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  1. Home
  2. What is CPD? – Continuous Professional Development

What is CPD? – Continuous Professional Development


Continual Professional Development (CPD) is a popular choice for many industry professionals, including nurses, managers, health practitioners and more. CPD courses are perfect for anyone looking to improve their existing skills and keep up to date with changes as they occur in an industry. With plenty of CPD e-learning courses online to choose from, these recognised courses can ensure you have the skills that are needed in your profession.

A CPD Certificate is available through over 1000 recognised educators in the UK and is acknowledged worldwide. There’s a need for workers to take part in professional development activities in order to meet career objectives, the job role and deliver high-quality outcomes in a profession. Professional development is a great way to ensure these, by encouraging members to develop their abilities every year.

If you want to find out more, check out some of these popular questions and learn how you can take part in professional development.

What Does CPD Stand For?

CPD stands for Continuous Professional Development and is a recognised accreditation offered by certain educators across the UK. The CPD Certification Service is the regulator in CPD Courses.

Browse CPD Courses

What is CPD?


The Definition of CPD, or Continuing Professional Development, is the learning and activities that professionals undertake across a range of industries to ensure they continually develop their knowledge and skills while updating their learning to suit industry changes. Continuous development is commonly seen in training courses, certified events and are delivered by a professional institute or recognised CPD provider.

What is CPD Training?


Continuous Professional Development (CPD) comes in many forms, not just through online courses. If you wanted to take part in Continuing Professional Development for nursing, law or any other industry; there are many recognised activities you can take part in.

Accredited CPD courses include:

  • Workshops
  • Lectures
  • CPD Online Courses
  • Training Courses and Modules
  • Conferences
  • CPD Events

Popular CPD Training Areas


accounting-courses

Accounting

Bookkeeping

Counselling

health

Health

IT

Legal

nursing

Nursing

psychology-courses

Psychology

Ways to Complete CPD Requirements


Active Continuous Development

Active CPD refers to any tasks that require formal training and development, usually through Accredited CPD courses, lectures, workshops and more. There’s plenty of online course modules, events and conferences which are also considered active professional development, part of a workforce development plan.

Active Continuous Professional Development is recorded through a CPD Certificate of Attendance and it is up to the individual to keep track of their CPD activities. Some organisations choose to take part and offer CPD courses and training to employees, which is also a popular option so it’s best to ask your employer for more information on a program they might have in place.

Reflective Continuous Professional Development– Self-Directed Learning

Not all CPD requires taking professional qualifications or courses all the time. Another way is through actively engaging in the latest journals, books and articles to help you improve your learning and knowledge base and meet professional standards set by British or Global regulators. These activities can be quick to learn and help keep up development needs throughout the year, which is considered best practice in the professional industries.

This can also include:

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Journals
  • Industry Reports
  • Informal Meetings
  • Professional Programs
  • Case Studies

It’s important that the objectives and outcomes are determined in order to fulfil CPD criteria and demonstrate how they help develop your knowledge.

How do I track my CPD?


A CPD record sheet is a great way to keep track of your activities and maintain the level of development that is essential for industries that are known for change. Accredited CPD training providers can advise on the number of CPD points that a recognized activity can count toward your professional development.


What is a CPD Accreditation?


A CPD Accreditation is an approved course by a recognised provider by the CPD Certification Service UK. These courses are seen as providing relevant and necessary knowledge and skills to a professional which are seen as vital in an industry.

A CPD certificate is accredited if it is recognised by the CPD Certification Service as a professional institute or provider. In order to be accredited, it must demonstrate how learning can lead to further career development and standards in professional knowledge.


Is a CPD Certificate Accredited?


A CPD certificate is accredited if it is recognised by the CPD Certification Service as a professional institute or provider. In order to be accredited, it must demonstrate how learning can lead to further career development and standards in professional knowledge.


What are CPD Points?


In some industries, right across the world, a professional must show they have continually developed their learning and skills in order to keep a licence or certificate and keep practising their trade. Many professional bodies in the UK, which includes regulators, associations and boards, have set requirements for licensed professionals. This means, that depending on your industry, there may be a requirement for you to take part in a certain amount of hours of CPD activities to form part of your CPD record.

These requirements require you to meet the set standards in order to apply or re-apply for a certificate, membership or license. These can sometimes form the CPD obligations that are set out by different regulatory bodies.


Browse CPD Courses
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