Mainpro+® FAQs

The CFPC is sunsetting the two- and three-credits-per-hour system after eight years because we've observed that:

• Providers are developing fewer of these activities
• Members are sometimes unable to complete all the required elements, preventing them from claiming certified credits for the work they completed

To address these challenges and help you maximize the credits you earn, we’ve introduced the new system of Optional Enhanced Activities. This system allows you to earn extra credits by completing optional activities that fit into your schedule. Starting December 2024, all activities earn one credit per hour and providers have the ability to include optional enhancements for extra credit.

All existing two- and three-credits-per-hour activities will be valid until their expiration date or December 31, 2025, whichever is sooner. Be sure to check your certificate of participation to confirm the number of credits you can claim in Mainpro+.

Consolidating the credit categories from six to three allows for:

• Clearer credit allocation
• Streamlined credit entry on the Mainpro+ platform
• Optimized progress tracking

Yes, we recognize that CPD is always changing and evolving. In the new system you may claim non-certified credits for real life learning opportunities such as consultations with a colleague, online discussions, or coaching and mentoring. Additionally, you can claim two credit types (Certified and Certified Assessment) for some activities, such as advanced life support (ALS) courses, that incorporate assessment elements.

The change to require 10 Certified Assessment credits over a five-year cycle aligns with priorities set by our medical regulatory authorities, who focus on practice improvement. Recent studies show that there is evidence supporting the impact and importance of CPD activities that drive learning and behaviour change through reflection on data and various types of feedback on a physician’s practice.

Assessment activities have already been shown to be a valuable source of CPD for Mainpro+ participants across the country. Recent assessment credit submissions by participants demonstrate an increasing demand for assessment activities—about 8,000 activity submissions by participants in 2020/21, and 11,000 submissions in 2021/22.

There are multiple ways to fulfill this credit requirement, including:
Professional Learning Plan (PLP): Earn up to 20 Mainpro+ Certified Assessment credits. The PLP tool provides step-by-step guidance to identify learning needs, offers new opportunities for practice improvement, and helps you plan CPD goals.

Linking Learning Activities: Earn five Mainpro+ Certified Assessment credits per exercise. Linking Learning Activities allow you to earn Mainpro+ Certified Assessment credits by reflecting on learning that occurs during conferences, seminars, and courses, as well as during your daily work such as interactions with peers, teaching, research, journal reading, etc.

Other Mainpro+ Certified Assessment activities and combined learning activities: The CFPC continues to work with CPD providers to support the development of Mainpro+ Certified Assessment activities. Starting in December 2024, Mainpro+ users can claim both Certified and Certified Assessment credits for activities such as Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) courses, or being an examiner for certification exams, which have incorporated assessment components.

Your current cycle dates and all of your existing credits were transferred into the new system with the launch of the new platform in December 2024.

Yes. Many aspects of the Mainpro+ requirements remain the same including your ability to claim up to 50 Mainpro+ Certified credits for Royal College MOC Section 1 credits or Certified Assessment credits for Royal College MOC Section 3 credits.

Yes. You can use UpToDate to earn Certified Credits in the same way as you have in the past. You can also reflect on the impact of your literature review using the Linking Learning to Practice exercise, which entitles you to an additional five Certified Assessment credits.

With our Linking Learning program you can earn Mainpro+ Certified Assessment credits by reflecting on many types of learning activities. Linking Learning exercises allow you to reflect on a recent experience or activity and document how it will affect your practice. The exercises involve Linking Learning to:

• Administration
• Assessment
• Practice
• Research
• Teaching

Earn five Certified Assessment credits for each completed Linking Learning exercise. These exercises are online, they can be completed over multiple sessions, and there is no limit to how many you can do in each cycle.

We rigorously review events to determine their eligibility for certified credits. If an industry-sponsored event bears a College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) certification statement, it has met the requirements for certification and is eligible for credits. Any industry-sponsored promotional events or meetings that do not bear a CFPC certification statement are not eligible for certified or non-certified credits in Mainpro+.

