Criterion QI1.1 and its four indicators, how accreditation and CPD intersect, and the four agencies accredited under the NGPA scheme.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Part of the complete CPD and QI FAQ.
The RACGP standards for general practices (5th edition) include a Quality Improvement criterion, Criterion QI1.1, with four indicators. The practice must have at least one team member with primary responsibility for leading its quality improvement systems (A), share information internally about quality improvement and patient safety (B), seek feedback from the team about those systems (C), and be able to describe areas of the practice it has improved in the past three years (D). Only the fourth indicator is about improvement activity itself; the other three are about how the practice organises quality improvement. Practices must demonstrate all four to gain or retain accreditation.
The two are separate but compatible. Accreditation is a practice-level assessment against the standards. CPD is an individual professional obligation. A completed PDSA cycle is evidence for Criterion QI1.1 indicator D and generates CPD hours for each GP who took part. It does not on its own satisfy indicators A, B and C, which need a named quality improvement lead with the role documented, a record that the team shares information about quality improvement, and a record of team feedback about the system.
Often yes, including cold chain monitoring, infection control audits and health record audits, where the GP can show individual engagement and reflection. Check the activity with your CPD home for category mapping.
Yes, where the CPD activity addresses a quality or safety gap relevant to a standard criterion. Your CPD home's record is useful accreditation evidence.
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care approves four accrediting agencies for general practice under the National General Practice Accreditation (NGPA) Scheme: AGPAL, Quality Practice Accreditation (formerly GPA Accreditation Plus), the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS), and Global-Mark. Some PHNs run or support accreditation readiness programs. The choice of accreditation body is the practice's.
Browse all CPD and QI answers · Run a PDSA cycle with a guide
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.