Professional Competence Audit

30 January 2013 - 30 April 2013

Details of the upcoming verification process of the Professional Competence Scheme (PCS)

Two separate audit / verification processes are carried out annually within the PCS.

1. Medical Council Audit:

On 7th December 2012, the Medical Council wrote to 15% of all doctors on their registers, requesting a copy of their Statement of Participation in a Professional Competence Scheme.  This document may be printed off from your online account or I can provide a confirmation letter for you. No further documentation is required by the Medical Council.

2. Training Body Verification Process:

The Medical Council requires that all the training bodies running Professional Competence Schemes conduct an annual verification process on a percentage of the enrolled doctors.

In February 2013, we will randomly select and write to 3% of all doctors enrolled on the ICOs Professional Competence Scheme.  I will request documentary evidence of the CPD credits and Clinical Audit status as stated on their Year 1 Statement of Participation.  I will be asking for all evidence to be submitted  within 6 weeks.

The verification process in its present form is a tickbox exercise to check that appropriate evidence can be produced to verify the category and number of CPD credits claimed.

Confidentiality will be maintained at all times.  

The examination of evidence will be a simple comparison of the number of external, internal, personal and research / examining / postgraduate teaching & supervision credits which appear on the Year 1 Statement of Participation, with the documentary evidence uploaded or submitted. (certificate of attendance/sign-in sheet etc)