified activities that can be listed in the preliminary and final programs:
- Paid lunches/breaks sponsored by commercial interests can be listed as “Non-certified sponsored lunch/break” with no reference to the sponsor’s name
- Non-certified poster sessions during breaks may be noted with an explanation that viewing posters is eligible for non-certified Mainpro+ credits (see 6.3)
- Committee or annual general meetings
- Streams developed for allied health care professionals in the scientific program that are not certified for Mainpro+ credits
Standard 7.0 Mainpro+ Certification Agreements
This section contains information about organizations to which the CFPC has granted Mainpro+ certifying authority or Mainpro+ credit equivalency.
In this section:
- 7.1 Canadian university CPD departments and offices
- 7.2 The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
- 7.3 Collège des médecins du Québec
- 7.4 American Academy of Family Physicians
-
7.1 Canadian university CPD departments and offices
The Committee on Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education (CACME) is an independent, national accrediting body with representation from many national Canadian medical organizations (including the CFPC), and its sole mandate is to evaluate university CPD offices. CACME-accredited Canadian university CPD offices have the authority to assign certified Mainpro+ credits to activities and programs into which they or their faculty have had substantial input regarding planning, organizing, developing, and implementing. The activity or program in question must meet the criteria for Mainpro+ certification and the university CPD office must demonstrate its ability to review the activity appropriately using the Mainpro+ criteria.
University CPD offices may confer certification for the following CPD programs:- Provincially delivered in-person or online Certified Activities and Certified Assessment Activities (provided they meet all relevant established Mainpro+ criteria, including having one Practising class CFPC member on the SPC)
- National online asynchronous Certified Activities and Certified Assessment Activities (provided they meet all relevant established Mainpro+ criteria, including having a minimum of two Practising class CFPC members on the SPC)
- Nationally marketed live in-person or live virtual conferences (provided they meet all relevant established Mainpro+ criteria, including having a minimum of two Practising class CFPC members on the SPC)
-
7.2 The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College) offers the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program for Canadian physician specialists. Canadian national specialty societies are accredited by the Royal College to deliver CPD activities that Royal College members may claim for MOC Section 1 and MOC Section 3 Royal College credits.
CFPC Affiliate members (members whose specialty is not family medicine) may count Royal College credits toward their Mainpro+ credit requirements. All other CFPC members may claim up to 50 certified credits per cycle for participation in Royal College MOC Section 1 and Section 3 accredited activities. -
7.3 Collège des médecins du Québec
The CFPC accepts all activities certified by the CPD-accrediting organizations recognized by the Collège des médecins du Québec (one hour equals one credit).
-
7.4 American Academy of Family Physicians
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is the accrediting body for family medicine CPD in the United States.
The CFPC and AAFP have a bilateral reciprocal accreditation agreement, which means that:- AAFP members who complete any CME/CPD activity certified by the CFPC for Mainpro+ Certified Activities or Certified Assessment Activities credit can claim the equivalent number of AAFP Prescribed credits:
- CPD providers promoting their program(s) to AAFP members may remind them of this reciprocal agreement
- Upon written confirmation from the CFPC that a program has been certified, the following statement may be used in program materials but must be presented exactly as indicated: “Members of the American Academy of Family Physicians are eligible to receive up to ____ Prescribed credit hours for attendance at this meeting/event due to a reciprocal agreement with the College of Family Physicians of Canada.”
- CFPC members who complete any CME/CPD activity certified by the AAFP for Formal Prescribed credits can claim the equivalent number of Mainpro+ certified credits
- CFPC members who complete any CME/CPD activity certified by the AAFP for Formal Elective credits can claim the equivalent number of Mainpro+ non-certified credits:
- CPD providers promoting their programs to CFPC members may remind them of this reciprocal agreement
- Upon written confirmation from the AAFP that a program has been accredited, the following statement may be used in program materials but must be presented exactly as indicated: “Members of the College of Family Physicians of Canada are eligible to receive up to ___Mainpro+ [enter activity category Certified Activity/Certified Assessment Activity] credits for participation in this activity due to a reciprocal agreement with the American Academy of Family Physicians.”
- CPD activities held in both Canada and the United States are accredited/certified according to the nationality of the primary target audience (regardless of where the providers are located). The programs will be reviewed according to the criteria of the accrediting organization:
- The CFPC certifies the activity if the primary target audience is Canadian:
- If the activity is to be held in Canada and delivered by an American provider, certification is done through the appropriate provincial CFPC Chapter
- If the activity is to be held in the United States and delivered by a Canadian provider, certification is coordinated through the CFPC National Office
- The CFPC will inform the AAFP of all such programs
- Canadian university CPD offices may assign Mainpro+ credits to programs they organize and then offer in the United States as long as the primary target audience is Canadian. They must inform the CFPC National Office of all such programs; the CFPC will then inform the AAFP.
- The AAFP accredits the activity if the primary target audience is American:
- This is true if the activity is to be held in the United States and delivered by a Canadian provider or if it is to be held in Canada and delivered by an American provider
- The AAFP will inform the CFPC of all such programs held in Canada
- AAFP members who complete any CME/CPD activity certified by the CFPC for Mainpro+ Certified Activities or Certified Assessment Activities credit can claim the equivalent number of AAFP Prescribed credits:
Standard 8.0 Audits and Addressing Mainpro+ Certification Policy or Procedure Violations
Providers of Mainpro+ certified activities must agree to submit to an audit of their activity upon request by the CFPC CPD department. It is at the discretion of the CFPC CPD team to determine whether a live audit or post-activity audit is required.
