Important information for current members regarding recertification during COVID-19
If you are due to recertify your Diploma, LoC, MFSRH, or FFSRH qualifications or FRT status this month or during the coming months, we realise that it may be difficult for you to meet all the recertification criteria due to the COVID-19 situation. To support you we have automatically given all our members an extra year to recertify, wherever they are in the recertification cycle. Your updated recertification date is shown in 'Qualification History' box in the MyFSRH members area.
For example, if you are not due to recertify until the end of February 2023, you will now have until the end of February 2024 to recertify. Anyone who is due for recertification this year will therefore also receive an extra year.
This process will happen automatically but if you are ready to recertify now you will still be able to do this in the usual way following the instructions below.
If your membership has expired or you paid a one-off fee for your qualifications, the extra year has not been applied to your qualifications. We will be able to able to apply the extra year if you pay the relevant membership fees.
Why Recertify?
It is important that medical professionals have the necessary knowledge & skills to give women the safe, effective and individual advice that they deserve and need. Recertification supports individuals to demonstrate they have maintained knowledge, skills and standards during their appraisals, with employers and for revalidation.
Your qualification number
To apply for recertification, you need your qualification number (e.g. your LoC or FSRH Diploma number). You can find this in the members area, ‘My FSRH’. It is also on your initial certificate or your last recertification confirmation letter.
If your membership has expired or you paid a one-off fee for your qualifications, the extra year has not been applied to your qualifications. We will be able to able to apply the extra year if you pay the relevant membership fees.
How much does recertification of my FSRH qualifications cost?
As a benefit of the FSRH membership there is no recertification fee for the Diploma, Letters of Competence, Faculty Registered Trainers, or the MFSRH/FFSRH.
There is a recertification fee of £400 per LoC qualification for non-FSRH members.
All other FSRH qualifications require membership. Membership benefits include free recertification, access to our Journal, clinical guidance, webinars, conference discounts and more. For details visit FSRH membership benefits.
When do I need to recertify? What should I do if I'm late recertifying?
You should apply for recertification not more than six months before your recertification date, and no later than six weeks afterwards.
You can find this date in when you log into this website to view ‘My FSRH’. The date is recorded under 'My Certificates' – it is also on your initial certificate, and on any recertification confirmation letter that you may have received in the past.
It is important to note - if you have more than one qualification with us, you will need to recertify each qualification separately. Recertifying one qualification alone will not automatically recertify your other qualifications.
Failure to recertify when due
If you recertify up to six weeks after your recertification date, your qualification will remain valid. However, FSRH records will show that you have not maintained CPD for your qualification and that it is not currently recertified. This will be the information we give to any prospective employers who contact us to check your qualifications.
If you do not apply for recertification within six weeks of the due date, your qualification is deemed to have lapsed. If you are a Faculty Registered Trainer (FRT), please note that your qualification must be current for you to continue as an FRT.
If you recertify more than six weeks after your normal recertification date, you will have to fulfil some extra requirements.
If it is 10 years or more since your qualification was awarded or last recertified, you will need to retake the full training programme for your qualification. For Letters of Competence, this may be via the experienced practitioner route, if appropriate.
Do you need an extension on your recertification date? Please contact us by submitting a ticket.
Where can I find my membership or qualification number?
We will need to be able to identify you easily when you submit your recertification forms.
You can give us:
- Your GMC or NMC number
- Your membership number (this begins with a 1 and you can find this at the top of the page when you log into 'My FSRH)
- Your qualification number (this could begin with a 'D' or 'A' or 'M' or 'F')
How can I recertify my LoC Subdermal Implant qualification? What CPD do I need to record?
You must recertify your FSRH qualifications every five years. You can apply for recertification by filling in our online form or by downloading, completing and submitting the relevant form by email or post.
To recertify your LoC SDI, you need to collect at least two credits of CPD activity over the past five years. You will also need to separately confirm that you've undertaken the e-SRH Module 17 within two years of the LoC Subdermal Implant Recertification date.
For your two credits of CPD activity there are various ways to gain your points and you can view a full list of options available below. Any of these options can be used towards your two credits.
1. Attendance at courses/meetings relevant to SDI
Evidence: certificate of attendance, programme of meeting and brief reflection on how this will influence your future practice.
You can find a calendar of CPD events and meetings in the events section of this website. One CPD credit is equal to one hour of CPD.
Please note that you may use the same CPD activity to recertify for the FSRH Diploma and your LoC IUT and/or LoC SDI, as long as the activity is relevant to your LoC qualification(s).
