From 1^st May 2025, a new revised Maintenance of Professional Competence (MPC) Framework Model has been introduced.  Requirements for 2025 – 2026 PCS year are 50 cpd credits across four categories.

Professional Development Plan (PDP)  - 5 cpd credits (Mandatory)

Completing a Professional Development Plan is now a mandatory requirement.  It helps you plan learning activities relevant to your scope and stage of practice.

• Creating a plan earns 5 cpd credits
• Additional credits may be claimed under Work-Based Learning if your plan is reviewed by a peer/colleague and you reflect on it at year-end.

The Practice Review Category -10 cpd credits

The former Clinical audit category has been expanded to include:

• Audit
• Quality Improvement Projects
• Practice Evaluation

A minimum of 10 credits (10 hours) is required in this category  

Click HERE for Guidelines.

Work Based Learning Category -15 cpd credits

This category now includes activities previously recorded under the Internal / Personal Learning and Research and Training category.  Examples include:

• Grand rounds
• Multi-disciplinary team meetings,
• Committee meetings,
• Personal reading or study,
• Research, Publications, Teaching, Examining

Accredited Continuing Education (CE) Category - 20 cpd credits

Accredited CE activity includes attendance at relevant educational events, conferences, courses and workshops at local, national and international level.  Continuing Education (CE) activity MUST be accredited in Ireland or in the State where it is delivered. 

Examples include: 

• Local, Regional, National, International accredited meetings,
• Conferences/Seminars/ Webinars/Presentations to scientific meetings.
• Courses / Workshops/
• Relevant academic qualification (Degree,Diploma course).

For further details please click HERE

Medical Council Information Booklet on new Framework

Creating a Professional Development Plan (PDP) is now a mandatory requirement. 

It allows you to plan your activities during the year and set out goals for your personal development. By creating a PDP at the beginning of the year, it can be used to reflect on and monitor your progress throughout the year, including planning how your activities will match your annual PCS requirements and review how many credits you think you will be able to accumulate during the year.

To achieve the best results in professional performance, PDPs need to be prospective rather than retrospective.

PDPs should consider all the various roles that you fulfil in your job and the steps you need to take to update your knowledge, maintain your experience and improve your skills if necessary.

How to create your plan

• Sign in to the PCS Portal to begin your plan
• Click on the 'PCS plan' tile and complete your plan by identifying events, meetings, learning materials or discussion topics that will assist you in meeting your requirements. Your CPD activities must cover each of the eight domains of good professional practice at least once in a three-year period
• Once you have your plan created and submitted, you will receive 5 CPD credits
• If you send your plan to be reviewed by a colleague, both you and the reviewer will receive an additional CPD credit in the work-based learning category
• If you reflect on your plan at the end of the year, you will receive an additional CPD credit in the work-based learning category

How To Create your Professional Development Plan

How to send your Professional Development Plan to be reviewed

If you are absent from practice for three months or more during the Professional Competence year which runs from 1st May 2025 - 30th April 2026, you should inform RCSI PCS department.  Examples of circumstances that may result in a shortfall in minimum requirements are:

• Maternity leave
• Certified sick leave
• Carer's leave
• Parental leave
• Bereavement leave
• Adoptive leave

Where possible, you should maintain some level of engagement in the maintenance of your professional competence while on leave.  

You should sign in to your PCS Portal. Scroll to the ‘make a request’ section on your dashboard and click on ‘confirm extended absence from work’. Here you can complete the online form.

If your absence has occurred for three months or more during the professional competence year (which runs from 1 May to 30 April), we will record the absence on your PCS portfolio and an annotation will be appear against the relevant year on your Statement of Participation.  You may be required by the Medical Council to produce documentation supporting your absence from practice if you are selected for a Maintenance of Professional Competence Audit. 

You can easily access your RCSI PCS portal from your smartphone.   The mobile-optimised version of the portal allows you to view your portfolio details and upload activities directly from your device.

Steps to Access:

1. Open the web browser on your smartphone.
2. Go to www.rcsi.com/portal.
3. Sign in to your PCS portal using your login credentials.
4. Once signed in, tap the menu or share icon at the top of your screen and select “Add to Home Screen.”
5. An RCSI icon will then appear on your home screen for quick and easy future access.

You can access your enrolment receipt through the 'My Receipts' section of the PCS Portal.   This serves as your official confirmation of enrolment in the Professional Competence Scheme. 

To download your receipt:

1. Sign in to the PCS Portal at www.rcsi.com/portal
2. Click on your name in the top right-hand corner of the page
3. Select “My Receipts” to view and download your enrolment receipt

Please note our RCSI CPD Mid'point Recruitment Cycle will open on Monday, 8 December 2025

This year’s programme includes a wide range of courses for NCHD's in surgery and emergency medicine including Trauma 360 - Simulation for Survival Certificate, Managing Adverse Events, Core Clinical Communication Skills for Aspiring Surgeons, and more. The programme also includes self-paced online courses, including a new course, Good Clinical Practice, Safe Clinical Handovers, Communication Skills for Video and Telephone Consultations and Medical Science for Surgery and Emergency Medicine.

For more information, please click here or email cpdss@rcsi.ie

Register today - Masterclass in Basic and Advanced Hepatobiliary Surgical Techniques

Join RCSI on Wednesday, 15 April 2026 for our Masterclass in Basic and Advanced Hepatobiliary Surgical Techniques aimed at HPB Registrars, General Surgeons and Surgical NCHDs who have completed at least two years of surgical training.

The main focus of the masterclass will be on hands-on simulation which will be proctored by experienced HPB surgeons.

The hands-on sessions will give attendees an introduction to both advanced and basic HPB procedures including Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and Laparoscopic liver resection.

For more information, please visit: https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/professional-cpd/cpdss/introduction-to-hepatobiliary-surgical-techniques/course-details

Register today – Brand New MRCS Part B Preparation – Core Clinical Communication Skills for Aspiring Surgeons – Tuesday 9 December 2025

Interested in significantly improving your Core Communications skills to perform exceptionally within Communication Stations within the MRCS Part B OSCE Examination?

RCSI’s interactive 1-day MRCS Part B preparation course is designed to support aspiring surgeons not trained in Ireland in developing essential communication skills critical for clinical practice and examination success.

Participants will focus on key areas including establishing rapport, gathering and delivering information effectively, and communicating by telephone.

Through realistic mock patient interviews, MRCS Part B candidates will have the opportunity to apply these skills to enhance both confidence and performance.