Since 2004, professional accountancy bodies in membership of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) have been required to adopt mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) schemes. This research explores the learning activities of members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) which introduced an…

This article provides an overview of problem-based learning (PBL) in Canadian undergraduate medical education and continuing medical education (CME) programs. The CME field in Canada is described, and the major professional associations that require physicians to take annual courses and programs are noted. A brief history of PBL in undergraduate…

Analysis of continuing professional development (CPD) policies in 101 British professional associations found 40 references to mentoring. Those with voluntary rather than mandatory CPD were significantly more likely to mention it. Mentoring is seen as supporting both personal and professional development, and it can help develop reflective…

Mandatory versus voluntary continuing professional education was the focus of a survey of 87 Australian professional associations (62 responses). Many of the 37 with voluntary policies have a laissez-faire attitude. The 19 with mandatory policies share few common characteristics. Award restructuring, national qualifications, and competency-based…

Voluntarism, historically a fundamental principle and characteristic of adult education, is at risk with the development of mandated continuing professional education. Education is mandated by (1) direct regulation in state licensure laws; (2) indirect regulation through professional membership, employment requirements, and specialized…

Focus groups of 50 British professional associations and interviews in 30 identified key trends driving change in professional continuing education (PCE): movement toward structured and mandatory PCE, links to career planning, and new methods of measuring achievement. Trends reflect the impact of changes in standards and values of practice and the…

Mandatory continuing education (MCE) has become widely accepted across many professions and jurisdictions in Canada as a re-credentialing mechanism. MCE is defined as continuing professional education (CPE) courses and/or programs, beyond the entry-level educational requirements, required by a licensure board, professional organization, or the…

The arguments for and against mandatory continuing education for professionals and critiques of these arguments are presented. A cybernetic model based on comparison of practice performance to standards of practice, educational remedies for weaknesses, and evaluation for relicensure or recertification is presented. (Author/MLW)

A study was conducted to determine the attitudes of Maryland dentists toward mandatory continuing education (MCE) for re-licensure, a provision that has been the subject of debate among the professions for the past fifteen years. After a review of the literature, which revealed many arguments pro and con mandatory continuing education, a…

A review of the history of professional continuing education in pharmacy looks at the issues prevalent in the literature on accreditation and certification, the emergence of mandatory continuing education, the evolution of continuing education accreditation, and the developing role of certification at that level. (MSE)

Concern about the continued competence of professionals is manifested by several professional groups in Canada. To protect the public and to inform professionals of new trends in their field, professional groups have begun to require mandatory professional development from their members. (EC)

Two hundred twenty-nine nurses were surveyed to determine their attitudes toward mandatory continuing education (MCE) for relicensure. The findings, based on 115 responses, indicated that the majority of respondents were supportive of MCE. Also, nurses belonging to the American Nurses Association (ANA) were more likely to favor MCE than non-ANA…

Describes the mandatory continuing education requirements, for professional engineers that have been enacted into law in some states. The requirements could be satisfied by taking a certain number of professional development hours (PDH), continuing education units (CEU), or any other activities acceptable to the state board. (GA)

Discusses mandatory continuing professional education (MCPE) in Australia for the legal and accountancy professions. Considers whether the main concern is continuing education or the certification by professional bodies of their members as competent to practice. Concludes that program designers should recognize that there are educational as well…