Continuing professional development (CPD)

CPD is a broader type of professional development which emphasises lifelong learning i.e. learning over the course of your whole career (or lifetime).

CPD can be defined as follows:

  • Continuing - because it is ongoing and lifelong
  • Professional - because it reflects competencies relevant to your profession
  • Development - because it encompasses all learning relevant to your profession, organisation or industry/sector

The focus of CPD will vary depending on the individual. CPD is your own personal commitment to maintaining and improving your professional skills, knowledge and work competencies. Your CPD is relevant to your own profession, aims, activities and interests.

CPD is typically used to gain or maintain membership, accreditation, qualification, technician registration or chartership related to a professional body. This usually involves building a formal portfolio of evidence of activities undertaken and skills acquired over a specific period of time.

Most professional bodies have a commitment to monitor the professional standards of its members, and ensure that members continually update their professional skills, knowledge and work competence. Therefore professional bodies will emphasise the importance of continuous professional development to its members.

CPD often focuses on reflective learning. Reflective learning requires you to examine your development and demonstrate the value and benefit of your development activities, and how they have contributed to your professional skills and knowledge.

The CPD cycle

A typical continuing professional development cycle will include the following phases:

  • Analyse your professional role and priorities
  • Define your professional goals and expectations
  • Assess your professional development needs
  • Create a professional development plan
  • Carry out your planned development activities
  • Formally record your evidence
  • Reflect and evaluate your learning

Some professional bodies may require both a CPD development plan and a CPD development record, either separate or combined. Some organisations may provide templates for you, and some may require you to record your activity online. Other organisations will allow more flexibility.

CPD plans should typically include the following elements:

  • Your name
  • Your membership number (of your professional body)
  • Time period (dates from and to)

And the following elements for each development activity:

  • Proposed activity
  • Target dates
  • Resources required
  • Success criteria

CPD records should typically include the following elements:

  • Your name
  • Your membership number (of your professional body)
  • Time period (dates from and to)

And the following elements for each development activity:

  • Key dates
  • Activity undertaken
  • Reason for activity
  • What you learned from the activity
  • How you will apply what you've learned

Tips on continuing professional development

Here are some general tips on continuing professional development:

  • View CPD as a tool rather than an obligation
  • Set aside regular time to review, reflect and write up your CPD record
  • Collect evidence on your learning activities, their relevance and how you will apply them
  • Concentrate on the activities which have made the most impact on you
  • Refresh your CPD plan every year
  • Include learning from inside and outside your workplace

Check with your professional body for guidance on:

  • How to complete your record
  • Templates for plans and records
  • Minimum required formal and informal hours of CPD
  • Other specific obligations