Accreditation Services

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada developed the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program to support, enhance and promote the continuing professional development (CPD) of physician specialists.

This program enables physician specialists to identify gaps between actual and optimal performance, participate in educational activities and document the impact of learning on their practice. It is distinct from processes and programs designed to confirm competence or continuing fitness to practice.

As an approved accredited provider for the Royal College's MOC program, the Canadian Dermatology Association is committed to its goals and has adopted the following CPD Mission Statement:

To provide excellent CPD to Canada's dermatologists, so that they may deliver exemplary dermatologic care in an ethical and caring manner.

To help you develop a successful CPD activity and/or submit an application to the CDA for approval of Section 1 and Section 3 activities, we provide the following information based on commonly asked questions. If the information you are seeking is not here, please contact the CDA directly.

• The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Maintenance of Certification Program

Frequently asked questions

• For Section 1 accreditation, what guidelines and processes must I follow?
• What defines a physician organization?
• Are there ethical guidelines I must comply with when my event is supported by industry?
• For Section 3 accreditation, what guidelines and processes must I follow?

For Section 1 accreditation, what guidelines and processes must I follow?

If you are a physician organization and want to

• develop an educational activity yourself, click here
• co-develop an educational activity with an accredited provider, click here
• co-develop an educational activity with a non-physician organization, click here

If you are a non-physician organization and want to

• co-develop an educational activity with an accredited provider, click here
• co-develop an educational activity with a physician organization, click here

What defines a physician organization?

A physician organization is a not-for-profit group of health professionals with a membership and a formal governance structure, accountable to and serving, among others, specialist physicians through

• continuing professional development;
• provision of health care; and/or
• research.

This definition includes (but is not limited to) the following groups

• faculties of medicine
• hospital departments or divisions
• medical societies,
• medical associations,
• medical academies
• health branch of the Canadian forces

This definition excludes pharmaceutical companies or their advisory groups, medical supply and surgical supply companies, communication companies or other for-profit organizations and ventures/activities.

Are there ethical guidelines I must comply with when my event is supported by industry?

Yes, planning committees are required to adhere to the following ethical guidelines when their programs involve industry.  These guidelines cover a variety of commercial activities such as event sponsorship, exhibits and hospitality.

For all Section 1 activities, educational programs are to comply with the Canadian Medical Association's policy Guidelines for Physicians in Interations with Industry (2007), in particular, sections 21 to 40.  For a copy of the complete policy, click here.

For all Section 1 activities held in the Province of Quebec, educational programs are to comply with the Code of Ethics for Parties Involved in Continuing Medical Edudcation prepared by the Conseil de l'éducation médicale continue du Québec (CEMCQ).  For a copy of this document, click here.

For Section 3 accreditation, what guidelines and processes must I follow?

Section 3 Self-Assessment Programs must be developed by or with a physician organization and have a planning committee comprising of members from that physician organization.

These programs must also meet four standards.  They need to (1) address an identified need, (2) have a methodology that enables participants to assess atheir knowledge, skill, judgement or attitude, (3) provide detailed feedback on their performance,  and (4) meet ethical standards.

More information on these standards [MSWord]
Program development guide [MSWord]

- more information to follow soon -

CDA approved programs

• Section 1
• Section 3 [pdf]

Forms

• Section 1 Accreditation Application Form [MSWord]
• Section 3 Accreditation Application Form [MSWord]

Please allow six weeks for your application to be processed.  Rush applications may be considered and may be subject to an additional fee.  Please call Caroline Herzberg at (1-800) 267-3376 to discuss.  Applications cannot be accepted for activities that have already taken place.

Fees

• Section 1 Accreditation Application Fee
• Section 3 Accreditation Application Fee

Section 1 accreditation application fee

1.  CPD activities developed without financial support

• These would be a series of events that do not charge a registration fee or have some type of outside sponsorship.  These events would represent rounds, journal clubs, and other professional learning activities that fit the requirements of Section 1 activities.
  
  Application fee:  $500 plus HST

Special note for CDA members:  As a benefit of membership, CDA will review the above type of event free of charge.

• One-day events - with outside sponsorship or registration revenue
  
  These events would normally have some type of financial support, either through an admission fee or some type of outside sponsorship or educational grant(s). These events would be limited to a clinic day, a preceptorship, a short course or subspecialty learning activity.
  
  Application fee:  $500 plus HST

Special note for CDA members:  As a benefit of membership, CDA will review the above type of event for $250 plus HST.

• One-day events - with outside sponsorship and registration revenue
  
  These events would normally charge an admission fee and have some type of outside financial support either through sponsorship or educational grant(s).  These events would be limited to a clinic day, a preceptorship, a short course or subspecialty learning activity.
  
  Application fee:  $500 plus HST
  
  
• Other commercially sponsored events
  These events may include major conferences, training programs or other continuing education opportunities for which the faculty or attendees include dermatologists.
  
  Application fee:  $1,500 plus HST

Section 3 accreditation application fee