The 50-hour annual standard, the category minimums, the Professional Development Plan and how the RACGP and ACRRM programs are structured for 2026.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Part of the complete CPD and QI FAQ.
You must complete 50 hours of CPD each calendar year, with at least 12.5 hours in Educational Activities, at least 5 hours in Reviewing Performance, at least 5 hours in Measuring Outcomes, and the remaining 12.5 hours free choice across any category. You must also hold an annual Professional Development Plan and an end-of-year self assessment and reflection.
The Medical Board of Australia (MBA) Registration standard: continuing professional development took effect on 1 January 2023 and moved Australia from a triennium model to an annual model. RACGP and ACRRM run their own CPD programs that meet the MBA standard.
No. The 2023 MBA standard made CPD annual, although the colleges still group calendar years into triennia for some internal reporting. RACGP's current triennium runs 2026 to 2028, but each calendar year is the unit of compliance.
You record 50 hours per year across Educational Activities, Reviewing Performance and Measuring Outcomes, with a Professional Development Plan at the start of the year and a reflection at year end. Each year you must include at least one CPD activity that addresses each of the RACGP program-level requirements: culturally safe practice, health inequities, and professionalism and ethical practice. A CPR course is required once per triennium.
ACRRM aligns with the same 50-hour annual standard but uses its own activity types and emphasises rural and remote practice. ACRRM members log through the ACRRM portal and should confirm category mapping with their college if they also work in non-rural settings.
Yes. The MBA CPD Registration standard applies to all registered medical practitioners in Australia, with limited exemptions (for example, recent retirees returning to practice under certain conditions, or practitioners in specific leave categories). VR status does not change the obligation; it only changes which college CPD home you use.
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CPD requirements, hour allocations and category structures are set by the MBA, RACGP and ACRRM. The PIP QI measures and payment rates are set by the Department of Health and Aged Care and Services Australia. Always verify current requirements directly with the relevant body before finalising your CPD plan. This page is general guidance and does not replace official college or government resources.