If when delivering a Mainpro+ certified activity, a CPD provider (individual and/or company) or speaker acting on behalf of a CPD provider is found to be in violation of the CFPC’s standards for Mainpro+ certification (the standards and requirements outlined in this document, including the appropriate use of the Mainpro+ certification statement), the provider will be subject to investigation with consequences outlined in the standards below.
In this section:
- 8.1 Live activity audit
- 8.2 Post-activity audit
- 8.3 Audit results
- 8.4 Provider organization audits
- 8.5 Consequence of provider organization audits
- 8.6 Consequences of violations in the provider eligibility review or audit process
- 8.7 Managing violations in Mainpro+ Certified Activities
- 8.8 Appeal Process
-
8.1 Live activity audit
CPD providers must agree to allow CFPC Mainpro+ auditors to attend their activity and conduct an audit for compliance with the Mainpro+ certification standards.
-
8.2 Post-activity audit
CPD providers must agree to submit to a post-activity audit at the request of the CFPC. During the post-activity audit providers will be required to submit the following materials to the CFPC for review:
- All promotional materials related to the activity
- Record of SPC meeting minutes
- Attendance list for the activity
- Evaluation results
- Copies of the conflict-of-interest disclosures made to the audience
- Copies of the material delivered and/or recordings of the activity (if applicable/available)
- Copies of any sponsor acknowledgement/promotion that occurred during the activity (if applicable)
- Copies of speaker/presenter communications
- Copy of letters of participation issued to participants
- Other material deemed relevant by the CFPC
-
8.3 Audit results
After an activity audit is completed, CPD providers will be determined to be compliant, partially complaint, or non-compliant with the Mainpro+ certification standards for the activity in question.
Compliant activities – A notice of compliance will be issued by the CFPC to the CPD provider and SPC.
Partially compliant activities – A notice of partial compliance will be issued to the CPD provider and SPC. The CPD provider will have 10 business days to respond to the notice of non-compliance and must present a plan to achieve compliance before the activity is either delivered again or re-submitted for certification. The notice of partial compliance will be filed with the activity as well as the provider organization records in CERT+. Repeated partial compliance may lead to suspension or removal of eligible provider status.
Non-compliant activities - A notice of non-compliance will be issued to the CPD provider and SPC . Certification of the activity will be suspended, and the activity cannot be delivered until the issues of non-compliance are resolved. If the incidents of non-compliance are deemed serious enough, certification may be revoked at the CFPC’s discretion. The non-compliance report will be filed with the activity record and CPD provider record in CERT+. Multiple instances of non-compliant activities may result in suspension or removal of eligible provider status. -
8.4 Provider organization audits
Eligible provider organizations may be subject to a random audit, or an audit triggered as a result of a member complaint or a violation of the Mainpro+ Certification Standards in the planning or delivery of a certified activity. An organizational audit may also be triggered as the result of material changes revealed through the annual organizational record attestation.
-
8.5 Consequence of provider organization audits
The provider organization audit will be conducted to ensure that any changes made to the structure of a provider organization have not impacted the organization’s eligibility as a provider of Mainpro+ certified CPD activities. If material changes have occurred in the organization revised documentation may be requested and reviewed. A successful audit will result in no changes to an organization’s eligibility. If the audit determines that changes to the organization are such that the organization no longer meets the definition of an eligible provider organization, their eligible provider status will be revoked and access to the CERT+ platform removed.
-
8.6 Consequences of violations in the provider eligibility review or audit process
Eligible CPD provider organizations that are found to be in violation of the Mainpro+ Certification Standards or have provided false statements or information during the eligibility review or organizational audit process may have their eligibility status suspended or removed at the CFPC’s discretion. Providers with suspended or revoked status will have the certification of their existing activities suspended and will be unable to submit new activities for certification for the period of the suspension or, in the case of revoked eligibility, for the next 12 months.
8.7 Managing violations in Mainpro+ Certified Activities
Any contravention of the Mainpro+ Certification Standards that occurs in the planning, design, delivery, or evaluation of Mainpro+ Certification Standards is considered a violation of the standards and will be investigated and adjudicated according to the following process.
-
8.7.1 First violation
When the CFPC is made aware of a violation of the Mainpro+ Certification Standards and the investigation concludes that a violation has taken place, the CFPC will issue a written warning detailing the violation to the CPD provider organization. The CPD provider organization must provide evidence of efforts to correct and remediate the violation and respond to the warning with details of how they have taken or will take steps to ensure compliance with Mainpro+ standards within 10 business days following receipt of the warning. Failure of the CPD provider to supply evidence of amendments, institute corrective action, and/or respond to the warning within 10 business days may result in second violation actions. Where the CFPC deems the violation to be significant or that it cannot be remedied, the CFPC reserves the right to withdraw certification from the activity to prevent further delivery as a Mainpro+ certified activity. CFPC members would not be permitted to claim Mainpro+ credits for their participation.
-
8.7.2 Second violation
When the CFPC is made aware of a second violation connected to either the same or a different activity from a CPD provider organization within a calendar year and the investigation concludes a violation has taken place, the CFPC will issue a written warning. A copy of this warning will be distributed to all CFPC provincial Chapters and members of the National Committee on Continuing Professional Development (NCCPD). Within 10 business days of receiving the warning, the CPD provider must supply evidence of efforts to correct and remediate the violation and respond to the warning with details of how they have or will put into place measures to ensure compliance with Mainpro+ standards. Failure on the part of the CPD provider to supply evidence of amendments, institute corrective action, and/or respond to the warning within the 10-business-day time frame may result in subsequent violation actions. Where the CFPC deems the violation to be significant or that it cannot be remedied, the CFPC reserves the right to withdraw certification from the activity to prevent further delivery as a Mainpro+ certified activity. CFPC members would not be permitted to claim Mainpro+ credits for their participation.
