A guide to CPD for Individuals
There is an increasing expectation for individuals of all industries and backgrounds to undertake Continuing Professional Development. CPD is a powerful learning tool that helps to improve skills and take an empowering approach to career progression.
CPD is important for individuals as it ensures that said individual is capable of maintaining high standards within their respective industry. It can also help professionals stay up-to-date with rapidly modernising technology, new regulations, and best practices that may affect their job role or career.
What is Continuing Professional Development?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the defining term for the learning activities that professionals participate in to improve their skills and knowledge. CPD is a proactive and comprehensive approach to career development through the practice of regular learning, training and ongoing professional development.
There are three types of CPD that an individual can participate in, which includes (1) Structured CPD / Active Learning, (2) Reflective CPD / Passive Learning, and (3) Informal CPD / Self-Directed Learning. These categories are important to understand for an individual interested in participating in Continuing Professional Development. CPD combines different methodologies to learning such as training courses, seminars, workshops, conferences and events, webinars and online eLearning programs, all focused towards an individual improving within their professional working environment.
CPD can be an excellent self-motivation tool, acting as a reminder of personal achievements and progression over time. CPD provides flexibility and diversity in terms of different methods of learning available so each individual can find a learning style that suits them best. To that extent a professional is able to find much greater appreciation for the positive impact they can make at work.
Who is CPD for?
CPD encourages individuals to maintain consistent and high standards, as well as making it easier to demonstrate commitment and dedication towards a particular job role or profession.
CPD can be an excellent self-motivation tool, acting as a reminder of personal achievements and progression over time. CPD provides flexibility and diversity in terms of different methods of learning available so each individual can find a learning style that suits them best.
Most professional bodies and institutes provide individuals with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements, usually as a set number of training hours to achieve each year in some form of a learning environment. In many traditional sectors, professionals are required to regularly record and complete CPD as part of their commitment to keeping their skills and knowledge up to date.
Benefits of CPD
CPD offers a functional platform for individuals to build a career progression plan that supports their objectives towards new job openings, development within an existing role, or even possibly higher earnings opportunities.
Completing CPD as an individual provides expansive benefits, including increased value and flexibility as a professional. This can improve an individual’s job security, career progression, and job prospects. CPD also increases an individual’s professional competence, which can save valuable time and simplify workflows.
CPD assists individuals to apply attention to areas of development and to take the necessary action in reducing any deficiencies in knowledge. An individual ought to see Continuing Professional Development as an opportunity to remain competitive with his or her peers, and a tool to differentiate themselves professionally at moments where this may be required.
How does CPD work?
Below provides a simple introduction to some of the key areas of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Individuals.
What are CPD hours?
CPD hours is the term used to refer to an individual’s time spent participating in active learning. This time is measured in hours and reflects all of the time a professional engages actively with CPD. This means, for example, if an individual participates in a course that lasts a full day from 10am to 5pm, with a break for an hour 12, the individual has completed 6 CPD hours.
What is the CPD cycle?
The CPD cycle is a practical tool used to measure development within the CPD framework. The CPD cycle is comprised of five steps, which includes: (1) Identifying needs (2) Planning, (3) Acting/Doing, (4) Reflecting on learning, and (5) Implement your new learning. The CPD cycle is used to help with growth and development for individuals within their profession. Purposeful goals and actionable reflection makes participation in CPD much more focused and beneficial.
Where to find relevant CPD learning?
CPD includes various types of learning methods. There is no one-size-fits all approach, however a blended approach to learning that incorporates a full range of different learning types can improve knowledge retention and engagement. CPD covers training courses, events, seminars, workshops, and webinars. Individuals are able to find relevant CPD learning from our Course Catalogue and Events Calendar.
How to record your CPD?
The myCPD Portal is the easiest and most effective tool to record completed CPD. myCPD Portal helps to ensure that your learning progress is easily documented. myCPD Portal provides simple benefits and allows you to reflect on your development as an individual over a period of time. It may also be important to have your CPD records stored in the future for potential assessments or interviews.
Different types of Structured CPD
Continuing Professional Development covers a whole range of different learning methods, all of the below are forms of Structured CPD, which typically involves interactive and participation-based study.
TRAINING COURSES
CPD training courses are the most well-known method of completing Continuing Professional Development. They vary in length and will often be specific to one subject or offer skills in a particular area of an industry.
SEMINARS
Seminars are a type of short course and are typically a few hours long, but sometimes last up to one day. CPD seminars provide an opportunity to focus on a particular subject matter in detail and they are usually conducted in group settings with interactive discussion allowing individuals to contribute.
WORKSHOPS
CPD workshops are interactive educational group sessions which are similar to seminars but with a few differences. CPD workshops are less theoretical and tend to offer a more hands-on, practical skills approach to learning.
WEBINARS
Webinars are a method of online learning which is held virtually and attended by an online audience. Often, the main objective of a CPD webinar is to educate and inform professionals in a short and concise manner about new and relevant information.
EVENTS
There are a number of different forms of learning that can be considered a CPD event. CPD events include conferences held at venues, often with keynote sessions and breakout learning by topic. Seminars and workshops may also feature as part of wider CPD events.
ONLINE COURSES
Online CPD courses are an increasingly popular method of learning that offer convenience and affordability. As in-person event and course materials can be shared free online, there is no need to attend.
Thousands of CPD training providers are sharing their skills with the world
myCPD Portal
It is important for all individuals to manage their Continuing Professional Development log effectively on a regular basis.
The myCPD Portal is a powerful free online CPD record tool to help professionals to keep their educational training log up to date.
Keep a track of training courses, workshops, seminars, eLearning, conferences and events that you have attended throughout the year.