Yes, keep it for a minimum of six years in case you are selected for a random audit. We recommend that you keep your original confirmation and upload an electronic copy to Mainpro+ when you enter your activity.

Mainpro+ credits are meant to recognize and give credit for learning including learning that happens while practising family medicine. Any activity or event that stimulates learning can potentially be a source for Mainpro+ credits by using the CFPC ’s Linking Learning exercises. Each Linking Learning exercise will guide you through the process of assessing and reflecting on learning that took place, allowing you to claim credits for non-certified activities or learning opportunities. Each completed Linking Learning exercise is certified for five Certified Assessment credits.

If you are not sure whether your volunteer work qualifies, please contact us at [email protected] for assistance.

Certified Assessment activities allow Mainpro+ participants to earn credits for activities that stimulate learning through the analysis of data and provision of feedback. For example, completing a practice audit, participating in a quality assurance program, or participating as an examiner for CFPC exams could be eligible for Certified Assessment credits. An activity that includes both assessment elements where participants are offered feedback on their learning or performance as well as non-assessment style learning may be eligible for both Certified and Certified Assessment credits; for example, advanced life-support and related programs. View the full list of activities.

MMainpro+ is optional for Resident (Learner) members. However, the CFPC encourages you to report all continuing professional development (CPD) activities completed outside of your residency training program curriculum (e.g., journal clubs, conferences, workshops, advanced life-support training). Participating in Mainpro+ as a resident helps ease your transition from Learner to Practising member.

As a bonus, up to 40 certified credits earned and reported during your residency cycle will automatically be carried forward to your first active Mainpro+ cycle. Check out our Mainpro+ for Learner members video for more information:

Yes, you are required to meet and fulfill the Mainpro+ cycle requirements. However, CPD transcripts from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College) will be accepted in lieu of manual entry of activities into Mainpro+.

Practising members must meet all Mainpro+ requirements regardless of their country of residence.

Practising members  residing outside of Canada and the United States may claim credits for local CPD/continuing medical education (CME) activities provided that either of the following circumstances apply:

• The activities fulfill the CPD/CME requirements of a national college or academy of family physicians of which you are a member
• The activities are judged to be equivalent in quality and standards to those approved through Mainpro+

You must submit a copy of your annual credit profile or information regarding CPD activities you have completed to the CFPC’s CPD Department.

For programs held in the United States, please visit our Claiming Credits From National and International Organizations page to read more about AAFP and AMA activities. Please note that AMA activities are subject to a maximum of 50 certified credits per five-year cycle.

If you will be away from your medical practice for a period of six months or longer due to personal illness or parental leave, or to be the primary caregiver for a family member with an illness, please contact the CFPC as soon as possible to discuss your CPD cycle. The CFPC can grant a one-year cycle extension in these situations.

If you are a Practising member who stops practising to pursue additional full-time residency training, your current Mainpro+ cycle will stop, and you will be assigned a temporary Learner member cycle. You may continue to report Mainpro+ credits as usual with no restriction on the number of credits that may be earned and reported. Upon completion of your residency training, you will be assigned to a new five-year Practising cycle. You may carry forward up to 40 Mainpro+ certified credits from your Learner member cycle to this new Practising cycle. During your training you are eligible for a reduced membership fee only if you are pursuing a full-time residency (please contact the Membership Department for more information).

Note: Training courses and projects that are considered part of a residency program/curriculum are not eligible for Mainpro+ credits.

While pursuing additional postgraduate education (e.g., a Master of Education, a PhD in epidemiology) or participating in enhanced skills training (e.g., three months’ training in obstetrics or pain management) you will remain a Practising member and continue to report Mainpro+ credits as usual, with no restriction on the number of credits you earn and report. Requests for a cycle extension must be made in writing to the CFPC’s CPD Department. Requests regarding membership fees must be made in writing to the Member Care Centre.