-
8.7.3 Subsequent violations
When the CFPC is made aware of a subsequent violation within a calendar year connected to either the same or a different activity from a CPD provider organization and the investigation concludes a violation has taken place, the CFPC will take one or more of the following actions, depending on the nature of the violation, at its sole discretion:
- Revoking the certification of any programs offered by the provider for which any subsequent violations are related and which are currently certified for Mainpro+ credits. CFPC members would not be permitted to claim Mainpro+ credits for their participation.
- A 12-month suspension of the organization’s eligible provider status, during which time no new programs may be submitted for Mainpro+ certification/re-certification. Certification would be removed from all activities currently listed for the provider.
- Revocation of eligible provider status
- If the activity or activities in question have sponsorship by organizations that are members of Innovative Medicines Canada, a written complaint will be filed with that organization
8.8 Appeal Process
Should a CPD provider organization wish to appeal the results of a violation notice or decision, they must provide a written appeal to the CFPC Director of CPD.
- Submission of Appeal: Any provider may initiate the appeal process by submitting a written appeal to the Director via [email protected] within 10 business days from the date of the decision being appealed. The appeal must include a clear statement of the decision being appealed, the reasons for the appeal, and any supporting documentation.
- Review by the CFPC’s NCCPD (the Appeals Committee): Upon receiving an appeal, the Appeals Committee will convene to review the request. The Appeals Committee will be composed of [number] individuals who are independent from and not directly involved in the decision being appealed. The Appeals Committee will conduct a fair and impartial review of the appeal.
- Additional Information: The Appeals Committee may request additional information or documentation from the appellant or relevant parties to ensure a thorough understanding of the situation.
- Decision on Appeal: Following the review, the Appeals Committee will make a decision based on the information provided and taking into consideration the Mainpro+ Certification Standards. The decision will be communicated in writing to the appellant within 30 days from the conclusion of the review.
- Finality of Decision: The decision reached through the appeal process is considered final and binding, concluding the matter in question.
- Confidentiality: All parties involved in the appeal process are expected to treat the information shared during the process with confidentiality and discretion.
Ethical Standards
All activities seeking Mainpro+ certification must meet the following standards for the organizing and planning of CPD activities.
In this section:
- Standard 1.0 Managing Conflict of Interest
- Standard 2.0 Disclosure to Participants
- Standard 3.0 Receiving Financial Support and In-kind Support
- Standard 4.0 Recognizing Financial and in-kind Support
- Standard 5.0 Managing Promotion in Mainpro+ Certified Activities
Standard 1.0 Managing Conflict of Interest
The CFPC requires compliance with the National Standard for Support of Accredited CPD Activities, which describes the process and requirements for gathering, managing, and disclosing conflicts of interest (COI) to participants.
In this section:
Definitions
Conflict of interest: A COI is a set of conditions in which judgment or decisions concerning a primary interest (e.g., patient welfare, validity of research, quality of medical education) are unduly influenced by a secondary interest (such as personal or organizational benefit including financial gain, academic or career advancement, or other benefits to family, friends, or colleagues).
Perceived conflict of interest: A perceived COI is the appearance of a COI as judged by outside observers, regardless of whether an actual COI exists.
Real conflict of interest: A real COI is when two or more interests are indisputably in conflict. An identified real COI always requires a bias mitigation strategy.
Standard 1.1
All members of the scientific planning committee (SPC), speakers, moderators, facilitators, and authors must give the CPD provider organization a written description (using a COI form) of all relationships with for-profit and not-for-profit organizations over the previous two years including (but not necessarily limited to):
a) Any direct financial payments including receipt of honoraria
b) Membership on advisory boards or speakers’ bureaus
c) Funded grants or clinical trials
d) Patents on a drug, product, or device
All other investments or relationships that could be seen by a reasonable, well-informed participant as having the potential to influence the content of the activity.
Standard 1.2
All completed original forms must be retained by the party submitting the program for Mainpro+ certification (referred to after this as the CPD provider or CPD organizer) for 12 months following certification expiry, so that the forms are available if the CFPC audits the program.
Standard 1.3
Scientific planning committee forms: Completed forms for each SPC member must be submitted when applying for certification.
Standard 1.4
The SPC is responsible for reviewing all disclosed financial relationships of speakers, moderators, facilitators, and authors before the CPD activity occurs to determine whether action is required to manage and mitigate any potential or real COI. The SPC must also have procedures to follow if a COI comes to its attention before or during the CPD activity. These procedures and strategies must be described in the application for Mainpro+ certification.
Standard 2.0 Disclosure to Participants
In this section:
Standard 2.1
All members of the SPC, speakers, moderators, facilitators, and authors must disclose to participants their relationships as described in 1.1. A disclosure must be made to the participants regarding whether or not there is a relationship, using the CFPC COI slide template. For all identified COIs or potential for bias, the SPC must develop and disclose a mitigation strategy to share with participants.
Standard 2.2
Any individual who fails to disclose their relationships as described in 1.1 and 2.1 cannot participate as a member of the SPC, speaker, moderator, facilitator, or an author of a certified CPD activity.
Standard 2.2.1
There may be occasions when alternative forms of disclosure are considered, to safeguard cultural and psychological safety and make sure that equity deserving groups continue to be represented on SPCs and/or as faculty in CPD activities. CPD provider organizations are invited to make these considerations and discuss alternatives with the CFPC.
