Overview
Notice of Scheduled Closure
The accreditation application system will be unavailable from December 4 2026 to January 4 2027 as we transition to a new application platform.
The last day to submit applications in 2026 is December 4, 2026.
Any applications already in progress will be transferred to the new system and will resume review on January 4, 2027.
UBC CPD is a CACME-accredited CPD Provider
UBC CPD is a CACME-accredited CPD provider and is authorized to review and approve eligible activities for Royal College (MOC) and CFPC (Mainpro+) credits.
Ensure Eligibility
All accredited programs must be planned and delivered under the authority of a not-for-profit physician organization. Only a physician organization may apply for accreditation of a CPD program.
A CPD activity may be eligible if it:
- Is developed and financially managed by a not-for-profit physician organization
- Has a scientific planning committee (SPC) that represents the physician organization
- Has physicians as its primary target audience
- Is evidence-based
- Meets UBC CPD ethical and educational standards
- Addresses at least one CanMEDS/CanMEDS-FM role
- Has finalized content at the time of application
- Will take place in the after accreditation is granted; accreditation cannot be granted retrospectively
Mainpro+ certification of activities that are non-UBC or out of province apply directly to the BC Chapter of the CFPC.
NOTE: Applications from pharmaceutical, medical communications, or for-profit companies will not be accepted.
Is my program eligible?
Before applying, confirm that your program meets the following requirements for eligibility:
☐ Is the appropriate accountability in place?
The program must be developed and delivered by a not-for-profit physician organization with an accountable scientific planning committee (SPC), be evidence-based, and address at least one CanMEDS or CanMEDS-FM role. The physician organization is clearly identified on all program materials.
☐ How is the program funded?
All program funds must be received and managed by the physician organization. The physician organization may pay legitimate program expenses, including honoraria; any surplus must remain with the physician organization to support future CPD activities. If a physician organization covers program costs through its own not-for-profit budget, the program is internally funded.
☐ Has the target audience been identified?
The primary target audience must be physicians (family physicians, specialists, or both) and a needs assessment must have been conducted to identify the needs of those learners.
☐ Has the program content been finalized?
The content, format, duration, and learning objectives must be finalized before the application is submitted. Once approved, the content cannot be changed.
☐ Can the educational time be calculated?
See Credit Count
☐ Has the delivery model been determined?
Ineligible activities
The following activities are not eligible for formal accredited/certified CPD credits. However, participants may be able to claim self-learning credits individually through their college:
- Planning or business meetings in which all participants contribute equally
- Activities with unknown or variable content at the time of application
- Activities containing promotional content
- Activities that have already occurred
- Activities that are delivered for profit
Application Review Fees
A non-refundable fee is charged for application reviews due at the time of submission. Aim to apply 2-3 months ahead of your program start date to maximize your time to advertise CPD credits. The following fees are in effect as of Jan 1 2025 and are subject to an annual increase.
PAY ONLINE (visa or MC): ubccpd.eventsair.com/accred/payment/Site/Register
| APPLICATION TYPE | FEES | |
| Programs with NO commercial sponsorship | ||
| MOC credits only | $695 | |
| Mainpro+ credits only | $695 | |
| MOC and Mainpro+ credits | $1,390 | |
| Programs WITH or seeking commercial sponsorship (+$1000) | ||
| MOC credits only | $1,695 | |
| Mainpro+ credits only | $1,695 | |
| MOC and Mainpro+ credits | $2,390 | |
| EXPEDITED Fees If applying close to program start date | RUSH | |
| 4 weeks before program start date (15 to 20 working days prior) | +$500 | |
| 3 weeks before program start date (10 to 15 working days prior) | +$750 | |
| 2 weeks before program start date (less than 10 working days prior) | Not Accepted | |
Applications received after 4:30pm are dated as the next business day.
Processing time
Allow is 4-6 weeks for review after submission of a complete application package including all documents and signatures. Incomplete applications will delay processing.
Applications received 2-4 weeks before the activity start date are subject to "RUSH" fees.
Applications received within 10 working days of the start date will not be processed.
New applicants: Organizations that have not previously applied may be required to provide documentation demonstrating they meet the criteria of a physician organization. This may extend processing time beyond 4-6 weeks.
Educational Consultation
Accreditation vs Certification
The Royal College uses the term accreditation and the CFPC uses certification. They both refer to programs with CPD credits attached.
Credit Types
UBC CPD can approve only certain MOC and Mainpro+ credit types. The credit type depends on the program format and target audience. See Choose Learning Format for details.
Not sure if your program is eligible? See Ensure Eligibility above.
Credit Count
For most credit types, 1 credit = 1 hour of educational time.
Credit counts should reflect the maximum time required for a single learner to complete the activity once, without repetition.
When calculating credits:
- Group learning: Include the required 25% interactivity in the total time.
- Assessment activities: Estimate completion time by having several physicians complete the activity and using the average time required..
- Multiple workshops in one afternoon: count them once in the timeline, not separately for each offering.
- Repeated programs: Count the program once, even if delivered multiple times during the accreditation period.
- Series: Count the total time required to complete all sessions.
- Modular programs: Count the total time required to complete all modules, even if they may be taken in any order.
Do not include breaks, meals, welcomes, planning meetings, program development, unfacilitated discussions, poster viewing, AGMs, networking, exhibits, sponsor acknowledgements, or other social activities when calculating credits.
Delivery Frequency
Accreditation is valid for one year from program start date. Within that period, activities may be delivered as:
Single Program: Delivered once (e.g., an annual conference). A new application is required each year.
Repeated Program: The same accredited activity is delivered multiple times to different audiences with no changes to content.
Series A planned series of sessions with topics, content, and learning objectives confirmed before application.
Modular programs: A collection of non-sequential modules that learners may complete in any order during the accreditation period.
Rounds/Journal Clubs: Clinical activities in which content may vary between sessions. Because content is not always known at the time of application, rounds and journal clubs require additional oversight and accountability (e.g., department head, chief of staff, or equivalent). If this oversight is not in place, the activity must be submitted as a Series with content finalized in advance.
UBC CPD can certify Mainpro+ rounds and journal clubs with appropriate hospital oversight. For MOC credits, specialist rounds/journal clubs must be self-approved through the Royal College.
RELATED: See Deliver Program > Certificates
During the Review
No reference to MOC or Mainpro+ credits may be made prior to the official approval. Until an application has been approved, it is not permissible to indicate in marketing and communications that credits have been granted, applied for, or pending. The statement "to be advised", or similar, is not permitted.
Post-Activity
Submit a summary of participant responses to the industry bias evaluation question to UBC CPD within three months of the activity completion date.
Accreditation Infographic
