Regulations around exemption or variation to CPD are set by the Medical Board of Australia (MBA), as CPD is now a registration standard. The RACGP reflects the MBA’s requirements in its CPD Program, as outlined below. However, the College recommends that all practitioners who take leave from practice to maintain CPD activity, as much as possible, within the constraints of their reasons for taking leave from practice.

RACGP members may seek an exemption or variation to CPD requirements for any leave from practice for a continuous period of at least 6 months, where the leave overlaps a calendar year, applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. GP trainees on leave from the AGPT or FSP specialist training programs should refer to our CPD guide for GP Training for information about the CPD requirements while on leave from GP training.

Members taking leave of absence less than 6 months must complete the full annual CPD requirement. Members taking leave for a full 12 months are exempt all CPD requirements for that year. For leave beyond 12 months, CPD requirements are set by the MBA’s recency of practice registration standard as well as the MBA's re-entry to practice requirements.

Variations to CPD requirements may be considered under limited and specific circumstances when role or scope of practice changes significantly. The College provides detailed guidance on how to meet CPD requirements by role and scope of practice, and hence variations to CPD are highly exceptional, and on individual application.

Leave from practice may include, but is not limited to the following circumstances:

• parental leave
• carer’s leave
• serious illness
• cultural leave
• personal leave or other circumstances (including gaining medical registration in Australia for the first time from 1 July of the relevant CPD year). 

Members of the RACGP seeking an exemption to their CPD requirements must advise the RACGP by completing this CPD exemption and variation application form.

GP trainees working as a doctor outside the training program while on approved leave from training, must complete the RACGP CPD declaration, exemption or variation application form.

Doctors who received their first Australian medical registration from 1 July during the relevant CPD cycle are eligible for a pro-rated exemption for the portion of the year prior to gaining Australian medical registration. In this circumstance, you may use the CPD exemption and variation application form to apply for an exemption to reduce your CPD requirements in the first CPD calendar year you were medically registered. If you gained Australian medical registration for the first time during the relevant CPD cycle before 1 July, please contact cpd.national@racgp.org.au for assistance with your CPD requirements.

Requests for exemption should be submitted before leave is taken (where possible) so that any changes to CPD requirements can be recorded and managed in RACGP's reporting to AHPRA. All requests for exemption will be reviewed by the CPD Operations Manager and escalated to the National Clinical Lead – CPD, where required. Applicants will receive an email confirming the arrangements.
 
Exemption to CPD will be applied on a pro rata basis as per the following tables.

The following table provides a breakdown of the exemption hours per activity type and remaining CPD hours required per activity type.