Standard 2.3
For live speaker/moderator led activities, verbal and written disclosures of conflict must be made at the beginning of the presentation. Such disclosures should also be documented in the slide deck using the elements described in the CFPC COI slide template. If slides are not used, the disclosures must be included in written program materials. If the activity is asynchronous, disclosure must be included in written program materials (e.g., disclosure tab on course website, workbook, reading material) as applicable.
Standard 2.4
For both written and verbal disclosures, there are three elements that must be disclosed to CPD activity participants. Applicants for Mainpro+ certification must provide a sample of how disclosure(s) will be made to the activity participants. Template COI slides are available from the CFPC. For large conferences/symposia with multiple sessions and speakers, information for participants about financial support for the entire program needs to be presented once at the beginning of the program and in written program materials. Individual speakers in such programs need only to present information about their own relationships (or lack thereof). The format of the disclosure should follow the three steps below.
-
Disclosure of financial and in-kind support for the activity as a whole
Provide a specific outline of support for the development/presentation of the activity from external organizations (for-profit and not-for-profit)—including educational grants and in-kind services (e.g., logistics). Specific connections that a reasonable program participant might consider relevant to the presentation (e.g., the sponsor makes a product that could be germane to the presentation) should be included.
-
Faculty/presenter disclosure
Provide the speaker’s name and describe any relationships with for-profit and not-for-profit interests (e.g., grants/research support, consulting fees, honoraria, membership on advisory boards, patents, other financial relationships, etc.).
-
Mitigation of bias strategy
Describe the process the SPC uses to reflect on potential sources of bias in the presentation. When a potential source of bias is determined, the mitigation strategy should be described as well, including a consideration of conflicts related to moderators/speakers when applicable. Speakers should not be creating their own mitigation strategies. If no conflicts or potential for bias were identified by the SPC the presentation of this slide is not required.
Standard 3.0 Receiving Financial Support and In-kind Support
In this section:
Standard 3.1
The CPD provider organization or SPC is responsible for the oversight of any financial and in-kind support for the development of a Mainpro+ certified CPD activity including accountability for the budget, expenditure(s), and deliverables of any financial agreement.
Standard 3.2
The SPC cannot be required to accept advice from a sponsor, advertiser, or exhibitor as a condition of receiving financial and/or in-kind support. Specific interests of any sponsor or exhibitor must have no direct or indirect influence on any aspect of the development, delivery, or evaluation of a Mainpro+ certified CPD activity.
Standard 3.3
The terms, conditions, and purposes by which sponsorship is provided must be documented in a written agreement signed by the CPD provider organization or SPC and the sponsor.
Standard 3.4
It is not permissible to include content created by health care pharmaceutical industry (HPI) organizations or agencies working on their behalf in Mainpro+ certified activities, nor is it permissible to solicit content for Mainpro+ certified activities as part of a sponsorship prospectus.
Standard 3.5
The CPD provider organization, physician organization, or SPC may receive sponsorship funds directly or may choose to enter into a written agreement with a third party (that is not a health care pharmaceutical company commercial interest) for receiving any financial or in-kind support.
Standard 3.6
The CPD provider organization or SPC can assume or delegate to a third party (with the exception of a health care industry commercial interest) the payment of travel, lodging, legitimate out of pocket expenses, and any honoraria offered to members of the SPC, speakers, moderators, facilitators, and/or authors. The CPD provider organization or the SPC must approve what payments are delegated and retain overall accountability for these payments.
Standard 3.7
The CPD provider organization, physician organization, or SPC may choose to delegate the payment of logistical expenses (such as audiovisual arrangements, venue rental fees, catering, etc.) to a program sponsor that may be a commercial interest. This delegation should be expressed via contract agreements with the sponsor/commercial interest.
Standard 3.8
Any incentive provided to participants associated with a Mainpro+ certified CPD activity must be approved by the CPD provider organization. This includes any contests, app gamification, or other tools used to encourage registration or attract participants to exhibit booths or sponsored activities. Participants (who are not members of the SPC, speakers, moderators, facilitators, and/or authors) cannot accept payment or subsidies for their travel, lodging, or other out of pocket expenses to participate in an accredited CPD activity. This provision does not preclude participants claiming and receiving compensation from residency programs, employers, or provincial/territorial CPD support funds, even when activities they attend have received support from these sources.
Standard 3.9
The travel, lodging, or other out of pocket expenses of spouses, partners, or other family members of the SPC, speakers, moderators, facilitators, authors, or participants cannot be paid for or subsidized by the CPD provider organization, sponsor, or any organization hired by a sponsor.
Standard 3.10
Social activities associated with CPD activities cannot occur at a time or location that interferes/competes with or takes precedence over Mainpro+ certified CPD activities.
Standard 3.11
CPD providers must submit a budget detailing how the financial and in-kind support was/will be used for the Mainpro+ certified CPD activity.
Standard 3.12
The CPD provider organization or SPC must make sure that their interactions with sponsors meet professional and legal standards including privacy protection, confidentiality, copyright, and contractual law regulations. The CPD provider organization or SPC must implement appropriate policies and procedures to demonstrate that their interactions with sponsors meet these professional and legal standards.
Standard 4.0 Recognizing Financial and in-kind Support
In this section:
Standard 4.1
The SPC must recognize and disclose to participants all financial and in-kind support received from sponsors as part of a sponsorship acknowledgement separate from the educational content.
Standard 4.2
Beyond the standard acknowledgement statement of financial and in-kind support outlined in 4.1, linking or aligning a sponsor’s name (or other branding strategies) to a specific educational session or section of an educational program within a certified learning activity is prohibited.
