# Situation: The nurse educator of a government hospital manages staff development for its endocrine and gastrointestinal wards. Every registered nurse must renew the professional identification card (PIC), which requires continuing professional development (CPD) units under the Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016. A staff nurse attended a 2-day international online conference on endocrine nursing, with scheduled lectures and a certificate of attendance. The organizer is not on the list of accredited CPD providers, and the certificate shows no CPD units. The nurse submits the certificate to the CPD Council and asks for units to be awarded. Under the CPD Act of 2016, how is this activity classified?

> source: MyMerci (mymerci.kr)  
> url: https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=630462  
> language: ko  
> subject: Nursing Practice IV — Care of Clients with Problems in Nutrition and Gastrointestinal, Metabolism and Endocrine, Perception and Coordination

## 문제

Situation: The nurse educator of a government hospital manages staff development for its endocrine and gastrointestinal wards. Every registered nurse must renew the professional identification card (PIC), which requires continuing professional development (CPD) units under the Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016.

A staff nurse attended a 2-day international online conference on endocrine nursing, with scheduled lectures and a certificate of attendance. The organizer is not on the list of accredited CPD providers, and the certificate shows no CPD units. The nurse submits the certificate to the CPD Council and asks for units to be awarded. Under the CPD Act of 2016, how is this activity classified?

## 보기

1. Professional work experience
2. Informal learning
3. Self-directed learning **✔ 정답**
4. Non-formal learning

**정답: 3**

## 해설

The CPD Act of 2016 defines self-directed learning as activities such as online training, local or international seminars, and non-degree courses that did not undergo CPD accreditation but may be applied for and awarded CPD units by the CPD Council. Two features decide it: the organizer is not an accredited provider and the certificate carries no units (so the program was not accredited), and the nurse is applying to the council for units. The conference's structure alone would suggest non-formal learning, but the law places non-accredited seminars submitted to the council under self-directed learning.

## 심화 해설

How the CPD Act classifies learning
The CPD Act of 2016 recognizes several kinds of learning activities. Formal learning leads to a degree. Non-formal learning is structured learning in addition to formal education, such as accredited seminars and training programs. Informal learning occurs in daily life and work and is recognized through validation. Self-directed learning covers activities such as online training, local or international seminars, and non-degree courses that did not undergo CPD accreditation but for which the professional may apply to the CPD Council for units. A non-accredited conference submitted by the nurse to the CPD Council for units is classified as self-directed learning.

The two deciding features
Two facts in the stem decide the answer. First, the organizer is not on the list of accredited CPD providers and the certificate shows no CPD units, so the program was not accredited. Second, the nurse is applying to the council to be awarded units. Together these match the definition of self-directed learning. The council evaluates the application and may award units based on the documentation.

| Category | Key feature | This conference? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional work experience | Units for the practice itself | No; attending, not practicing |
| Informal learning | Learning in daily life, recognized through validation | No |
| Self-directed learning | Non-accredited activity, units applied for from the council | Yes |
| Non-formal learning | Structured, accredited programs in addition to formal education | Looks similar, but not accredited |

Why non-formal learning is the trap
The conference has scheduled lectures and a certificate of attendance, so its structure resembles non-formal learning. But the law places non-accredited seminars that the professional submits to the council under self-directed learning. Accredited seminars with pre-assigned units would be non-formal. The deciding factor is accreditation, not the format of the activity.

Watch out! Do not classify by format alone. Ask two questions: was the program accredited, and who is requesting the units? A non-accredited program plus the nurse's own application equals self-directed learning.

Practical advice for staff
The nurse educator can advise staff to check the list of accredited providers before enrolling, to keep certificates, programs, and proof of attendance for any non-accredited activity, and to apply to the council within the allowed period. Key point! Under the CPD Act of 2016, non-accredited seminars or online training for which the professional applies to the CPD Council for units are self-directed learning.

## 임상 시나리오

Classifying a CPD ActivityNon-accredited online conference
The organizer is not an accredited CPD provider and the certificate shows no units; the nurse applies to the council for units.

Under the CPD Act of 2016, this is self-directed learning: non-accredited seminars, online training, or courses for which units are applied for.

Its scheduled lectures resemble non-formal learning, but non-formal programs are accredited with assigned units.

CautionKeep certificates, programs, and proof of attendance; the council decides whether to award units.

## 핵심 개념

- **Self-directed learning** — CPD activities such as non-accredited seminars or online training for which units are applied for from the CPD Council.
- **Non-formal learning** — Structured learning in addition to formal education, such as accredited seminars and training programs.
- **Informal learning** — Learning from daily life and work, recognized for CPD through validation.
- **Accredited CPD provider** — An organization approved by the CPD Council to offer programs with pre-assigned CPD units.

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