Conditions of approval
Approval to deliver continuing professional development (CPD) activities is also subject to general conditions that may be imposed by the Commissioner for Consumer Protection (Commissioner), and which may be amended from time to time. Approved CPD training providers must comply with these general conditions.
1. Activity delivery
1.1 An approved CPD provider can elect to devise and deliver any number of CPD activities in each CPD year, provided these activities relate to one or more of the three CPD subject areas: legal requirements, ethics or professional responsibility and professional skills, and an accompanying CPD topic.
1.2 CPD topics listed by CPD subject area can be found on the Consumer Protection website.
1.3 An approved CPD provider must develop content and deliver CPD activities in accordance with the Conditions of Approval.
1.4 An approved CPD provider must determine the appropriate length of training for each CPD activity, ensuring the learning outcomes in the outline are met.
1.5 The approved CPD provider must ensure that all CPD activities are delivered as advertised.
2. For online-only training:
2.1 An approved CPD provider must ensure participants are unable to 'fast track' through any online content.
2.2 An approved CPD provider must clearly specify the hours during which the provider will be available to assist with any participant queries.
3. Sub-contracting
3.1 An approved CPD provider may engage another organisation or individual to develop the content and/or deliver a CPD activity on its behalf but remains solely responsible for content and delivery quality.
3.2 Approved CPD training providers must ensure any person or organisation that delivers CPD activities for the approved provider adheres to the Conditions of Approval.
3.3 Approved CPD training providers will be accountable for any failure of their CPD activities to comply with the Conditions of Approval.
4. Cost of CPD training activity
4.1 Approved CPD training providers must ensure all costs that will be charged to a participant to complete a CPD activity are clearly and prominently stated in any advertising material and in a manner that ensures the participant is aware of these costs before enrolling.
5. Record keeping
5.1 Approved CPD training providers must retain records for a period of four years. Approved CPD training providers must provide and/or maintain records as specified in clauses 6 and 7.
6. Participants register
6.1 Approved CPD training providers should retain a register of individuals who have completed a CPD activity including the participant's:
- name as shown on their professional licence;
- licence number;
- email address; and
- phone number.
7. Record of completion
7.1 Approved CPD training providers must provide each participant within 14 days, a written notice (including an electronic copy) demonstrating completion of the CPD activity including the following information:
- the participant's name as shown on their professional licence and licence number;
- the title of the CPD activity that was completed;
- the date the CPD activity was undertaken;
- the method of delivery of the CPD activity;
- the duration in hours of the CPD activity and CPD points earned;
- the name of the approved CPD provider.
8. Notification of certain events to Consumer Protection
An approved CPD provider must notify Consumer Protection in writing within 2 business days of the following events:
8.1 If an approved CPD provider no longer complies with a requirement of these Conditions of Approval and with details of any strategy or action the provider is implementing, or intends to implement to rectify the non-compliance; and
8.2 Any change to the approved CPD provider’s contact or organisation’s registration details (including business and company details and/or registration details with a relevant RTO regulator as applicable).
9. Provision of information to Consumer Protection
9.1 An approved CPD provider must, on written request, provide Consumer Protection with any information required to assess the provider’s compliance with the Conditions of Approval. This may include, but is not limited to, information about:
- the name and contact details of individuals who have completed a CPD activity;
- details of CPD activity content, delivery methods and persons delivering the activity;
- details of complaints, including:
- the number of complaints received by the provider relating to the CPD activity;
- the source and nature of the complaints; and
- the action taken by the approved CPD provider to remedy the matter complained of and the outcome of that action, including what remedial action was taken, if any.
10. Inspection and audit requirements
10.1 An approved CPD provider must comply with any request of Consumer Protection to conduct an inspection, audit or investigation in relation to the delivery of CPD activities. Requests are made at the discretion of Consumer Protection and must be complied with to maintain approval.
10.2 Requests may be related to, but not limited to:
- determining whether the approved CPD provider is complying with the Conditions of Approval;
- understanding the quality of training delivery by the approved CPD provider; or
- in response to a complaint received by Consumer Protection.
11. Fraud prevention and plagiarism
11.1 Procedures must be in place to verify that a participant who registers for a CPD activity is the person who also completes the activity and receives confirmation of completion.
11.2 When providing the activity via an online delivery method, approved CPD training providers should demonstrate a capacity to meet this requirement and should consider:
- using specialist online verification or other proven methods of confirming the identity of participants;
- providing best practice information to participants about setting up and maintaining the security of passwords; and
- ensuring participants’ confidentiality is maintained in accordance with the Australian Privacy provisions.
11.3 Approved CPD training providers must have effective measures to prevent plagiarism or the completion of coursework or assessment by persons other than the participant.
12. Advertising
12.1 An approved CPD provider must not claim, assert or otherwise indicate an affiliation, approval or sponsorship by Consumer Protection or the Commissioner for any other purpose than to indicate it is approved for the delivery of CPD activities.
13. Revocation of approval
13.1 The Commissioner may at any time revoke the approval of the CPD provider to deliver CPD activities. Notice of revocation of approval must be provided in writing and is effective immediately unless otherwise provided in the written notice.
13.2 An approved CPD provider may, on written notice to the Commissioner, cease the delivery of CPD activities.
13.3 An approval to deliver CPD activities will expire at the conclusion of three complete calendar years after the date of approval, or at the expiry of the provider’s approval, whichever is earlier.
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