Passing the British farrier education system's stringent apprenticeship and exam systems will no longer be a ticket to a lifelong career for farriers there. Beginning in 2008, British farriers must also prove that they have spent a required number of hours per year in pursuit of new knowledge or participating in farriery-related events.
From the website of the Worshipful Company of Farriers:
"Every farrier will be required to gain 10 points per year averaged over a 3 year period. The system will start in earnest in 2008. The requirement in 2008 is 5 points, in 2009, 8 points, and from 2010 onwards 10 points per year. Farriers who have completed the required amount of CPD in the previous year will display CPD Stickers on their vans."
A similar program launched by the American Farrier's Association two years ago was withdrawn. The 2006 Grayson Jockey Club Foundation's racehorse welfare summit meeting hoof care committee recommended continuing education programs for racetrack shoers.
CPD is a growing trend in many fields. The Fourth International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot was recently granted 18.5 hours of CPD credit to veterinarians.
A controversy in the US exists over veterinarians not being able to receive credits for educational events' lectures if farriers are speakers.
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