About Professional Competence
Introduction
Part 11 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 (MPA 2007) places a statutory obligation on all registered medical practitioners to participate and engage in continuous professional development and indicate maintenance of standards of professional competence. As the body accredited by the Medical Council for Radiology and Radiation Oncology, the Faculty of Radiologists is formally recognised by the Irish Medical Council (IMC) to administer a Professional Competence Scheme (PCS) for Radiology and Radiation Oncology. Participation by Radiologists and Radiation Oncologists in the PCS is a legal requirement from 1 May 2011.
Further information on the PCS is available here: PCS Handbook 2020
For information on overseas practitioners and trainees, please see the Medical Council guidelines: Guide to Overseas Practitioners & Trainees
If you are on the Medical Register, but are currently not practicing, please see the following advice from the Medical Council here.
Credits
For each year of the Professional Competence Scheme, to be compliant, registrants are required to earn at a minimum:
- 50 minimum credits per year, plus clinical audit
- 250 minimum credits per five year cycle, plus clinical audit
The following are the recognised categories:
- External (Maintenance of Knowledge and Skills): 100 credits per 5 year cycle – 20 minimum per year
- Internal (Practice Evaluation & Development): 100 credits per 5 year cycle – 20 minimum per year
- Personal Learning: 25 credits minimum per 5 year cycle – 5 credits minimum per year
- Research or Teaching: 10 credits per 5 year cycle – 2 credits minimum per year desirable
- Audit (Mandatory, annual minimum 12): Radiologists and Radiation Oncologists must pursue 1 audit project each year.
If the target for any category is not met in one year, the deficit must be made up the following year. If a practitioner is not compliant with the scheme for two consecutive years, the Faculty’s CPD verification process is triggered. Further details on credits required is available here.
Click here for a list of external events – please note that the Faculty has not organised all of these and the organisers should be contacted for further information.
PCS Dates
PCS year 10 (current year): 1 May 2020 - 30 April 2020
PCS year 9: 1 May 2019 - 30 April 2020
PCS year 8: 1 May 2018 – 30 April 2019
PCS year 7: 1 May 2017 – 30 April 2018
PCS year 6 : 1 May 2016 – 30 April 2017
PCS year 5: 1 May 2015 – 30 April 2016
PCS Year 4: 1 May 2014 – 30 April 2015
PCS Year 3: 1 May 2013 – 30 April 2014
PCS Year 2: 1 May 2012 – 30 April 2013
PCS Year 1: 1 May 2011 – 30 April 2012
PCS Application Form
To enrol on the PCS, please complete the form below. Please note that this form is only for first time applicants to the PCS.
Once the form has been completed, return it to:
The Faculty of Radiologists
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
123 St. Stephen’s Green Dublin 2
Tel: 01-402 2139, Fax: 01-402 2466
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Renewal of subscriptions
Renewal of subscriptions are now done online through the Faculty Member Login section.
A guidance document on how to renew your subscriptions can be found here.
For any further information on the PCS, please contact Kayla Gant on 01 402 2139 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CPD-SS Registration
In order to support NCHDs who are currently not in a training post to continue, maintain and enhancing their clinical knowledge and skills the HSE has developed the Continuous Professional Development Support Scheme.
The Continuous Professional Development Support Scheme (CPD-SS) is an educational programme open to all NCHDs working in the public health service who
- are in non-training posts
- hold a 2010 NCHD contract with the HSE
- and are registered on a Professional Competence Scheme.
The CPD-SS is funded by the HSE. It helps you enhance your clinical knowledge and skills and fulfil some of your Professional Competence Scheme requirements in line with Medical Council requirements. Enrolment is free of charge.
The deadline to enrol is 30 September 2020.
Entry Criteria
- You are not enrolled in an intern training programme or on a postgraduate specialist training programme such as BST or HST
- You are enrolled on a Professional Competence Scheme applicable to your specialty
- You have paid your Professional Competence Scheme subscription
- You hold a 2010 NCHD contract
- You are working in the public health service
- You are on the General or Supervised Division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council
To find out more about this scheme you can read the CPD-SS Guidance Document 2020/21
To register for CPD-SS please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your interest.
MedHub
To ensure that robust, auditable records of CPD activities are maintained for Radiologists and Radiation Oncologists, the Professional Competence Scheme is supported by an online information system called MedHub. On MedHub Radiologists and Radiation Oncologists can:
- Access their CPD programme requirements.
- Maintain an accurate record of their CPD activities as they occur.
- Have immediate access to CPD levels achieved versus the programme’s requirements, allowing them to effectively plan their professional development activities to meet requirements.
- Upload certificates of verification (i.e. accredited CPD points certificates awarded from meetings).
- Download statements of participation
MedHub User Guide 2018
Click on logo to access MedHub:
Guides & Newsletters
PCS Handbook 2020
MedHub User Guide 2018
PCS FAQs
Professional Competence Schemes for Doctors in Non-Clinical Practice
Guidelines on Internal Events
Medical Council Guide to Audit Please note that this relates to the Audit carried out by the Medical Council, and not the PCS category of clinical audit
Clinical Audit – what is involved?
Professional Development Programmes Guidance Document – July 2014
PCS Newsletter October 2013
PCS Newsletter April 2013
PCS Newsletter November 2012