NOTES FOR GUIDANCE
INTRODUCTION
Reaccreditation occurs through a cumulative Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points system. 30 hours of CPD spread over 5 years (with a minimum of 5 hours in any one-year) should be presented to the Board for consideration.
At least 15 hours of CPD time should be spent externally on scientific meetings, courses, presentation of papers at meetings, teaching at approved courses or attendance at approved relevant meetings.
Up to nine hours of time can be gained by reading relevant journals, undertaking practice audit, or other relevant distance learning.
The Assessors will judge whether or not individual activities are relevant in counting towards reaccreditation and guidance concerning this follows below. Candidates would be well advised to exceed the minimum requirement to be more certain of approval. CAEB members and Assessors are always willing to provide advice concerning individual cases.
‘Approved’ above refers to courses or meetings that have met the requirements of an appropriate college for use as CPD (for example the Royal College of Physicians).
TIMING
The Diploma in Medical Acupuncture (DipMedAc) lapses automatically five years after it has been granted.
FEES
The fee for assessment for reaccreditation is £45 payable by cheque made out to the British Medical Acupuncture Society.
TRAINING REQUIREMENT (30 hours)
The following list of educational activities should not be regarded as prescriptive but rather as a guide.
In general if CPD has been granted for a course or meeting by an appropriate body (for example the Royal College of Physicians), the approved hours will count towards the total required for reaccreditation. If not, the length of the programme will be used. Programme discussion time is accepted but not refreshment breaks or mealtimes.
It should be noted that the BMAS does not accredit courses, and any non-BMAS hours used towards reaccreditation need to be detailed. For such courses or meetings a copy of the programme and certificate of attendance should be supplied, with reflective notes on the course indicating why it is relevant to BMAS reaccreditation.
A limited element of non-acupuncture training in relevant medical topics will be accepted, but a case must be made for the inclusion of subjects outside those given in the list below (related medical learning).
Distance learning using some commonly used textbooks or journals may be assessed by submission of a short synopsis, critique or learning outcomes.
Participation at courses and meetings is generally easier to accredit than distance learning.
A PARTICIPATION LEARNING (Minimum of 15 hours)
Courses
BMAS Courses (CPD time - generally 6 hours per day)
Non BMAS WMA Courses (CPD time, or if not CPD approved, programme time – generally a maximum of 6 hours per day)
Non BMAS TCM-based Courses (half the programme time – up to a maximum of 15 hours)
NB: Please see note above regarding non-BMAS courses
BMAS and National Meetings
BMAS Scientific Meetings (CPD time - generally a maximum of 6 hours per day)
Webcasts of BMAS Meetings (CPD time in Category A on completion of reflective notes, only if not already claimed through attendance)
ICMART and International Symposia (Programme time – generally a maximum of 6 hours per day)
Non BMAS WMA Meetings (CPD time, or if not CPD approved, programme time – generally a maximum of 6 hours per day)
Non BMAS TCM-based Meetings (please note that only half the programme time can be claimed)
BMAS Regional Group Meetings (meeting time on completion of reflective notes - generally a maximum of 2 hours per meeting)
BMAS Blog webinars (CPD time in Category A on completion of reflective notes, sign in required during the live webinar)
Acupuncture Clinic
BMAS London Teaching Clinic – attendance as trainee or observer (Clinic time – generally a maximum of 6 hours per day)
Clinics run by a BMAS accredited member – attendance as trainee or observer (Clinic time – certified by supervising accredited member – generally a maximum of 6 hours per day)
Other clinics – up to 1 hour per nominal half day session by submission of learning objectives and outcomes
B DISTANCE LEARNING (Maximum of 10 hours)
BMAS webcasts (half of CPD time may be claimed here in addition for those who attended the meeting and claimed CPD hours in Category A 2a above, by submission of reflective notes).
BMAS Blog webinar recordings (CPD time in Category B on completion of reflective notes)
Acupuncture In Medicine articles – up to 2 hours per issue, by submission of reflective notes.
Acupuncture books – up to 2 hours per item, by submission of reflective notes. Maximum of 2 items.
Other journals - up to 2 hours per item, by submission of reflective notes.
C PREPARATION LEARNING (Maximum of 5 hours)
Presentation of lecture, research paper or poster
to BMAS or ICMART (3 hours)
to medical audience or nursing, physiotherapy, dental or veterinary audience (3 hours)
to lay audience (2 hours)
Media interview
Broadcast TV or Radio (1 hour)
Publication of article – if based on a presentation the maximum combined time of 4 hours is awarded
in an acupuncture journal (3 hours)
in any other medical journal (3 hours)
in the lay press (2 hours)
Research and audit
Preparation (2 hours)
Publication (+1 hour)
D RELATED MEDICAL LEARNING (Maximum of 5 hours)
Basic Medical Sciences
Neurophysiology
Pain Management
Neurology
Rheumatology
Orthopaedics
Sports Injuries
Lectures or case presentations (CPD time)
Out-patient observer (Clinic time)
Non-acupuncture books – up to 2 hours per item by submission of listed learning outcomes, critique or synopsis
Non-acupuncture articles – 1 hour per article by submission of listed learning outcomes, critique or synopsis
COUNSELLING AND APPEALS PROCEDURE
Unsuccessful candidates will be offered advice intended to improve the chances of success after subsequent reapplication.
Candidates who are referred and wish to appeal against this decision should write to the Chair of the Competence, Accreditation and Examining Board, c/o the BMAS office, within four weeks with full details of the nature of his/her appeal. The Assessor(s) who made the original decision to refer the candidate will provide a written report to the Chair stating the basis on which the decision was made.
The Chair together with one further member of the CAEB will consider, within four weeks:
1. the details of the candidate’s appeal
2. the written report of the Assessor(s)
3. the candidate’s certificates of course attendance, and other relevant documents.
The candidate will be informed of the Chair’s decision in writing. This decision will be final and binding. Any comments concerning the process of assessment, as opposed to the assessment result, should be addressed to the President of the BMAS.
Downloads
Reaccreditation Guidelines
Reaccreditation Diary/Application