Professional Competence

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) enables doctors to continually update and improve their knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes throughout their careers.

Professional Competence is the formal process of documenting lifelong learning as a medical practitioner.

It demonstrates your commitment to developing and maintaining key skills and competencies throughout your medical career.

The College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland, through its Professional Development Team, supports doctors in maintaining and documenting their Professional Competence through guidance, educational resources, accredited educational activities and administration of the Professional Competence Scheme.

From 1 May 2026 onwards, doctors are required to record 50 CPD hours during a scheme year. The scheme year for maintenance of Professional Competence begins on 1 May and ends on 30 April. Doctors should record these 50 CPD hours across the following categories:

• Planning CPD: maximum of 5 CPD hours.
• Practice Review: minimum of 10 CPD hours.
• Work-based Learning: minimum of 15 CPD hours.
• Accredited CPD Activity: minimum of 20 CPD hours.

Doctors who are not engaged in the practice of medicine are still required to complete 50 CPD credits, including Planning CPD (5 credits), at least 25 credits from Practice Review and/or Work-based Learning, and 20 credits from Accredited CPD Activity.

If you are registered on the Supervised, General or Specialist Division of the Medical Council Register, you are required to be enrolled on a Professional Competence Scheme. You must be enrolled to demonstrate that you are actively maintaining your Professional Competence in a manner recognised by the Medical Council.

When you apply to retain your registration with the Medical Council, you are required to declare the name of your Professional Competence Scheme and the date on which you enrolled or renewed your enrolment.

Failure to make this declaration will place your continuing registration at risk. You only need to enrol in one Professional Competence Scheme, even if you have multiple registered specialties.

The Professional Competence Scheme (PCS) year runs from 1 May to 30 April of the following year.

The Medical Council has requested that all registered medical practitioners enrol in a Professional Competence Scheme for 2026/2027 before completing their annual retention of registration with the Council. The Medical Council has confirmed that this will be an annual requirement going forward.

When completing your annual registration with the Medical Council, you will be asked to provide:

1. The name of your Professional Competence Scheme.
2. The date on which you paid your 2026/2027 enrolment fee.

For advice or information about Professional Competence please contact the Professional Development Administration Team, on +353 1265 0600 or email professionalcompetence@coa.ie.