As we start to plan for the year ahead, it is time to start giving some thought to how best to complete your Continuing Competence requirements for the 2020/2021 cycle. The Health Professions Act (HPA) requires all health professionals to participate in a Continuing Competence program, as this is a vital component to ensuring the public safety, regardless of the profession.

Last year, the College provided members with an opportunity to claim CC credits for COVID learning, which was extremely relevant to our profession, but also necessary as many preplanned Continuing Education opportunities were forced to cancel. This year, many learning opportunities are now available online.

The College’s Continuing Competence program allows for up to half your credits to be obtained through self directed activities, leaving a minimum of 30 credits to be obtained through an approved Continuing Education activity. On the College website, you can find several online courses and programs, as well as a list of approved online symposiums, virtual webinars and other opportunities to ensure that you have every chance to complete this important regulatory requirement.

The 2020/2021 required learning is the Alberta Federation of Regulated Health Professionals (AFRHP) Protecting Patients from Sexual Abuse and Misconduct online course. This subject matter is required learning for all healthcare professionals from Bill 21: An Act to Protect Patients that came into effect April 2019. The course is free of charge and will count for 9 of your required continuing education CC credits (3 hours). You can access the course here: http://afrhp.org/bill21-protecting-patients/#/

If you have any questions or concerns, or if you are looking to have a program or webinar approved, please contact our Continuing Competence team at cc@abparamedics.com.