Standard 4.3
The acceptable standard acknowledgment statement is as follows:
This program has received an educational grant or in-kind support from (name(s) of funding organization(s)).
Standard 5.0 Managing Promotion in Mainpro+ Certified Activities
(see also Administrative Standard 3.0 Marketing and Promotion of Mainpro+ certified activities)
The separation of promotion from education is critical in Mainpro+ activities. To ensure compliance with these standards, providers must submit the following with their application:
- A list of all program funders
- A list of the funders’ products discussed in the program
- A sample of the funders’ product packaging, company logos, and associated colours for comparison purposes
In this section:
Standard 5.1
Regardless of the activity format, sponsors’ logos, colours, or colour schemes commonly associated with one or more of its products are not permitted on printed or digital materials used to facilitate a Mainpro+ certified CPD activity.
Standard 5.2
Sponsor-specific advertising, promotional materials, or branding strategies cannot be included at or appear in locations where certified CPD sessions are occurring (e.g., live or virtual lecture halls, small-group discussion rooms) immediately before, during, or immediately after a certified CPD activity.
Standard 5.3
Commercial exhibits or advertisements must be arranged in a location that is clearly and completely separated from the Mainpro+ certified CPD activity.
Education Standards
In this section:
- Mainpro+ Education Standards and Quality Criteria – Certified Activities
- Mainpro+ Education Standards and Quality Criteria – Certified Assessment Activities
Certified Activities
Activities (seminars, conferences, clinical rounds programs, webinars, asynchronous online activities, etc.) that have been formally reviewed and approved as per the standards for certified continuing professional development (CPD) set by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).
Quality Criterion 1: Needs Assessment and Practice Relevance
-
Educational design and delivery requirements
Needs assessment:
- Required for each activity, this is an assessment of perceived and unperceived learning needs of the target audience and is used to guide program development
- Used to obtain information about current knowledge and practice experience as well as potential barriers to implementing change
- Addresses gaps in physician competency through CanMEDS-FM competencies
- Should ensure that it has considered the diverse needs of both the target audience of learners as well as the patients they treat when creating the program
Learning objectives:
- Required for each activity
- Must be tied to the needs assessment results and demonstrate what a learner will be able to do after completing the activity
- Must be written in a measurable and learner-centred format addressing CanMEDS-FM competencies identified in the needs assessment
-
Examples of compliance
Needs assessment data can be gathered by:
- Surveys
- Literature reviews
- Critical event reports
- Reports of near misses
- Referral patterns
- Gap analysis
- Focus groups/interviews
- Epidemiological data analysis
- Evaluation of feedback from previous educational events
Learning objectives can be created using:
- Bloom’s taxonomy
- Moore’s level of outcome measurement
- Kirkpatrick, ADDIE model, etc.
Examples of integrating the needs of diverse target audience and the perspectives of patients and family members and/or support networks:
- Assess the diversity of practice settings where family physicians work, considering urban, rural, and suburban contexts
- When conducting needs assessments, collect (non-identifiable) demographic data that allows learners to self-identify if they belong to a systematically marginalized and under-represented identity group (e.g., Indigeneity, race, citizenship status, gender identity, sexuality, ability and health status, language) to help to better understand the needs of diverse groups
- The planning committee could include representatives of patients and families and/or their support networks or people with lived experience, or evidence that patient or family/support network input has contributed to the needs assessment creation
- Gather patient feedback through surveys or interviews to understand their perspectives
- Analyze patient demographic data to identify cultural groups that may be underserved or face communication challenges
- Incorporate patient stories and perspectives into the needs assessment to highlight specific challenges faced by diverse patient populations
Submitters must include the following with their application related to this criterion:
- Evidence that a needs assessment was performed including a description of how data regarding family physician knowledge, skills, and/or behaviour gaps in CanMEDS-FM competencies were acquired and what learning needs were identified
- A description of how the planning committee members were selected and how they represent the target audience
- An explanation of how the diversity of patient populations and learners were considered/addressed in the needs assessment process. If this was not addressed in the needs assessment process providers will be asked to explain what barriers they encountered and how they could include this for future programs.
