Frequently Asked Questions – ARCS CPD Scheme

STP candidates may wish to defer the start of their CPD cycle until after their training is complete. To do this, a special circumstance extension request should be made by the candidate. Their 5 year cycle will then be extended for the duration of the STP training meaning that the 5 year CPD cycle will starts after STP training is complete.

You will no longer have access to your ‘on line’ diary or historic records. It is recommended therefore that you access and print off all personal and subscribed activities prior to departure from the scheme.

You can find out more about the ARCS CPD scheme on the ARCS website.

Paper or electronic evidence is required to be kept for your own personal records. You will not be requested to submit or upload electronic evidence for ARCS CPD audit.

If you are registered with the HCPC, you may be audited at random and need to provide evidence of CPD. ARCS CPD audits are not linked to the HCPC.

On completion of your 5 year cycle, please indicate via the ARCS CPD website or mailto:cpd@arcscientists.org to request ‘validation and certification’. To gain a CPD certificate you need to accumulate 250 credits in total within a five-year period from joining the scheme. This will be subject to review by the CPD committee. Please refer to the Policy document for more details.

Points can be claimed by undertaking reflection and evaluation of learning outcomes.

Yes. Points can be claimed using the appropriate code. Please refer to the points table for details.

No, unless the learning outcome is different for each presentation.

You need to accumulate 250 points in the 5 year period. To remain on target it is suggested that you maintain a minimum of 50 points per year with 10 points in the mandatory categories of clinical, professional, and personal.

Points are not required in the academic category. The Clinical, Professional and Personal categories require a minimum of 50 points each over every 5 year period.

Yes

The pass mark is 7/10 for ARCS JBL scheme and this will count as five points to your CPD. In-house JBL meetings should be claimed as a clinical meetings. Any personal reading can be claimed as a separate activity.

Your review should be a brief description of what you did, what you learned from the activity and how this may be relevant to your professional practice.

You can apply for an extension in the ‘special circumstances’ area of the ARCS CPD website for up to 18 months.

Membership is not an absolute requirement during maternity leave, however, if your membership lapses, your CPD cycle will end and you will not be able to complete a 5 year cycle. You will need to begin a new 5 year cycle when you restart your membership. For your cycle to remain active, you will need to continue your membership of ARCS throughout your maternity leave and request an extension via a special circumstances application.

Points may be claimed for webinar participation, online courses and networking events relating to your job role.

Yes. Please refer to the policy document.

You can claim points for every hour of attendance (excluding rest breaks), up to a maximum of 8 points per day. You may need to duplicate activities from one day to the next if you are claiming more than 8 points in total for the event.

Points cannot be claimed for ongoing registration. Points can be claimed for academic studies whilst working towards registration (5/year and 10 once registration awarded).

All activities will fit into one of the existing codes and it is up to the individual member to determine which code is most appropriate.

A range of learning activities can be included as long as they serve to keep your professional learning and professional practice up to date. See the ARCS CPD points table.

The ARCS CPD works through an electronic diary system where you manage and record activities undertaken, allocate points according to professional body guidance (see ARCS CPD points table) and reflect on the learning experience from the activity.

Yes. Please refer to the policy document which is available via the ARCS website.

CPD is not a requirement for STPs or pre-registrant clinical scientists but is incorporated in the STP program and would form part of the portfolio of evidence for the ACS application for HCPC registration.

To ensure that your knowledge and skills remain current, enabling you to deliver the highest standard of care to patients.

It is good practice to begin CPD as soon as you become an ARCS member and are working in an HFEA or IMB licensed laboratory.

STP candidates may wish to defer the start of their CPD cycle until after their training is complete. To do this, a special circumstance extension request should be made by the candidate. Their 5 year cycle will then be extended for the duration of the STP training meaning that the 5 year CPD cycle will starts after STP training is complete.