Staying on Top of Your CPD Requirements: A Guide for Australian GPs

Understanding the Core Requirements

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a cornerstone of maintaining medical registration in Australia. With the framework introduced in 2023, Australian GPs face clear but demanding obligations that require careful planning and systematic tracking.

Annual CPD Obligation: 50 Hours

Each calendar year (January 1 to December 31), GPs must complete 50 hours of CPD distributed across three distinct categories:​

Educational Activities (Minimum 12.5 hours)

This category focuses on expanding clinical knowledge and skills relevant to your scope of practice. Activities include:​

• Attending conferences, webinars, and workshops

• Completing online courses via gplearning or other platforms

• Reading journal articles with reflection

• Participating in university postgraduate study

• 
  

Reviewing Performance (Minimum 5 hours)

Activities requiring reflection on feedback about your work, such as:​

• Peer review and case discussions

• Patient or colleague feedback analysis

• Recorded consultation reviews

• Critical incident analysis

  
  

Measuring Outcomes (Minimum 5 hours)

Using practice data to ensure quality results:​

• Clinical audits (e.g., diabetes management, prescribing patterns)

• Quality improvement cycles

• Practice data analysis

• Outcomes monitoring for new care models

  
  

Combined Requirement

An additional 15 hours must come from Reviewing Performance and/or Measuring Outcomes combined, giving you flexibility to allocate based on your practice needs. The remaining 12.5 hours can be distributed across any category.​

Mandatory Additional Requirements

Professional Development Plan (PDP)

GPs must complete a PDP at the beginning of each year, identifying learning goals and planned activities. The RACGP provides a streamlined tool through the myCPD dashboard, and you can claim up to 5 hours of Reviewing Performance credit for completing it.​

Program-Level Requirements

The Medical Board of Australia requires all doctors to engage in CPD addressing:​

• Culturally safe practice

• Health inequities

• Professionalism and ethical practice

These are not additional hours but must be integrated within your 50-hour total—at least one activity addressing each area annually.​

Triennium Requirement: CPR Training

Specialist GPs must complete a CPR course (HLTAID009 or equivalent BLS/ALS meeting Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines) once per triennium. For the current 2023-25 triennium ending December 31, 2025, this remains a requirement.​

Critical Timing Changes No More Grace Periods

From 2024 onwards, the Medical Board abolished grace periods. All CPD activities must be completed within the calendar year (January 1 to December 31). However, you have until February 28 of the following year to record your activities.​

Important distinction: An activity completed in January 2026 can only count toward your 2026 CPD, not 2025. But activities completed in December 2025 can be logged until February 28, 2026.​

Record Retention

Evidence of your CPD activities must be retained for three years following the relevant CPD year for potential audit purposes.​

Effective Tracking Strategies

RACGP myCPD Portal

The default platform for RACGP Fellows offers:​

• Quick-log function for on-the-go recording

• Automated uploads from 450+ approved providers

• Mobile app with biometric login and camera-based evidence capture

• Real-time dashboard tracking against annual targets

• Automatic evidence retention

  
  

AMA CPD Tracker

A free alternative available through doctorportal Learning:​

• College-agnostic platform

• Accommodates multiple specialties

• Generates audit-ready reports

• Integrated with Topbar for convenience

  
  

Best Practices for Staying Compliant

1. Log Activities Immediately

Record CPD activities as soon as you complete them rather than facing year-end panic. Use your smartphone's camera through the myCPD app to capture certificates on the go.​

2. Add Sufficient Detail

When using Quick Log, provide enough detail in the activity title and reflection to meet audit requirements. Include the clinical topic, organization, date, and what you learned.​

3. Break It Down

Fifty hours sounds daunting, but it's approximately 2-3 hours per week. Viewed this way, the workload becomes manageable and integrates naturally into your professional routine.​

4. Recognize Hidden CPD

Many GPs already meet Measuring Outcomes criteria through quality improvement work without realizing it qualifies as CPD. Practice meetings, clinical audits, teaching, and even reflective conversations with colleagues can all count toward your hours.​

5. Plan Ahead

Complete your PDP early in the year to guide your activity selection. Identify any activities where hours upload automatically (RACGP events, committee work) and calculate remaining requirements.​

The Bottom Line

CPD compliance requires systematic tracking and proactive planning. Regular engagement with your chosen platform throughout the year—rather than December scrambling—ensures you remain compliant while focusing on meaningful professional growth that genuinely enhances your practice.

With the removal of grace periods and stricter recording requirements, staying organized has never been more critical. The good news? The tools and resources available through RACGP myCPD and alternative platforms like AMA CPD Tracker make compliance more achievable than ever.

Need Support?

• RACGP CPD Support: 1800 716 853 or cpd.national@racgp.org.au

• State/Territory CPD Teams: Contact details available on the RACGP website

• RACGP myCPD: Access via your member portal or download the mobile app

Article current as of January 2, 2026. For the latest CPD requirements, visit www.racgp.org.au/cpd or check with your CPD home.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about CPD requirements for Australian general practitioners as of January 2026. CPD requirements are subject to change by the Medical Board of Australia and the RACGP. Individual circumstances may vary, and exemptions or variations may apply in certain situations. Always verify current requirements with your CPD home and refer to official RACGP and Medical Board of Australia resources for the most up-to-date information. This article does not constitute professional advice.