2. Reading of appropriate current peer reviewed publications e.g. JFPRHC, BMJ
Evidence: reference of article, and brief reflection on how this will influence your future practice: 1 CPD credit per article
Reading of FSRH CEU Guidance on subdermal contraceptive implant methods and completion of self-assessment questions
- Reading of CEU guidance: 1 CPD credit
- Completion of self-assessment questions: 1 CPD credit.
This CPD activity may not be counted towards CPD if used to fulfil section 3 on the below form.
- Evidence of reading: date read and brief reflection on how this will influence your future practice.
- Evidence of questions: mark sheet, date completed and brief reflection on how this will influence your future practice.
3. Peer observation: For LoC IR you can claim 1 CPD credit for observing a peer perform an insertion or removal and giving feedback afterwards, 1 CPD credit for being observed performing an insertion or removal by a peer and discussing feedback afterwards.
- For LoC IO you can claim 1 CPD credit for observing a peer perform an insertion and giving feedback afterwards, 1 CPD credit for being observed performing an insertion by a peer and discussing feedback afterwards.
- For LoC RO you can claim 1 CPD credit for observing a peer perform a removal and giving feedback afterwards, 1 CPD credit for being observed performing a removal by a peer and discussing feedback afterwards.
The observer/person being observed must hold a current LoC SDI.
Evidence: date and name of observer/person being observed and brief outline of what you learned from this, either as an observer or from being observed)
Audit of SDI – personal or local
Evidence: date, summary of audit, brief description of your role in audit: 1 CPD credit
Ready to submit your form? You can fill in the form online or you can download the form, handfill and post it back or email it to us.
Before filling in any of our recertification online forms, please have all the relevant information to hand before starting, you will not be able to save the forms and then revisit later, forms must be completed in one sitting. You will also need a stable internet connection while completing the online forms.
How can I recertify my LoC Intrauterine Techniques? What kind of CPD can I record?
You must recertify your FSRH qualifications every five years. You can apply for recertification by filling in an online form or by downloading, completing and submitting the relevant form by email or post.
To recertify your LoC IUT, you need to collect at least two credits of CPD activity over the past five years. You will also need to separately confirm that you've undertaken the e-SRH Module 18 within two years of the LoC Subdermal Implant Recertification date.
For your two credits of CPD activity there are various ways to gain your points and you can view a full list of options available below. Any of these options can be used towards your two credits.
1. Attendance at courses/meetings relevant to IUT
Evidence: certificate of attendance, programme of meeting and brief reflection on how this will influence your future practice.
You can find a calendar of CPD events and meetings in the events section of this website. One CPD credit is equal to one hour of CPD.
Please note that you may use the same CPD activity to recertify for the FSRH Diploma and your LoC IUT and/or LoC SDI, as long as the activity is relevant to your LoC qualification(s).
2. Reading of appropriate current peer reviewed publications e.g. JFPRHC, BMJ
Evidence: reference of article, and brief reflection on how this will influence your future practice: 1 CPD credit per article
3. Audit of IUT – personal or local
Evidence: date, summary of audit, brief description of your role in audit: 1 CPD credit
4. Reading of FSRH CEU guidelines on intrauterine methods and completion of self assessment questions
- Reading of CEU guidance: 1 CPD credit
- Completion of self-assessment questions: 1 CPD credit.
This CPD activity may not be counted towards CPD if used to fulfil section 3 on the below form.
- Evidence of reading: date read and brief reflection on how this will influence your future practice.
- Evidence of questions: mark sheet, date completed and brief reflection on how this will influence your future practice.
5. Peer observation: 1 CPD credit for observing a peer perform an insertion and giving feedback afterwards, 1 CPD credit for being observed performing an insertion by a peer and discussing feedback afterwards. The observer/person being observed must hold a current LoC IUT.
Evidence: date and name of observer/person being observed and brief outline of what you learned from this, either as an observer or from being observed).
Ready to submit your form? You can fill in the form online or you can download the form, handfill and post it back or email it to us.
Before filling in any of our recertification online forms, please have all the relevant information to hand before starting, you will not be able to save the forms and then revisit later, forms must be completed in one sitting. You will also need a stable internet connection while completing the online forms.
I've been unwell,on a maternity break, overseas what does this mean for recertification?
All clinicians holding a licence to practice should maintain their CPD commitments, whether or not they work full time. However, we recognise that some circumstances make it difficult or impossible to engage in CPD. These are some of the circumstances that merit special consideration.
Sick leave, maternity leave or other career breaks
If you need to take time away from your career, you should make up any shortfall in your CPD activity over the remainder of the five year recertification cycle. You can do this in advance and/or once you have returned to work. If you wish to apply for an extension on your recertification date, please email our recertification team at education@fsrh.org.
