The West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) has made it official: all doctors must complete a minimum of 30 CPD (Continuing Professional Development) credit hours in five years to renew their medical license.
This new requirement, announced in a notice dated 04.04.2025, is now mandatory and aligns with guidelines suggested earlier by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
🩺 What Are CPD Credit Hours?
CPD credit hours are points doctors earn by attending seminars, conferences, or other medical educational events.
- Typically, 1 hour = 1 credit point
- A total of 30 points in 5 years is now required for registration renewal
This move encourages doctors to stay updated with the latest medical knowledge and treatment methods.
📝 Key Highlights from the WBMC Notice:
- 30 credit hours in 5 years is now compulsory for license renewal.
- Doctors must submit valid certificates from approved conferences or seminars.
- The nature of the event will determine how many points it earns.
- Organizing institutions must get prior approval from the Medical Council for the event to be eligible for CPD points.
- Only unused certificates should be returned to the Council after the event.
🗣️ What Medical Experts Are Saying
The Vice-President of WBMC said:
“Earlier, no proof was required. Now, doctors must show evidence of attending educational events every 5 years.”
The President of the West Bengal Doctors’ Forum, welcomed the move but stressed:
“The criteria for awarding CPD hours should be made public to ensure transparency and avoid misuse.”
Doctors across West Bengal are encouraged to participate actively in professional learning events and ensure they collect official certificates showing how many CPD hours they’ve earned.
📚 How to Earn CPD Credit Hours?
- Attend seminars, workshops, and medical conferences approved by the WBMC.
- Look for events organized by medical colleges, hospitals, and professional medical associations.
- Always collect your CPD certificate with clearly mentioned hours.
- Submit these certificates during your license renewal process.
💡 Why This Matters
- Keeps doctors up to date with medical advancements.
- Encourages lifelong learning and better patient outcomes.
- Creates a uniform standard of practice across the state.
- Ensures accountability and professional ethics are maintained.
📢 Call to Action for Doctors:
✔ Start tracking your CPD credit hours
✔ Attend approved medical education programs regularly
✔ Collect and safely store your certificates
✔ Stay informed about WBMC’s upcoming rules and updates
Let’s work together to raise the standard of healthcare by embracing continuous learning and responsible practice.
To register for our next masterclass please click here https://linktr.ee/docpreneur
