Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is increasingly important across all industries. As sectors evolve, employees must keep pace with changing standards, market trends and technological advancements. On-the-job training remains a fundamental means of learning and development in most workplaces.
On-the-job training can have limitations and lack value if left unstructured or isolated. A commitment to CPD can help remedy this by offering a framework and focus that underpins effective on-the-job training. This article explores how CPD complements on-the-job training, helping transform day-to-day work into a rich learning experience with long-term impacts. It defines on-the-job training and its importance, and identifies ways CPD participation can enhance this approach.
What is On-the-Job Training?
On-the-job training refers to learning that takes place within the workplace whilst fulfilling a particular role. It is often informal, immediate, and directly relevant to the individual workplace. Learners acquire skills, knowledge, and behaviours through direct experience and guidance from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. Common methods of on-the-job training include:
- Shadowing experienced workers
- Mentoring or buddy systems
- Hands-on task performance with supervision
- Job rotation to expose employees to different functions
- Instructional feedback in real-time
Unlike off-site courses or online learning, on-the-job-training immerses the learner in real workplace scenarios. It encourages contextual learning — where knowledge is embedded in real problems, interactions, and tools. This makes it incredibly effective for developing job-specific skills. However, it’s important to recognise its limitations if only focused on immediate job tasks and not aligned with overall organisation needs or broader career development goals.
How Important is On-the-Job Training?
On-the-job training (OJT) remains fundamental across industries. The following are some of the reasons OJT is so widely valued:
1. Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness
Employees learn while they work, which means no extra downtime or training expenses. OJT is particularly beneficial for smaller businesses or time-sensitive industries where losing employees from the workplace isn’t always feasible.
2. Speed to Competence
There is often no substitute for real-world experience. OJT can enable faster learning curves because trainees are constantly exposed to the actual tools, systems, and dynamics of their role.
3. Tacit Knowledge Transfer
A significant portion of workplace knowledge is “tacit” — meaning it is learned through observation and experience rather than formal instruction. OJT captures this nuance – for example, observing how a seasoned technician diagnoses a fault, or how a customer service representative reads a client’s tone.
4. Cultural Integration
New hires do not just learn how to do the job — they absorb company culture, norms, and expectations. This embedded learning is essential for long-term engagement and alignment with organisational values.
5. Retention of Skills
Active learning — doing rather than just listening — fundamentally improves knowledge and skill retention. Repeated exposure to job tasks solidifies learning in a way that theoretical training often may not.
Despite these core benefits, without clear goals or evaluation, OJT can prove less effective. This is where CPD can add immense value.
Adopting recognised CPD frameworks
How Does CPD Enhance On-the-Job Training?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the term used to describe the learning activities professionals engage in to enhance their abilities and knowledge throughout their career. At its core, CPD is a commitment to ongoing lifelong learning.
CPD recognises both formal and informal learning activities. It combines different methodologies to learning, such as training courses, seminars, workshops, conferences and online eLearning, but also recognises the value of self-study, peer discussion and networking.
When integrated with on-the-job training, CPD acts as both an enhancement of training and a measurement system for learning development. These are some of the ways CPD achieves this:
1. Brings Structure to Informal Learning
On-the-job training can sometimes be inconsistent. Some employees might receive great mentoring, while others are left to learn independently. Adopting recognised CPD frameworks can establish clear expectations. They can define:
- What skills are to be developed
- How progress is tracked
- What milestones indicate success
This turns vague goals into measurable outcomes and ensures training is consistent across the board.
2. Encourages Reflection and Ownership
CPD is not passive. A key element of effective CPD is reflection, evaluation, and making sense of what has been learned. Employees are encouraged to ask:
- What did I learn during this task or project?
- What challenges did I face?
- What would I do differently next time?
- What gaps still exist in my knowledge?
By embedding these reflective practices into OJT, learners move from simply doing to understanding. They take ownership of their development and become more self-directed over time.
3. Tracks Progress and Demonstrates Competence
The value of on-the-job training is often invisible and therefore difficult to replicate consistently. CPD makes it visible through an emphasis on recording skills and knowledge development. With CPD logs, portfolios, and development plans, employees can document:
- New competencies gained
- Certifications completed
- Training activities attended
- Projects led or supported
- Feedback and peer reviews
This documentation is also extremely useful during performance reviews, promotions, or role transitions. It also enables HR departments and team leaders to identify skills gaps, create succession plans, and align training investments with strategic goals.
myCPD Portal is a free online record tool to help manage, track and record individual Continuing Professional Development effectively. If you are looking for somewhere to professional training records and attendance certificates in one simple place, visit the myCPD Portal page.
4. Builds a Habit of Lifelong Learning
The nature of work is changing rapidly. Roles evolve, new technologies emerge, and industry regulations change. CPD fosters a culture of continuous learning — encouraging employees to be agile to these changes and constantly seek to update their skills and knowledge.
This mindset enhances OJT significantly. When employees are primed to learn, they naturally seek out challenges, ask better questions, and use feedback constructively.
5. Improves Quality and Reduces Risk
Many industries - such as healthcare, finance, construction, and education – are highly regulated. Failure to adhere to these regulations can be costly for organisations. Active CPD can introduce a rigour in this area that OJT alone may not fulfil. It ensures that all employees — not just the naturally curious ones — are up to date with:
- Legal and ethical standards
- Safety protocols
- Technological tools
- Best practices and evidence-based methods
By formalising what is often informal, CPD raises the overall quality and standards of on-the-job training.
Ultimately on-the-job training is practical, immediate, and deeply embedded in daily work. But without structure, it can fall short of its full potential. That is where CPD can step in — adding focus, consistency, and long-term value. By adopting CPD frameworks, organisations can develop employees who are not just functional in their roles, but also future-ready and responsive to change. The best learning does not happen in either a classroom or a workplace - it happens at the intersection of both.
Where can I find CPD Courses for On-the-Job Training?
Within the CPD Courses Catalogue, there is a range of CPD for on-the-job training from across industry sectors, including educational events, eLearning programs, conferences, workshops and seminars, all of which have been formally CPD certified. To find out more about a particular CPD course listed on our website, complete an enquiry form and the details will be sent directly to the relevant CPD provider.
How to become an accredited CPD Provider
We hope this article was helpful. Established in 1996, The CPD Certification Service has over 27 years’ experience providing CPD accreditation. With members in over 100 countries, our CPD providers benefit from the ability to promote themselves as part of an international community where quality is both recognised and assured.
If you are interested in offering training courses, seminars, workshops, eLearning, or educational events suitable for Continuing Professional Development, please visit the Become a CPD Provider page or contact our team to discuss in more detail. Alternatively, if you are looking for a free online CPD record tool to help manage, track and log your ongoing learning, as well as store your professional training records and attendance certificates in one simple place, go to the myCPD Portal page.
