Table 1.
Evidence of CPD status in 46 WHO Afro-region member states.
| Framework in place | Inception year | Operational Framework | Controlled by regulatory body | Voluntary or mandatory | Licensure requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglophone countries (n = 21) | ||||||
| Algeria | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE |
| Botswana (Gross et al., 2015) | Yes | NE | Yes | Nursing and Midwifery Council of Botswana | Mandatory | NE |
| Eritrea | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE |
| Eswatini (Swaziland) (AHPRC, 2016, Gross et al., 2015) | Yes | NE | Yes | Swaziland Nursing Council | Voluntary | 10 CPD points (p.a. (1 hr = 1point) |
| Ethiopia (Kelley et al., 2017) | Yes | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE |
| Gambia | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE |
| Ghana (NMCG, 2016) | Yes | 2020 | Yes | Nursing & Midwifery Council of Ghana | Mandatory | 10–20 CPD points p.a. for renewal according to qualification. |
| Kenya (Gross et al., 2015, Kelley et al., 2017, Mosol et al., 2017) | Yes | 2008 | Yes | Nursing Council of Kenya | Mandatory | 20 h p.a. for licensure renewal every 3 years |
| Lesotho (Hosey et al., 2016, Kelley et al., 2017) | Yes | 2011 | Yes | Lesotho Nursing Council | Mandatory | 12 CPD points p.a.; renewal evidenced through log book from LNC |
| Liberia (Michel-Schuldt et al., 2018) | Yes | 2017 piloted | Pilot programme | Liberian Board of nursing and Midwifery | Voluntary | 2 credit points, 20 contact hrs. biannually |
| Malawi (Hosey et al., 2016, Nursing and Midwives Council of Malawi, 2016, Nursing and Midwives Council of Malawi, 2019) | Yes | 2016 | Yes | Nursing and Midwifery Council of Malawi | Mandatory | 25–40 CPD points p.a. per qualification level - log book verified on licence renewal |
| Mauritius (Hosey et al., 2016) | Yes | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE |
| Namibia (HPCNA, 2011, Leuning et al., 2016) | Yes | 2010 | Yes | Health Professions Councils of Namibia | Mandatory | 30 CEU, 5 medical law, ethics, human rights |
| Nigeria (Ingwu et al., 2019) | Yes | 2010 | Yes | Nursing & Midwifery council of Nigeria | Mandatory | 60 CEU contact hrs (30 from nursing & midwifery).in 3 yr. licensure cycle. |
| Seychelles (Hosey et al., 2016, Kelley et al., 2017, SN&MC, 2020) | Yes | NE | NE | Seychelles Nursing & Midwifery Council | Mandatory | CPD points NE Mandatory content incorporates HIV certification |
| Sierra Leone | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE |
| South Africa (SANC, 2018, SANC, 2019, Viljoen et al., 2017) | Yes | 2016 | No, but pilot test in 2 povinces | South African Nursing Council | Voluntary | 15 CPD points p.a. divided into 5 thematic areas linked to annual renewal of licensure |
| Tanzania (Gross et al., 2015, Kelley et al., 2017, TNMC, 2019, Viljoen et al., 2017) | Yes | NE | Yes | Tanzania Nursing & Midwifery Council | Mandatory | 30 CPD in 3 yr. cycle for licence renewal |
| Uganda (Hosey et al., 2016, UNMC, 2016) | Yes | NE | Yes | Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council | Mandatory | Yes, 50 CPD credits, 3 yr. cycle for renewal |
| Zambia (Nurses Council of Zimbabwe, 2020, Gross et al., 2015, Kelley et al., 2017) | Yes | NE | No, but piloted CPD tracking system | General Nursing Council of Zambia | Mandatory | 20 CPD p.a. and keep CPD log book |
| Zimbabwe (Gross et al., 2015, Kelley et al., 2017; NCZ, n.d.) | Yes | NE | Yes | Nursing Council of Zimbabwe | Mandatory | 12 credit-hour system p.a. |
| Francophone countries (n = 20) | ||||||
| Only evidence of Rwanda from 20 Francophone countries(HPCR, 2013, Kasine et al., 2018) | Yes | 2013 | Yes | Health Professional Councils of Rwanda | Mandatory | 60 CPD points in 3-year cycle |
| Lusophone countries (n = 5) | ||||||
| Only evidence of Mozambique from 5 Lusophone countries (Hosey et al., 2016). | No, but ARC provided guidance | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE |
Key: CEU = Continuing Education Unit; CPD = Continuing Professional Development; hrs. = hours; NE = Not evident in published, grey literature or professional body web-site.