Suitable CPD activities
A range of activities, such as studying or attending conferences, may qualify as structured CPD if they address identified personal development needs. Unstructured CPD can also be included, defined as an activity that has met a learning outcome, but which may not have been specifically designed to meet that development need. Examples might include reading a technical article in a trade publication.
Development activities should only be recorded if they have assisted your professional development. As a member you are bound by our Code of Ethics to be honest in your declarations.
Development activity |
Definition |
Types of evidence you should keep as proof of completion* |
Structured or unstructured? |
---|---|---|---|
Training courses and Workshops |
An interactive, participative course provided by your employer or by an external third party which sets clear objectives and learning outcomes. |
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Structured This involves activity which:
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Conferences, seminars and webinars |
An informative presentation, or series of presentations, on topics provided by internal or external subject experts. |
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Structured This involves activity which:
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Studying for an examination |
Any one examination offered by an examining body which is business related, including all related study. Excludes time spent in an examination sitting. |
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Structured This involves activity which:
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Formal discussions/ meetings |
Discussions facilitated by a third party (internal or external). Participation may include focus groups, research initiatives, committees or technical events. Excludes attendance at social events. |
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Normally unstructured This involves activity which does not have stated learning objectives, and supporting activity and assessments designed to reinforce these. Instead these typically cover identified learning points incidentally). |
On-the-job training |
Interactive and participative discussion and instruction by a subject expert. |
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Structured This involves activity which:
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Training for others |
Providing interactive and participative discussion, lectures, tutoring and/or instruction for others which involves setting clear objectives and learning outcomes |
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Structured The preparation for the training would be structured. e.g. updating your knowledge on the subjects you are training in; attending courses on developing training skills. The delivery of the training would be unstructured (This involves activity which does not have stated learning objectives, and supporting activity and assessments designed to reinforce these. Instead these typically cover identified learning points incidentally). |
Selfmanaged learning |
Personal learning on one subject which is formally assessed by a third party subject expert, e.g. distance learning where assignments are sent to tutors for marking. |
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Structured This involves activity which:
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E-learning | Online packages which set clear objectives and learning outcomes and include assessment measures. |
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Structured This involves activity which:
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Examination setting and moderation |
Setting and moderating any examination offered by an examining body which is business related. Includes all associated study options. |
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The preparation for the examination setting would be structured, e.g. updating your subject knowledge to inform your examining work. The actual moderation work would be unstructured (This involves activity which does not have stated learning objectives, and supporting activity and assessments designed to reinforce these. Instead these typically cover identified learning points incidentally). |
Technical authorship |
Writing articles, reports, books, instruction manuals, etc which are published for use by others. |
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Structured This involves activity which:
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Reading and watching |
Technical and trade publications, fact files, bulletins/regular updates, manuals, professional briefs, journals, financial or trade press, podcasts and relevant discussions via social media, e.g. LinkedIn Use of video (DVDs, You Tube, websites, etc), TV, audio and other media. |
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Structured if your reading has been done with a specific purpose in mind, e.g. to meet a specified learning and development need or because you are researching a topic for a work-based project and the material used has been produced to meet a specific learning outcome. Unstructured if the purpose is to keep up-to-date with what is happening in the industry at a general level or the material used has not been produced to meet a specific learning outcome. |
Mentoring | Providing instruction, guidance and support to trainees or examination students. |
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The preparation for certain aspects of mentoring would be structured, e.g. attending a training course on developing mentoring skills. The actual mentoring |
*Please note: if you are selected to have your CPD record audited it is not a requirement for you to send in supporting evidence at the point of audit. However, you should keep evidence of what you have done and be able to produce it if requested to do so in support of your CPD record.