Professional development for professionals?

This is an interesting example of the problems of trying to run and control a 'professional development' or continuing accreditation system for professionals.

Doctors who accrue a certain number of 'points', earned by attending various conferences, lectures, drug company sponsored events etc and who can 'show evidence' of how they are keeping up with the lastest knowledge, are able to receive more money in bulk-billing rebates and other status privileges.

The problem it seems, it that there is some disagreement about the kinds of activities that should be included in the program, or for which doctors can 'earn' points. A 'wealth creation seminar' where doctors learn about investment and maximising business profit?

The Royal Australian College of GPs has defended the seminar (as has Tony Abbott) saying, that the seminar "does not focus on wealth-creation strategies, rather it focuses on building competence in practice management".

Ah! Well that is so much clearer now.

I'm just wondering what teachers (and ACER and Dr Nelson) can learn from this?