Work in isolated environments outside the UK
In some circumstances or locations, the available CPD activity may not meet Faculty standards. In such situations, you should self-accredit as much CPD as you feel is justified for the learning achieved, and make up any shortfall after returning to the UK. If you are away for more than a year, you may need to agree specific CPD goals with your appraiser, or the Faculty.
If you need any help or you have questions, please get in touch with our recertification team at education@fsrh.org.
If you are unable to gain the CPD credits you need for recertification because of a particular situation or event not covered in the categories above, please contact the Faculty. We will assess such situations on a case-by-case basis.
I'm looking for CPD resources
CPD activity
You can find a calendar of CPD events and meetings in the events section of this website. One CPD credit is equal to one hour of CPD.
Please note that you may use the same CPD activity to recertify for the FSRH Diploma and your LoC IUT and/or LoC SDI, as long as the activity is relevant to your LoC qualification(s).
e-SRH modules
To recertify, you may also need to take modules 14 and/or 15 of the e-SRH, our free e-learning package. To access this, please register with e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH). e-SRH modules are free to people employed by the NHS. It contains interactive learning modules on a range of topics, e.g. STI testing. Each module lasts around 20 minutes and the entire course should take around 30 hours. e-Learning for Healthcare's website is not managed by FSRH, therefore any queries regarding your log in details should be directed to e-LfH.
Women's Health Library
Bringing together national guidance, resources produced and accredited by the RCGP, and resources from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), the Women's Health Library is a resource relevant to GPs and other primary healthcare professionals.
The Library is divided into four sections for ease of use with the free resources clearly marked:
- Maternal Health
- Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Pre-Menopause
- Peri/Post Menopause
Access the library here.
I'm a lapsed FSRH member and I want to recertify my qualification, what are the next steps?
FSRH Council believes that membership of the FSRH – and therefore access to the latest clinical guidance, standards, Journal, CPD questions and regular updates – is an important part of the membership and recertification process. The rules surrounding back payment of subscriptions were tightened up in 2015 by FSRH Council.
Recertification is free to current FSRH members. Recertification is one of our member benefits and supports you professionally in a number of ways.
It helps you to:
- demonstrate the learning outcomes achieved from your qualification(s) have been maintained
- show you have the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviour needed to provide safe and effective sexual and reproductive health care (SRH)
- meet the requirements of commissioners, who often require clinicians to have certified qualifications
If your membership has lapsed and you would like to re-join FSRH past the 31 March cut-off date for the current membership year or after one or more years, you will be required to pay back your 'missing' years to ensure you have continuous membership which is required for recertifying your primary qualification.
You can easily do this by contacting us. Click here to read through our FAQs available on our support portal. We can take payment by phone using a debit or credit card, it will take a few minutes to do this for you.
You can also pay for a one-off recertification for Letters of Competence qualification. This is £400 per LoC. This option is not available for Diploma recertification. You can pay your Diploma membership back fees by telephone on the above number.
Read more information for lapsed members here.
How much will I be required to pay to renew my membership?
| Membership Category & Annual Fee amount (2022) |
Amount Payable |
| Diplomate £114 |
2 years (2021 and 2022) - £228 3 years (2020, 2021 and 2022) - £342 4 years (2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022) - £456 5 years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022)- £570 |
| Associate £97 |
2 years (2021 and 2022) - £194 3 years (2020, 2021 and 2022) - £291 4 years (2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022) - £388 5 years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022)- £485 |
| Member/Fellow £242 |
2 years (2021 and 2022) - £484 3 years (2020, 2021 and 2022) - £726 4 years (2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022) - £968 5 years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022) - £1210 |
Personal beliefs guidance
At the time of recertifying your FSRH qualification, you need to confirm you have read the 6 principles of care as outlined in the “Guidance for those undertaking or recertifying FSRH qualifications whose personal beliefs conflict with the provision of abortion or any method of contraception” and agree to abide by them in practice.
Remediation
CPD is a central part of the remediation process.
Suspension
This is rare, and usually involves a short period of suspension before returning to work or facing a decision on retraining or remediation. If necessary, you should be able to make up any lost CPD credits during your five year cycle.
Other circumstances
If you are unable to gain the CPD credits you need for recertification because of a particular situation or event not covered in the categories above, please contact the Faculty. We will assess such situations on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us.
Intellectual Property Rights
All intellectual property rights for any FSRH qualification including documents, materials and content belonging to and produced by the FSRH should not be used for purposes other than FSRH training. Should you wish to use any of the IPR for purposes other than FSRH training you must seek the FSRH’s approval in writing with your request via our copyright request form. We aim to respond to submissions of this nature within one working week.