- The sources used to ensure both perceived and unperceived needs are identified
- A description of how the learning objectives and CanMEDS-FM competencies are relevant to the needs assessment results
-
Educational design and delivery requirements
- At least 25 per cent of the program must contain active learning elements. In addition to other active learning elements, the following requirements apply to specific learning formats:
- Live in-person/virtual activities must include interactivity with other participants and a facilitator
- Asynchronous independent learning activities must include a means for participants to ask questions and receive answers about the material being taught
- Program providers must demonstrate how the learning objectives are achievable considering the participants’ current level of knowledge and skills and how this is supported by the learning activity design including resources and time frames
- All activities should allow participants to engage actively with the subject matter through the incorporation of interactive tools (see examples below)
- To promote social justice education, the program design should consider issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) to create learning activities that demonstrate acknowledgment of racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity, as well as other identities
- It should consider information and perspectives from various cultural, social, and demographic backgrounds
- Instructional and learning design should accommodate different learning preferences, abilities, challenges, interests, and background knowledge
- Program providers should consider options to accommodate learners who may experience barriers to learning due to physical limitations and may request accommodation
- At least 25 per cent of the program must contain active learning elements. In addition to other active learning elements, the following requirements apply to specific learning formats:
-
Examples of compliance
Some examples of active learning for live in-person/virtual include:
- Audience Q & A period
- Audience response systems
- Case discussions
- Practice-based scenarios
Some examples of active learning for asynchronous online activities include:
- Quizzes and multiple-choice questions built into online program content
- Interactive, multi-scenario case exercises
- Game-based learning
- Immersive scenarios
- Discussion boards
Demonstration of learning format appropriateness can include:
- Slide count is reasonable for the time frame of program
- Appropriateness of content for online learning versus in person
- Simulation used to teach technique versus didactic lecture
Some examples of incorporation of social justice education and/or inclusive education can include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Accessible learning environment:
- Colours and contrast are accessible to learners with low-vision and colour-vision deficiencies
- Screen reader-friendly documents
- Alternative (alt) text is included for visual content
- Size and type of font is accessible
- Text equivalents are provided for all audio and video content (transcripts and/or captions)
- Audio descriptions of visual information for learners who are visually impaired are provided, including alt text for images
- The learning includes frequent scheduled breaks
- Diversity and inclusion:
- Incorporate case studies and scenarios in the program that highlight diverse patient experiences, emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing disparities in health care
- Include case studies and examples from different cultural and social contexts to broaden the learners' understanding of how health care practices may vary and impact diverse populations
- Include guest speakers from different cultural, social, and demographic backgrounds to share their experiences and insights, providing diverse perspectives on health care challenges
- Offer a variety of learning formats such as workshops, online modules, and interactive discussions to cater to different learning styles, ensuring that participants can engage in ways that suit them
- Use activities that include everyone, and education methods that are thoughtful and supportive of equality between genders
- Review materials for gendered, racialized, and otherwise oppressive language
- Use a teaching approach that considers past traumas when discussing sensitive topics related to systemic oppression or racism
Submitters must include the following with their application related to this criterion:
- Demonstrate how the activity design and format lead to the achievement of the learning objectives
- Include an activity agenda or lesson plan outlining time spent in each intervention as well as the interactive elements
- Explain how participation is tracked for asynchronous online learning activities as well as how learners can ask and receive answers about program content
- Provide an explanation of how they have considered information and perspectives from various cultural, social, and demographic backgrounds to enrich the learning experience
- Explain the specific strategies used to ensure that the program content reflects the diversity of perspectives relevant to the topic/content discussed
- Describe their approach to designing instructional and learning activities that accommodate diverse learning preferences, abilities, challenges, interests, and background knowledge
- Provide examples of how they create an inclusive learning environment that considers the accessibility needs of diverse participants
- Providers who are unable to meet the requirements in items 4 through 7 will not have their application for certification rejected but will be asked to identify how they might consider these concepts for future activities.
-
Educational design and delivery requirements
- The activity must demonstrate that the content is evidence based, is up to date with current practice trends, and is within the scope of family medicine. Emerging evidence from peer-reviewed sources that challenge currently approved practice may be included for discussion.
- The best available evidence should be used for all assertions or recommendations within a program
- Content considers the Canadian context and diverse communities across Canada when making recommendations or speaks to implementation of evidence
- Review resources for discriminatory, outdated, and oppressive language and images
- References must be provided for all evidence cited
- Consistent use of generic or brand names for products must be used; generic names are preferred
- If evidence does not exist for an assertion or recommendation this must be made clear to the audience
- Charts and graphs cannot be altered to mislead learners regarding study results (e.g., changes in axis)
-
Examples of compliance
Appropriate clinical evidence:
- Systematic reviews of studies with/without a meta-analysis
- Observational studies such as prospective or retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies, and case reports
- Randomized control trials and non-inferiority studies
- Clinical guidelines or resources that summarize evidence
Other potential sources of non-clinical evidence:
- Pedagogical literature
- Social sciences literature
- Humanities literature
- Business literature
Submitters must include the following with their application related to this criterion:
- Description of how evidence is identified and selected
- References included on slides and in content provided to learners
- Explanation of off-label or unapproved treatments, if they will be discussed, regarding relevance over currently approved options
-
Program design and delivery requirements
- Participants must be able to:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of all elements of the learning activity (format, design, facilitators, relevance, etc.) including facilitation and delivery of the activity, and to what extent the instructors/facilitators were able to provide a safe, accessible, and productive learning environment in which to explore and advance knowledge and skills
- Assess self-reported learning or change in what participants know or know how to do after completing the CPD program
- Evaluate their confidence in achieving/implementing program learning objectives
- Evaluate potential biases within the program
- Participant evaluations should include the ability to collect (non-identifiable) demographic data where learners can self-identify if they belong to a systemically marginalized and/or under-represented identity group (e.g., Indigeneity, race, citizenship status, gender identity, sexuality, ability and health status, language) to inform future planning and support more inclusive learning opportunities
- Participants should have the option to provide feedback on how well the activity addressed and incorporated concepts of EDI with respect to the program content
- Programs intended for delivery in the province of Quebec must include the mandatory evaluation question regarding the Quebec Council for the Continuing Professional Development of Physicians (CQDPCM) Code of Ethics
- Program developers must have a plan in place to review and respond to evaluation feedback for quality improvement purposes
- Participants must be able to:
-
Examples of Compliance
Evaluation forms/format:
- Self-reported change in knowledge/skill/performance
- Inclusion of bias evaluation related to financial interests, as well as other types of bias (e.g., gender, race, speaker, etc.)
- Electronic or paper-based evaluation format
- Evidence of demographic collections in the evaluation form
- Likert scale measurements of confidence
- Mandatory Quebec question:
- Did the activity respect the CQDPCM Code of Ethics?
Yes or No
- Did the activity respect the CQDPCM Code of Ethics?
