GOC calls for clarity on College CET plan

Under the plans, which will take effect from January 2000, practitioners will be responsible for submitting their own CET credit totals to the College for the preceding year. Richard Wilshin, GOC registrar, who was unaware of the College's intentions until this week, said that 'in principle, self-certification seems to be a valid means to record a practitioner's CET.' But he warned: 'Clear guidance needs to be given on the content and number of credits of any CET to ensure its relevance to the practitioner's requirements.' Mr Wilshin said that while he welcomed any action to encourage and develop the profession's CET, it remained to be seen whether self-certification would prove to be a reliable means of evaluating the extent and validity of CET. Ann Duignan, the College's CET committee chairman, said she hoped the move would deliver 'greater ownership' of the scheme to practitioners, and that it would allow the College more time to concentrate on providing quality CET. Ms Duignan admitted that the College had been overwhelmed by the 'considerable workload' involved in administering CET, and that a move towards self-certification would improve the existing system. 'CET does require a lot of organisation, especially with the high levels of participants we have at present. 'Hopefully this change will give us time to process courses for approval which have increased dramatically over the last year,' she said.