Continuing Professional Development
Encyclopedia
Continuing professional development (CPD) or Continuing professional education (CPE) is the means by which people maintain their knowledge and skills related to their professional lives.
The Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC, the organization composed of the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons or Medical Boards of all the provinces and territories), has stated that all licensed physicians in Canada must participate in a recognized revalidation process in which they demonstrate their commitment to continued competent performance in a framework that is fair, relevant, inclusive, transferable, and formative. In BC, the revalidation process came into effect January 1, 2010, and consists of mandatory compliance with continuing professional development (CPD) requirements of either the RCPSC or the CFPC.
s (attorneys, legal practitioners, legal executives, solicitor
s, barrister
s) are encouraged or required to complete a certain number of hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or Continuing Legal Education
(CLE).
In England and Wales, all solicitors and legal executives who are in legal practice or employment, or who work 32 hours or more per week, are required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of CPD (= 16 CPD points) per year.
In Scotland
, all solicitors who are in full time employment and wish to retain their Practising Certificate are required to undertake a minimum of 20 hours of CPD per year.
In Queensland, Australia
, each legal practitioner is required to undertake 10 hours of CPD each year to acquire 10 CPD points. Within each year, the practitioner must include 1 point for each of three core areas:
Many of the major legal publishers run seminars for the profession. A variety of providers ensures practitioners have adequate choice of content and style of delivery.
(UK) approached the definition of CPD by ways of explaining each word in turn. It is (as follows):
(CILT) in the United Kingdom defines Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as: The systematic maintenance and improvement of knowledge, skills and competence throughout a professional's working life. It is about maintaining and improving standards of competence and professionalism. The onus is on the learner to take responsibility for developing and directing their own career.
The American Academy of Financial Management requirements for continuing uses CPD and continuing education as part of its ongoing requirements for members. Members must complete 15 hours of recognized professional each year to retain their qualification. The AAFM Board regulates certifications worldwide such as CWM Chartered Wealth Manager Certification.
(IAM) requires candidates to complete the following:
This is intended to help the individual carry out some initial thinking about your strengths and weaknesses. In addition, you will need to think about possible directions for your career development and to highlight potential threats.
Development of your PPDP is based upon the individuals SWOT Analysis. Its purpose is to assist them to formulate a set of development activities covering a period of twelve months. Long-term career plans should cover development activities for the next twelve
months in the light of their intentions over the next three years.
Implementing of the individuals plan does not imply that they cannot or should not change it once implementation is underway. Situations and circumstances can and do change.
It is vital that the individual records their efforts and assess the benefits of their planned activities. The activities that they undertake may not always generate the results that were intended. Time spent reflecting on how they have tackled each activity and in assessing the outcomes will enable the individual to adjust their PPDP for the following year. Moreover, by recording their activities they will be building a complete record of their professional/personal development that can form the basis for long-term career progression.
At the end of the twelve month period, having reviewed the individuals activities they are required to complete the Summary Sheet. The process is repeated for the second and subsequent years by reviewing and updating your SWOT Analysis and then drawing up a new PPDP.
Registration for CPD shows the individuals own commitment to learning and allows them to consider best practice within the workplace.
(CIPD), CPD should:
CPD research
There is much research on the use of CPD in different domains. In an article by Mac Van der Merwe and Alta van der Merwe (2008) the authors focus on the personal and situational tensions impacting on the use of a mathematics-friendly interactive online discussion forum environment as a reflective tool for the CPD of advantaged and disadvantaged mathematics teachers in South Africa.CPD for medical professionals
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is defined as the education of physicians following completion of formal training. CPD consists of any educational activity which helps to maintain, develop or increase knowledge, problem-solving, technical skills or professional performance standards all with the goal that physicians can provide better health care. CPD includes 'formal' activities, e.g. courses, conferences and workshops, as well as self-directed activities such as preceptorship and directed reading.The Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC, the organization composed of the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons or Medical Boards of all the provinces and territories), has stated that all licensed physicians in Canada must participate in a recognized revalidation process in which they demonstrate their commitment to continued competent performance in a framework that is fair, relevant, inclusive, transferable, and formative. In BC, the revalidation process came into effect January 1, 2010, and consists of mandatory compliance with continuing professional development (CPD) requirements of either the RCPSC or the CFPC.
CPD for lawyers
In many countries lawyerLawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
s (attorneys, legal practitioners, legal executives, solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
s, barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
s) are encouraged or required to complete a certain number of hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or Continuing Legal Education
Continuing Legal Education
Continuing legal education is professional education of lawyers that takes place after their initial admission to the bar. In many states in the United States, CLE participation is required of attorneys to maintain their license to practice law...
(CLE).