Evaluation review and response plan:
- Summary of previous evaluation feedback
- Evidence of previous evaluation review and response (meeting minutes)
- Evidence of a plan to review and act on evaluation feedback
Submitters must include the following with their application related to this criterion:
- A description of the selected evaluation strategy and how it serves as a measure of learning objectives’ effectiveness
- A description of how participants will be engaged in the evaluation of the proposed activity, and how the evaluation approach and tools:
- Generate data that can be disaggregated to ensure feedback from equity-seeking learners can be highlighted and analyzed
- Elicit learners’ feedback about the activity facilitation and delivery, as well as how well the instructors or facilitators created a safe, accessible, and productive learning environment for exploring and advancing knowledge and skills
- A description of how evaluation feedback is used, who reviews it, how often it’s reviewed, and how it is used for quality improvement
- A copy of the evaluation form/format selected. Program providers should retain copies of evaluation feedback for a minimum of one year after the program certification period in the event of a CFPC audit.
Enhanced Activity Requirements
Providers who wish to create opportunities for participants to earn additional, optional credits may include the following elements in their program:
- A needs assessment activity that can be completed by program participants that incorporates data from their practice
- Practice tools and resources with follow-up about impact on practice to increase practice relevance and to reinforce learning post-program
- An exercise that includes formal reflection about applying learning to practice over a realistic period to assess practice change
- An objective measurement of change for participants that could include, but is not limited to, any of the following:
- Knowledge test
- Commitment to change with follow-up
- Patient outcome measurement
Submitters seeking enhanced activity approval must submit the additional activities for review and describe how these additional activities serve the program learning objectives. Submitters must also provide an estimate of the additional time required to complete the enhanced activities to validate additional optional credit allocation.
Certified Assessment Activities
Certified activities in which data analysis, including providing or receiving feedback, stimulates self-reflection and leads to practise/performance improvement. These may be self-directed or conducted with others.
-
Educational design and delivery requirements
- Method(s) used to collect needs-assessment data, and rationale/evidence to support the use of each method must be provided
- Ensure the diverse needs of both the target audience being assessed as well as the patients they treat when creating the assessment activity are considered
- Outline of how the need for the assessment tool/process was determined
- Outline of the assessment tool and process
- Learning objectives
- Must be tied to the needs assessment results and demonstrate what a learner will be able to do or change after completing the assessment activity
- Must be written in a measurable and learner-centred format addressing the CanMEDS-FM competencies identified in the needs assessment
- Method(s) used to collect needs-assessment data, and rationale/evidence to support the use of each method must be provided
-
Examples of compliance
Sources of needs assessment data:
- Regulatory requirements
- Practice guideline changes
- Safety protocols
- Surgical procedures/checklists
Demonstration of assessment process:
- Literature supporting use of assessment methodology
- Validated assessment tools/templates
- Assessor training plan
Learning objectives can be created using:
- Bloom’s taxonomy
- Moore’s levels of outcome measurement
- Kirkpatrick,
- ADDIE model, etc.
Submitters must include the following with their application related to this criterion:
- Describe how they have considered the validity of the assessment chosen
- Describe how assessors, if they are used, are trained
- Include a summary of the data used to determine the assessment needs. When applicable, include an explanation of how the diversity of patient populations were addressed/considered in the needs assessment process.
- Establish the relevance of the learning objectives according to the needs assessment results
- Identify the CanMEDS-FM competencies assessed in the activity
-
Program design and delivery requirements
- Must include the review of and reflection on practice data relative to previously established standards, protocols, and norms
- Assessment activities may be self-directed or conducted with others
- Participants must receive feedback on practice and/or performance that compares their performance to expected standards and that is designed to encourage improvement. For self-directed activities, feedback includes reminders and/or prompts to review and reflect on progress/performance change.
- When applicable, the assessment considers issues of EDI, reflecting an acknowledgment of racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity, along with other identities
- Encourage the consideration of information, perspectives, and feedback from diverse cultural, social, and demographic backgrounds to enrich the assessment experience
- Assessment providers should consider options to accommodate learners who may encounter barriers accessing the assessment activity due to physical limitations and may request accommodation
-
Examples of compliance
Practice data sources:
- EMR data/patient records
- Teaching assessments
- Patient feedback
Feedback:
- Chart audit and feedback
- Self-assessment of practice questionnaire with results compared to standards
- Debrief and feedback from simulation
- Feedback from coaches, peers, patients
- Knowledge-based assessments alone such as multiple-choice questions are not sufficient forms of interactivity and engagement; they should be used in combination with other activities as part of a more comprehensive reflection upon practice
Demonstration of feedback incorporation
- Feedback templates, guides
Examples of incorporating EDI:
- Incorporate a peer review component where physicians provide feedback about each other's diagnostic and treatment plans. Encourage comments that consider the impact of cultural, social, and demographic factors on patient care, fostering a dialogue about diverse perspectives.
- Include a reflective component where physicians analyze how their own cultural background and biases might influence their clinical decisions. This encourages self-awareness and prompts consideration of how to provide equitable care to a diverse patient population.
- Integrate a feedback mechanism that includes input from simulated patients representing various cultural backgrounds. This allows physicians to receive insights on how their communication and approach may be perceived by patients from different ethnic and cultural groups.
- Use anonymized patient feedback surveys to gather insights from a diverse patient population about their experiences with the assessed physicians. Include questions that specifically address the physician's sensitivity to issues of EDI in the health care setting.
