Principle

Overview 

The Senate of Memorial University has approved that certificates in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs may be issued by the Office of Professional and Educational Development (OPED) in the Faculty of Medicine.

Purpose

To outline the standardized criteria CPD programs must meet to be recognized as a certificate program by the OPED.

Scope

This policy applies to program developers who wish to create and implement a CPD certificate program offered through the OPED. This policy also applies to CPD certificate program participants including Faculty members, staff, preceptors, residents, and students.

Definitions

Office of Professional and Educational Development (OPED) — An accredited provider of university Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for healthcare professionals. As a service unit within the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University, the office also supports the professional development of faculty and physicians within Newfoundland and Labrador.

Program Course — A certificate program which includes completion of an official university credit course.

Program Lead — The Lead responsible for overseeing the Certificate Program.

Policy

1.0 To be acknowledged as a certificate program by the OPED, CPD programs must meet the criteria outlined in Section 2.0.

2.0 Certificate Program Criteria

2.1 Educational Design

2.1.1 Certificate programs must provide: 

2.1.1.1 ample opportunity for learner-learner and learner-instructor interaction; 

2.1.1.2 regular and on-going feedback to participants through assessments of their performance; and, 

2.1.1.3 a minimum of 35 hours of scheduled instruction. 

2.2 Certificate Program Description

2.2.1 All required or recommended prerequisites and any other criteria for admission must be identified in the program promotional materials. 

2.2.2 The program format, program goals, and an outline of the topics/subject matter must be thoroughly described in the program promotional materials.

2.2.3 A program syllabus must be provided to registrants upon program commencement with a detailed overview of the program's requirements and expectations. 

2.3 Learner Assessment

2.3.1 Assessment methods can vary from program to program, depending on the program goals and objectives. 

2.3.2 Multiple methods of assessment are recommended (e.g. take-home exam; multiple choice exam; oral exam; demonstration of specific skills; learning contract; learning journal; project; report; essay; participation; presentation(s)). 

2.4 Program Completion 

2.4.1 Learners completing certificate programs that require successful completion of a Program Course (University Credit Course) must achieve a minimum grade of 65% (B) in the Program Course to be awarded a Certificate. 

2.4.2 Learners who do not successfully complete the requirements for a certificate program, including attendance, may be given the opportunity to consult with the Program Lead concerning alternatives for program completion. 

2.4.3 Requests for consultations must be submitted in writing to the Program Lead.

Procedures: