Mandatory continuing professional education. A review

Proponents of mandatory continuing professional education (MCPE) contend that continuing professional education is necessary to ensure clinical competence and prevent professional obsolescence. Opponents believe that MCPE is contrary to adult learning principles. Although the research demonstrates positive attitudes towards MCPE in those groups undertaking continuing education programmes, there has been insufficient quantitative research which examines whether continuing education results in enhancement of practitioner performance and improvement of patient care. Currently, there are no MCPE requirements in Australia for the general practice of physiotherapy. The recommendation for the physiotherapy profession is to address the immediate need for research into the relationship between continuing education and clinical competence.