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Acceptable CPD Activities

Continuing Professional Development

Acceptable CPD Activities

Acceptable CPD activities are divided into two broad categories - "structured" and "unstructured" activities.  A structured CPD activity is characterised as an activity with specific outcomes which may be assessed.  An Unstructured CPD activity is characterised as an activity without specific outcomes and which is not assessed.  All CPD activities must maintain, deepen and extend an Registered Veterinary Surgeon’s (“RVS’s”) professional knowledge, skills and values, and be relevant to his current or future intended field of work as an RVS. 
 
Please refer to Section (C) of the Guidelines on the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Scheme for more details and Section (B) of the Frequently Asked Questions About the Mandatory CPD Scheme for more guidance.

Structured Activities

Unstructured Activities

Formal Post-graduate Training

Application for Accreditation of CPD Activities

List of Approved Activities

Expenses Relating to Training and Development Courses

Unclassified Activities

Structured Activities

Item Structured activity CPD points Examples of Evidence
S1 CPD courses / Lectures / Seminars / Conferences / Online Courses / Webinars / Correspondence courses (including audio-visual or computer-based courses)
  • Examples include but are not limited to those organised the Hong Kong Veterinary Association (HKVA), China Hong Kong Veterinary Association (CHKVA), City University of Hong Kong, World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), Sydney University Centre for Veterinary Education (CVE) and Royal Veterinary College (RVC)
 1 point per hour Certificate of participation or attendance
S2
(Note)		 Publication and/or presentation of scientific papers
  • Publication and/or presentation of scientific papers i.e. manuscripts prepared and submitted for peer review to be published in a veterinary journal
 5 points per paper Copy of paper
Preparation and presentation of lectures/workshops (only for the first presentation of the paper or lecture/workshop)
  • Preparation and presentation of lectures/workshops at a veterinary degree level or above
  • A minimum of 30 minutes is required for the presentation
  • The registered veterinary surgeon can apply for more points (up to a maximum of 15 points) if he/she can demonstrate a level of activity commensurate with the points being claimed
 5 points per hour of the first presentation  Copy of presentation 
Accreditation scheme by examination
  • Examples of accreditation scheme by examination include but not limited to those of the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS), European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS) and Advisory Committee on the Registration of Veterinary Specialists (ACRVS) in Australia and New Zealand
 5 points per hour of examination Certificate / evidence of attainment (e.g. notification of results or transcript)
S3 Engagement in Board-related services
  • Service as a Board member or assessor on a Preliminary Investigation Committee
  • Service as a reviewer in providing a report under Rule 5(9) of the Rules of the Veterinary Surgeons Board (Disciplinary Proceedings)
 1 point per hour of participation / service capped at a maximum of 10 points per reporting cycle Written confirmation from the Secretariat of the Board

Note: Preparation of informational papers for internal use at clinic, presentations to the general public or media interviews does not qualify under S2.

Unstructured Activities

Item Unstructured activity CPD points Examples of Evidence
U1 In-practice training and instruction received from professional colleagues and specialists

  • Documented discussions between professional colleagues include formal case presentations, medical or surgical rounds, journal article discussions or meetings to share knowledge gained at conferences, courses, seminars or workshops as well as time spent with veterinary specialists e.g. in a referral situation
 0.5 points per hour of documented discussion  Appropriate record of activity and participation (e.g. minutes or agenda of peer group meeting) 
Reading of books and journals and audio-visual / information technology / printed medium

  • Reading of books and journals (either online/printed) relevant to the spheres of practice
  • Audio-visual and information accessed via printed or electronic medium (such as CD ROMs, the internet etc.), either used privately by individuals or in a discussion group.  Examples include but not limited to Veterinary Information Network (VIN) articles and discussion groups, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) veterinary updates
 0.5 points per hour of reading / participation Name of publication/ author/pages; Website URL and topic
U2 Mentoring of veterinary students, interns, residents and/or professional colleagues
 
  • Documented discussions with veterinary students, interns, residents and/or professional colleagues include formal case presentations, medical or surgical rounds, journal article discussions or meetings to share knowledge. 
  • Shadowing a mentor veterinary surgeon’s work alone is inadequate to claim CPD points 
 0.5 points per day with maximum of 10 points per cycle Appropriate record of activity and participation (e.g. documented discussions with recipient’s name and signature on CPD record)

Formal Post-graduate Training

An Registered Veterinary Surgeon (“RVS”) who is undergoing formal post-graduate training with a view to acquiring a higher qualification in the RVS’s chosen field of work or a related area of veterinary science in a university or post-graduate institution recognised by the Board is deemed to have fulfilled the CPD requirement.  He must be able to demonstrate that the formal post-graduate training is active and on-going, including providing the dates of formal study if required. 
 
Under the Mandatory CPD Scheme, an RVS is required to declare fulfilment of CPD requirement (or pro-rated CPD requirement) in the relevant Reporting Cycle when he applies for a practising certificate or renewal of a practising certificate.  He is also required to undergo the following year’s CPD audit.  Please refer to Section (H) of the Guidelines on the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Scheme for more details and Question 8 of the Frequently Asked Questions About the Mandatory CPD Scheme for more examples.


Details  Examples of Verification
Formal post-graduate training with a view to the acquisition of a higher qualification in their chosen field of work or a related area of veterinary science in a university or post-graduate institution recognised by the Board
 Certificate / evidence of attainment (e.g. notification of results or transcript)

Application for Accreditation of CPD Activities

CPD activities do not need to be approved by the Board in order for them to count towards the CPD requirement.

However, if CPD activity providers wish to obtain the Board’s recognition or accreditation for their CPD activities, please complete the Application Form for Accreditation of a Continuing Professional Development Activity.

The Board will normally inform the CPD activity providers of the results of the accreditation of the activities in about one month's time from the date of receipt of all the required information.

List of Approved CPD Activities from 1/1/*(as at )


*Note: according to the revised CPD credit point system introduced in August 2021

Title of the Activity Organizer Date Category CPD Points

Expenses Relating to Training and Development Courses

An Registered Veterinary Surgeon’s (“RVS’s”) expenses related to training and development courses which are recognised by the Board are deductible Self-education Expenses under section 12(1)(e) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (“the IRO”). 

However, expenses incurred for CPD activities, which are not related to courses undertaken, such as expenses related to reading of veterinary books and journals, expenses related to preparation, publication or presentation of scientific paper related to the RVS’s field of work, etc. are NOT deductible Self-education Expenses under the IRO.  Further information on Self-education Expenses can be obtained from the website of the Inland Revenue Department (“the IRD”) at www.ird.gov.hk (FAQ – Allowances and Deductions – Self-education Expenses).  Please note that it is the IRD which finally decides if the expenses are admissible for deduction.  If an RVS has any enquiries about tax liability, please contact the IRD direct.

Unclassified Activities

If practising veterinary surgeons are unsure of the likely status or point value of any activity, please seek clarification from the Board regarding the eligibility category and point score of the activity. Please send the detailed information of the activity to the following address by mail/fax/email -

Accreditation Committee
Veterinary Surgeons Board of Hong Kong
Room 403, 4/F
Animal Management and Animal Welfare Building Complex
16 Shing Yau Street, Kai Tak
Kowloon, Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 3903 5246
Fax: (852) 3903 5429
Email: secretariat@vsbhk.org.hk

The Board will normally inform you of the result of the accreditation of the activity within one month from the date of receipt of all the required information.

You may also refer to the current "List of Approved CPD Activities" for reference.