MOPS program requirements

Participate annually in a variety of educational activities, consistent with the Activity Credits Table, and maintain a record of the participation.

Points Per Annum

Approximately 100 points need to be achieved per annum. The AFOEM MOPS Program is based on a five year cycle and total points over five years must exceed 500.

Minimum Points Per Annum

The minimum number of points to be considered active in the MOPS Program is 35 points in a year, with no more than two years in a five year cycle at 35 points/year.

Category Participation

A minimum of 30 points must be gained in Category 1, Conferences; each Fellow must determine which sub-category utilising the Guide;
Five points or more must be gained in a category other than Category 1;
A Category 4 activity is compulsory;
Points cannot be claimed in Category 6, Other, without submission to the MOPS Committee and allocation of points by the MOPS Committee.

Audit

The Faculty Office forwards the Credit Distribution Card in January of the year following the one for which points will be claimed. The Fellow must complete the Credit Distribution Card and return it to the Faculty Office by March 1st of that year.
The Credit Distribution Card is completed for points gained in the preceding year. The Faculty forwards a letter confirming receipt of the Credit Distribution Card to each Fellow. In case of non-receipt of such a letter, maintain a photocopy of the Credit Distribution Card for at least five years (completion of one cycle).

Documentation for Audit

In general, documentation required must contain the Fellow's name, a date relevant to the year claiming points, identification of the activity, duration of the activity, identification of the organisation (and at times, its credentials) to provide the activity, and finally, some indication that the Fellow did participate in the activity.

Examples of documents:

• Receipts or letters confirming attendance at conferences, meetings or courses;
  Program of the conference or scientific meeting, clearly identifying the organising body,
• duration of the conference, and papers that have occupational medicine content (usually with speakers listed);
• Letter confirming presentation of a paper at a conference, chairing a session or participating in an expert panel;
• Program identifying Fellow as speaker, chairperson or panel expert;
• Minutes of a committee meeting identifying attendance of Fellow at meeting;
• Annual attendance summary signed by Chairperson of a committee;
• Letter from editor or publisher identifying in what journal or book a Fellow's work is to be published;
• Copies of the first page of an article or book chapter (or book), identifying the Fellow as author, and the publication journal;
• Teaching activities, such as lecturing, supervisor of trainees, examiner, require a letter of appointment or acknowledgement for delivering the activity.

MOPS Activity Attendance Form

Some scientific meetings or seminars do not provide letters confirming registration or attendance. In such circumstances,  any documentation that provides the same information and signature of a member of the organising body can be used.

Commencement in the MOPS Program

Fellows may commence in the MOPS Program at any stage of their career. Customarily, trainees who have been successful in the Fellowship examinations would commence in the program in the following year. They will be sent, along with other Fellows, a MOPS form in the year following that. It is therefore recommended that the newly graduated Fellows plan their year's continuing education activities and commence collecting their documentation from 1st January of the year following their examination.

Other Fellows, and those who are not in the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, but wish to participate in the MOPS Program, may contact the Faculty Office at any stage to request a Guide to the MOPS Program and MOPS form.

Those who are not members of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine will be requested to pay a fee for inclusion in the MOPS Program.

Suspend from MOPS Program

Fellows are able to suspend participation in the MOPS Program for several years without penalty. Re-entry into the MOPS Program occurs at the same level and period which the Fellow suspended. A full five year participation must occur for a cycle to be completed.

Should the Fellow suspend from the program for more than a few years, an additional period of time may be required to satisfactorily complete a cycle.

Application for suspension must be in writing, clearly stating the reasons for the request. The MOPS Committee will consider each application on a case by case basis. In some States of Australia and New Zealand, suspension from the MOPS Program may carry implications for specialist/consultant registration.

Withdrawal from MOPS Program

Fellows who retire, or pursue careers that do not involve occupational medicine practice, are requested to write to the MOPS Committee informing them of their withdrawal from the MOPS Program.

Joint Fellowship

A number of AFOEM Fellows have Fellowship status in other Colleges or Faculties. Participation in this Faculty's MOPS Program must be full and complete to be considered active within the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's MOPS Program.

There is no reciprocal arrangement whereby participation in another Faculty or College's program bestows accreditation in this Faculty's Program.

However, some activities in other Faculties or Colleges can justifiably be considered for and attract points in the AFOEM MOPS Program.

International Conferences, unless listed above, will need to be assessed by the MOPS Committee before points can be allocated. Relevant supporting documentation must be forwarded to the Faculty Office before the end of the year.