Examples of accessible learning:
- Colours and contrast are accessible to learners with low-vision and colour-vision deficiencies
- Screen reader-friendly documents
- Alt text is included for visual content
- Size and type of font is accessible
- Text equivalents are provided for all audio and video content (transcripts and/or captions)
- Audio descriptions of visual information for learners who are visually impaired are provided, including alt text for images
Submitters must include the following with their application related to this criterion:
- Describe how feedback is provided to learners
- Provide an example of the assessment tool/format used
- Demonstrate how learning outcomes can be measured and achieved within the assessment activity time frame
- Provide a description of what practice data will be used and how it will be accessed
- Provide an explanation of how information and perspectives from various cultural, social, and demographic backgrounds have been incorporated to enrich the assessment experience
- Specify the strategies used to ensure the assessment activity reflects the diversity of perspectives relevant to the focus of the assessment activity
- Describe the approach to designing assessment activities that accommodate diverse learning preferences, abilities, challenges, interests, and background knowledge
- Provide examples of how an inclusive assessment activity is created that considers the accessibility needs of diverse participants
Providers who are unable to meet the requirements outlined in items 5 through 8 will not have their application for certification rejected but will be asked to identify how they might consider these concepts for future activities.
-
Educational design and delivery requirements
- Assessment methodology should be evidence-based as well as valid and reliable
- Content considers the Canadian context and diverse communities across Canada when making recommendations or speaks to implementation of evidence
- References for evidence cited and tools/templates used must be provided to participants
- Resources and assessment activity must be reviewed for discriminatory, outdated, and oppressive language and images
- Evidence selected should be free from bias and the consistent use of generic brand names for products must be employed
-
Evidence of compliance
Appropriate clinical evidence:
- Systematic reviews of studies with/without a meta-analysis
- Observational studies such as prospective or retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies, and case reports
- Randomized control trials and non-inferiority studies
- Clinical guidelines or resources that summarize evidence
Other potential sources of non-clinical evidence discussed:
- Pedagogical literature
- Social sciences literature
- Humanities literature
- Business literature
Submitters must include the following with their application related to this criterion:
- Description of how evidence is identified and selected
- References displayed on content provided to learners
- Explanation of off-label or unapproved treatments, if they will be discussed, regarding relevance over currently approved options
-
Educational design and delivery requirements
Outcome assessment
- Includes an objective measurement of change in competence and/or clinical performance for learners
- This should include an evaluation of the implementation of the learning objectives by the learners
-
Evaluation
- Learners must be provided with the means to evaluate the effectiveness of the assessment activity and provide feedback to the program providers on the facilitation and delivery of the assessment, along with feedback regarding to what extent the instructors/facilitators/coaches were able to provide a safe, accessible, and productive environment in which to explore and advance knowledge and skills
- Participants must be able to:
- Evaluate their confidence in achieving/implementing program learning objectives
- Evaluate potential biases within the program
- Participant evaluations include the collection of (non-identifiable) demographic data where they can self-identify if they belong to a systemically marginalized and/or under-represented identity group (e.g., Indigeneity, race, citizenship status, gender identity, sexuality, ability, and health status, language) to inform future planning and support more inclusive learning opportunities
- Participants must have the option to provide feedback about how well the activity addressed and incorporated concepts of EDI with respect to the program content
- Programs intended for delivery in the province of Quebec must include the mandatory evaluation question regarding the Quebec Council for the Continuing Professional Development of Physicians (CQDPCM) Code of Ethics
- Program developers must have a plan in place to review and respond to evaluation feedback for quality improvement purposes
-
Examples of compliance
Objective measurements of change:
- Fulfillment of a quality improvement cycle
- Commitment to change contract with follow-up
- Observation and feedback in a practice setting
- Summative assessment of change in knowledge/skill/performance
Evaluation of assessment activity:
- Overall activity evaluation form
- Inclusion of a measure of self-reported change in competence/performance
- Inclusion of bias evaluation related to financial interests, as well as other types of bias (gender, race, speaker, etc.)
- Electronic or paper-based evaluation format
- Evidence of demographic collections in the evaluation form
- Likert scale measurements of confidence
- Mandatory Quebec question:
- Did the activity respect the CQDPCM Code of Ethics?
Yes or No
- Did the activity respect the CQDPCM Code of Ethics?
- Inclusion of questions regarding the use of inclusive language, avoidance of stereotypes, etc.
Evaluation review and response plan:
- Summary of previous evaluation feedback
- Evidence of previous evaluation review and response (meeting minutes)
- Evidence of a plan to review and act on evaluation feedback
Submitters must include the following with their application related to this criterion:
- Describe the selected evaluation strategy and how it measures accomplishing learning objectives
- Describe how evaluation feedback is used, who reviews it, how often it’s reviewed, and how it is used for quality improvement
- Provide a description of how participants will be engaged in evaluating the proposed activity, and how the evaluation approach and tools:
- Generate data that can be disaggregated to ensure feedback from equity-seeking learners can be highlighted and analyzed
- Elicit learners’ feedback about the facilitation and delivery of the activity, as well as how well the instructors or facilitators created a safe, accessible, and productive learning environment for exploring and advancing knowledge and skills
- Include a copy of the evaluation form/format selected. Program providers should retain copies of evaluation feedback for a minimum of one year after the program certification in the event of a CFPC audit.
Enhanced Activity Requirements
Providers who wish to create opportunities for participants to earn additional optional credits may include the following elements in their program:
- Formal reflection on the application of changes to practice because of the assessment activity
- Completion and implementation of a practice improvement plan with follow-up after a realistic period
- Completion of a knowledge test after a realistic period
Providers seeking enhanced activity approval must submit the additional activities for review and describe how these additional activities serve the program learning objectives. They must also provide an estimate of the additional time required to complete the enhanced activities to validate additional optional credit allocation.
Contact Us
Contact Mainpro+ certification
Local: (905) 361-8233
Toll-free: 1-866-242-5885
Email: [email protected]