ABSTRACT
The Practice Audit Model is a seven-phase process intended to guide the systematic development of continuing professional education programmes that will assist practitioners in maintaining competency. The Practice Audit Model, developed at the Pennsylvania State University in the late 1970s and applied there through the Continuing Professional Education Development Project 1980–1985, offers a unique approach to the assessment of professional practitioners’ educational needs and the development of practice-oriented educational programmes to address those needs. The Practice Audit Model consists of seven phases, described in terms of implementation on the Continuing Professional Education Development Project. The practitioners selected to participate in each each Practice Audit Session were considered representative of their colleagues. Interestingly enough, participants in the Practice Audit Sessions viewed them as a learning experience, although they were of course intended to test rather than to teach. The utilisation of small groups was felt to be particularly useful because of the opportunity for exchange of ideas that the groups provided.
