The Federación de Asociaciones Científico Médicas Españolas (FACME) [Federation of Spanish Scientific Medical Associations] is working in collaboration with other institutions such as the Spanish Medical Association and the Ministry of Health on the creation of a recertification model based on Continuing Professional Development.1 The recertification of medical professionals is a requirement of the European Union, which is being incorporated by the individual states with their own particularities.

The professional recertification model in Spain is essential for citizens to continue to have confidence in the doctors who care for them, as it ensures that they have acquired and improved their competencies. It is envisaged as a voluntary action, and the scientific societies will have an important role to play in it.

The work of the FACME has defined the transferable competencies for all practitioners, and each society must define the specific competencies that a general specialist must maintain in his or her professional practice.

This is therefore a great opportunity for the Sociedad Española de Nefrología [Spanish Society of Nephrology] as it will involve defining these competencies and orientating the society's training activity to maintain and enhance them. The society will also be responsible for assessing nephrologists who voluntarily undergo periodic assessment.

In summary, we believe that the society should work with all its members to define the competencies of the "generalist" nephrologist and properly assess the acquisition of these competencies, as this will enhance the prestige of our profession and improve the care of our patients.