APC Continuing Professional Development 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the APC CPD framework, what is the minimum number of CPD hours a pharmacist must complete annually to maintain registration?
- 10 hours
- 20 hours (Correct answer)
- 30 hours
- 40 hours
Correct answer: 20 hours
The Pharmacy Board of Australia requires pharmacists to complete a minimum of 20 hours of CPD per year.
Question 2: A pharmacist completes an online module but does not reflect on how it applies to their practice. According to CPD principles, this activity is best classified as:
- Level 1 – Reviewing (Correct answer)
- Level 2 – Reflecting
- Level 3 – Learning
- Level 4 – Evaluating
Correct answer: Level 1 – Reviewing
Consuming information without reflection is classified as Level 1 (Reviewing) in the CPD framework.
Question 3: Which body is primarily responsible for setting CPD requirements for pharmacists in Australia?
- Australian Pharmacy Council (APC)
- Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA) (Correct answer)
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA)
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Correct answer: Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA)
The Pharmacy Board of Australia sets the mandatory CPD standards that registered pharmacists must meet.
Question 4: A pharmacist identifies a gap in their knowledge about new anticoagulant therapies. The BEST first step in the CPD cycle is to:
- Complete an online quiz on anticoagulants
- Document the identified learning need in a CPD plan (Correct answer)
- Attend a conference on cardiovascular medicine
- Ask a colleague to explain anticoagulant therapy
Correct answer: Document the identified learning need in a CPD plan
The CPD cycle begins with identifying and documenting learning needs before selecting activities.
Question 5: Which of the following CPD activities would MOST likely qualify as Level 3 – Learning?
- Reading a pharmacy journal article
- Browsing a drug interaction database
- Completing an accredited workshop with assessment (Correct answer)
- Watching a 5-minute medication video
Correct answer: Completing an accredited workshop with assessment
Level 3 CPD involves structured learning with formal assessment, such as an accredited workshop.
Question 6: How long must a pharmacist retain their CPD records in Australia?
- 1 year
- 3 years
- 5 years (Correct answer)
- 10 years
Correct answer: 5 years
The Pharmacy Board of Australia requires pharmacists to retain CPD records for a minimum of 5 years.
Question 7: A pharmacist who works only part-time (less than 450 hours per year) has a different CPD requirement. Which statement is correct?
- They are exempt from CPD entirely
- They must complete 10 hours of CPD annually
- They must meet the same 20-hour requirement as full-time pharmacists (Correct answer)
- They can defer CPD to the following registration year
Correct answer: They must meet the same 20-hour requirement as full-time pharmacists
Regardless of hours worked, all registered pharmacists must meet the same 20-hour annual CPD requirement.
APC Continuing Professional Development 2
Under the APC CPD framework, what is the minimum number of CPD hours a pharmacist must complete annually to maintain registration?