Yes, you are required to fulfill your Mainpro+ requirements during a sabbatical. If you are taking a minimum of six consecutive months off from practice due to illness or pregnancy /parental leave, please contact the CFPC as soon as possible to determine the most appropriate course of action.

Direct credit entry gives program organizers the opportunity to report the amount and types of credits participants have earned directly to the College. However, a few weeks may be required to process the information and enter it in your Mainpro+ account. If the credits fail to appear in your account after four weeks, please contact the CPD department, or the program organizers to make sure your participation was recorded and submitted properly.

Activities certified or accredited by the Royal College or the AMA are subject to a maximum of 50 certified credits per five-year cycle. To view your cycle totals for these activities, click the text at the bottom of the Credit Summary section.

Mainpro+ participants are required to claim a minimum of 10 Certified Assessment credits. Under regular circumstances, participants will have a five-year cycle to fulfill this requirement.

The CFPC is committed to making sure participants have access to Certified Assessment activities to support them in meeting this requirement. In addition to working with CPD providers across the country to encourage and support the development of Certified Assessment activities, the CFPC has developed several assessment activities that are free and accessible to CFPC members.

If you have any questions regarding Certified Assessment credit compliance, please feel free to reach out to us at 1-800-387-6197, ext. 560, or at [email protected]. We are in your corner and here to support you.

Generally, all Mainpro+ participants are required to claim 10 Certified Assessment credits within a five-year cycle.
However, when the requirement was introduced, Mainpro+ participants who were already partially through their five-year cycle—with one to four years remaining—only need to fulfill a reduced or pro-rated requirement equivalent to two Certified Assessment credits per remaining year of their cycle.

For example, a participant with three years remaining in their five-year cycle would only be required to complete six Certified Assessment credits during the remainder of that cycle. A member with only one year remaining in their five-year cycle when the requirement was introduced would only require two Certified Assessment credits.

If you have any questions regarding Certified Assessment credit compliance, please feel free to reach out to us at 1-800-387-6197, ext. 560, or at [email protected]. We are in your corner and here to support you.

The Linking Learning suite of activities allows Mainpro+ users to claim credits for nearly any type of learning opportunity—learn more about these activities. If you are still not sure about how to claim your credits, contact our Mainpro+ coordinators at 1-800-387-6197, ext. 560, or at [email protected]. We are here to help!

There is a six-week grace period following the cycle end date during which Practising members and  NMMPs who have not yet fulfilled their CPD requirements can still report their outstanding credits for activities they have completed. If you do not meet your credit requirements by the end of the six-week grace period, you will be placed in a two-year remedial cycle.

Individuals who fail to comply with the CFPC’s requirements related to CPD and/or annual membership fees shall have their CFPC membership and the right to use any CFPC Special Designations suspended or revoked as per section 9.1.1. of the CFPC bylaws:

9.1.1 Failure to complete the Mainpro+ requirements may result in discontinuation of membership, which includes forfeiture of the privilege to use CFPC-related designations.

Failure to meet the Mainpro+ requirements may result in the discontinuation of your CFPC membership, which includes forfeiture of the privilege to use CFPC Special Designations.

Any CFPC Practising member or NMMP who does not meet the credit requirements of their five-year cycle will be placed in a two-year remedial cycle. During a two-year remedial cycle:

• The use of all applicable CFPC Special Designations (e.g., CCFP, MCFP, FCFP, and CACs) is suspended
• Mainpro+ participants are required to earn and report a total of 100 credits, of which at least 50 must be Certified and/or Certified Assessment credits, of which at least four must be Certified Assessment credits
• Mainpro+ participants must submit/upload a valid certificate of attendance or completion for each Certified or Certified Assessment activity they claim at the time of credit entry for credit validation and approval.

Cycle and Special Designation status updates will be reported to the appropriate licensing body.

As per the CFPC’s bylaws and privacy policy, the College regularly exchanges Mainpro+ compliance information with provincial and territorial licensing bodies.