Frequently Asked Questions

You must use the online ePortfolio tool accessible through the IIOP website. This is a requirement under the PSI(Continuing Professional Development) Rules 2015 (SI No 553 of 2015), which came into effect on 1 January 2016. These Rules do not provide for the use of any other CPD tool.

CPD activities include anything which helps improve practice and which will improve the service provided to patients and ultimately patient safety. It is understood that everyone has different learning needs and that people learn in a variety of different ways with their own preferred learning methods.

CPD can therefore include a variety of activities including:

• knowledge and skills acquired at conferences and courses,
• practice-based learning including feedback from audits, analysis and review of critical incidents (i.e. your own experiences),
•  reading, writing or undertaking research,
•  learning with others, for example talking to colleagues or going to workshops.

CPD activities may include informal “on-the-job” learning as well as formally accredited educational programmes and non-formal learning which includes educational activities which have not been formally accredited.

Please refer to the IIOP website for further information on the ePortfolio system.

Yes. Any relevant course or training programme, or 'on the job' learning that enhances your practice as a pharmacist will be recognised and can be included in your ePortfolio.

The PSI model of CPD is designed to be self-reflective. Pharmacists will naturally identify areas within their practice that may need improvement and/or development. The important part of this process is that you address these areas to ensure that you are practising in a safe manner.

It should be noted that pharmacists are required to declare that they are competent to practice at the time of annual continued registration. The ePortfolio review process has been developed to ensure that pharmacists can demonstrate that they are adequately engaging with CPD, which is appropriate for their particular type of practice as a pharmacist.

In the event that a pharmacist fails to meet the standard at the end of the ePortfolio Review process, they will receive support and guidance from the IIOP on how to address their development needs, including the next steps for their review. However, if following repeated opportunities to meet the standards for review, a pharmacist has not demonstrated that they are appropriately engaging in CPD, the IIOP has a statutory obligation to notify the PSI.

A policy is in place to take account of extenuating circumstances, which may impact on a pharmacist’s ability to submit their ePortfolio under the review process. Extenuating circumstances are circumstances (that may include maternity leave) which are deemed to be beyond the control of the pharmacist and which would have an impact on their ability to submit ePortfolio for review.

If you feel that you have reason to be exempted due to an extenuating circumstance, you will be required to apply to the PSI under the exemption process. These applications will be dealt with on a case by case basis. You will be required to make an application to the Registrar setting out the details of the extenuating circumstance.

Yes, once you are a registered pharmacist with the PSI you must engage with the CPD system and the ePortfolio Review process.

While the PSI does not hold a non-practising Register, it does operate a system of voluntary cancellation from the Register. More information on this can be found in the registration section.

If you are a registered pharmacist with the PSI you must engage with the CPD system and the ePortfolio Review process. The CPD ePortfolio is an electronic online system which can be accessed remotely.

All correspondence throughout the process is by email and pharmacists should be aware of communication and reminders about the annual process. 

While the PSI does not hold a non-practising Register, it does operate a system of voluntary cancellation from the Register. More information on this can be found in the registration section.

A policy is in place to take account of extenuating circumstances, which may impact on a pharmacist’s ability to submit their ePortfolio under the review process. Extenuating circumstances are circumstances which are deemed to be beyond the control of the pharmacist and which would have an impact on their ability to participate in ePortfolio Review.

If you feel that you have reason to be exempted, you will be required to apply to the PSI under the exemption process and this information is contained at the link above. Applications will be dealt with confidentially and on a case by case basis. You will be required to make an application to the Registrar setting out the details of the extenuating circumstance.

The CPD system applies to all registered pharmacists, whether you are currently practising or not. If you are a registered pharmacist with the PSI you are entitled to practise and therefore you must engage with the CPD system and the ePortfolio Review process. 

While the PSI does not hold a non-practising Register, it does operate a system of voluntary cancellation from the Register. More information on is available on the registration section.

Under the of the Pharmacy Act, at the time of applying for annual continued registration, pharmacists are required to make a declaration confirming that they have been maintaining appropriate experience, keeping abreast of continuing education and maintaining CPD and that they are engaging with the IIOP and undertaking the reporting of CPD activities.

Furthermore, pharmacists will also be required to indicate if they have been requested to submit their ePortfolio to the IIOP for review and advise of their status in relation to this. If you have completed the ePortfolio review process and have met the standard you will be issued with a certificate from the IIOP.

A pharmacist who fails to engage with ePortfolio Review will be referred by the IIOP to the PSI. This matter is serious and will be considered by the Registrar of the PSI on case-by-case basis.

In the event that a pharmacist fails to meet the standard at the end of the ePortfolio Review process, they will be offered support and guidance from the IIOP on how to address their development needs, including the next steps for their review. However, if following a second attempt to meet the standards, a pharmacist has not demonstrated that they are appropriately engaging in CPD, the IIOP has a statutory obligation to notify the PSI. Each circumstance will be considered by the Registrar of the PSI and will be reviewed on its own merits.