- PhD & Master’s Programs: can be submitted at 25 credits per course under Formal Course.
- Other types of Formal Courses: participation as a learner in other types of formal courses is eligible for 25 credits per course (These are usually developed in collaboration with a university, community college, specialty (e.g. diploma program) or other educational organizations. These require a formal registration process and provide a transcript or certificate of completion. This type of course can lead to the achievement of a formal designation or certificate and usually occur over a period of time usually equivalent to one term at a university but not less than 6 weeks. Note that other courses that are shorter in duration are more typical of a Section 1 accredited group learning activity (provided it meets the section criteria) and would be submitted at one (1) credit per hour.
- Participation as a learner in activities such as: Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Neonatal Advanced Life Support (NALS), Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), and Basic Life Support (BLS) are eligible for two (2) credits per hour under Traineeship.
- Activities such as doing additional research and acquiring new learning/knowledge while:
- Addressing clinical or academic questions;
- Doing research and preparation for formal teaching activities or presentations;
- Doing research for the development and submission of a clinical scenario for inclusion in an oral examination or an MCQ or SAQ for a written examination;
- Doing research for grant applications, writing a publication or article;
- Addressing medical-professional administrative or systems-related questions;
- Addressing other CanMEDS roles.
The learning acquired during the research and preparation for these can be submitted as Personal Learning Projects (PLPs) where you will earn two (2) credits per hour.
- Reading Journal Articles: For each journal article that you read and have deemed has had a significant impact on your learning or practice can be recorded individually and receive one (1) credit per article.
- Listening/viewing podcasts, audiotapes, videotapes, and reviewing enduring materials or scanning the internet (such as Medscape, UpToDate, etc.) = 0.5 credit per topic searched.
- InfoPoems = 0.25 per activity.
- Certain committees are eligible for 15 credits per year/per committee. This can be submitted as a Quality Care/Patient Safety Committee activity. (Note that the purpose or activity of the committee – working group, task force or similar title – must be to improve or enhance the quality, safety, or effectiveness of the health care system. They must have a formal structure with an appointment process and defined terms of reference and must also meet on a regular schedule.)
- Developing clinical practice guidelines with your colleagues or participating in activities or groups that set clinical care standards for your hospital can earn you 20 credits per year
- Developing Curriculum – at the undergraduate, postgraduate or professional practice level – can earn you 15 credits per year.
- Examination process – for provincial or national certification processes or systems (such as setting the exam standards, being an examiner) can earn you 15 credits per year as an Examination Development activity.
- Peer reviewing journal articles, reviewing research grant applications can earn you 15 credits per year as a Peer Assessment activity. The 15 credits are eligible for your yearly contributions.
- Creating assessment strategies or reviewing your peers or colleagues can earn you 15 credits per year as a Peer Assessment activity. The 15 credits are eligible for your yearly contributions.
- Other Systems Learning Activities such as Patient Safety Initiatives, Quality of Care initiatives, Clinical Performance Standard Setting Activities, Assessments strategies for learners or education programs, can earn you 15 credits for the year.
Posted in: Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program frequently asked questions