In England and Wales, all solicitors and legal executives who are in legal practice or employment, or who work 32 hours or more per week, are required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of CPD (= 16 CPD points) per year.
In Scotland
Scots law
Scots law is the legal system of Scotland. It is considered a hybrid or mixed legal system as it traces its roots to a number of different historical sources. With English law and Northern Irish law it forms the legal system of the United Kingdom; it shares with the two other systems some...
, all solicitors who are in full time employment and wish to retain their Practising Certificate are required to undertake a minimum of 20 hours of CPD per year.
In Queensland, Australia
Law of Australia
The law of Australia consists of the Australian common law , federal laws enacted by the Parliament of Australia, and laws enacted by the Parliaments of the Australian states and territories...
, each legal practitioner is required to undertake 10 hours of CPD each year to acquire 10 CPD points. Within each year, the practitioner must include 1 point for each of three core areas:
- Professional Skills,
- Practical Legal Ethics, and
- Practice Management & Business Skills.
Many of the major legal publishers run seminars for the profession. A variety of providers ensures practitioners have adequate choice of content and style of delivery.
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
The Royal Institution of Chartered SurveyorsRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is an independent, representative professional body which regulates property professionals and surveyors in the United Kingdom and other sovereign nations....
(UK) approached the definition of CPD by ways of explaining each word in turn. It is (as follows):
- continuing, because learning never ceases, regardless of age or seniority;
- professional, because it is focused on professional competence in a professional role; and
- concerned with development, because its goal is to improve personal performance and enhance career progression, which arguably is much wider than just formal training courses.
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and TransportChartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport is a professional body representing the transport and logistics industries worldwide...
(CILT) in the United Kingdom defines Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as: The systematic maintenance and improvement of knowledge, skills and competence throughout a professional's working life. It is about maintaining and improving standards of competence and professionalism. The onus is on the learner to take responsibility for developing and directing their own career.
The Association of Personal Assistants
APA (The Association of Personal Assistants) defines CPD as 'any process or activity that provides added value to the capability of the individual through an increase in professional knowledge, skills and personal qualities necessary for the appropriate execution of professional and technical duties, often termed ‘competence’.American Academy of Financial Management
The American Academy of Financial ManagementAmerican Academy of Financial Management
The American Academy of Financial Management is a USA-based board of standards, certifying body, and accreditation council dedicated to the finance sector and management professionals....
The American Academy of Financial Management requirements for continuing uses CPD and continuing education as part of its ongoing requirements for members. Members must complete 15 hours of recognized professional each year to retain their qualification. The AAFM Board regulates certifications worldwide such as CWM Chartered Wealth Manager Certification.
IAM
The Institute of Administrative ManagementInstitute of Administrative Management
The Institute of Administrative Management is an awarding organisation and professional membership body for practising and aspiring Administrative and Business Managers, with students and members in 65 countries worldwide....
(IAM) requires candidates to complete the following:
- Self-SWOT Analysis (see SWOT analysisSWOT analysisSWOT analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses/Limitations, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture...
)
This is intended to help the individual carry out some initial thinking about your strengths and weaknesses. In addition, you will need to think about possible directions for your career development and to highlight potential threats.
- Personal & Professional Development
Development of your PPDP is based upon the individuals SWOT Analysis. Its purpose is to assist them to formulate a set of development activities covering a period of twelve months. Long-term career plans should cover development activities for the next twelve
months in the light of their intentions over the next three years.
- Implementation
Implementing of the individuals plan does not imply that they cannot or should not change it once implementation is underway. Situations and circumstances can and do change.
- Learning Diary
It is vital that the individual records their efforts and assess the benefits of their planned activities. The activities that they undertake may not always generate the results that were intended. Time spent reflecting on how they have tackled each activity and in assessing the outcomes will enable the individual to adjust their PPDP for the following year. Moreover, by recording their activities they will be building a complete record of their professional/personal development that can form the basis for long-term career progression.
- Annual Review/Summary
At the end of the twelve month period, having reviewed the individuals activities they are required to complete the Summary Sheet. The process is repeated for the second and subsequent years by reviewing and updating your SWOT Analysis and then drawing up a new PPDP.
Registration for CPD shows the individuals own commitment to learning and allows them to consider best practice within the workplace.
CIPD
According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and DevelopmentChartered Institute of Personnel and Development
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is Europe's largest professional institute for people management and development. It is located in Wimbledon, London, England. The organisation has over 135,000 members across 120 countries, and achieved chartered status in 2000...
(CIPD), CPD should:
- be continuous - professionals should always be looking for ways to improve performance
- be the responsibility of the individual learner to own and manage
- be driven by the learning needs and development of the individual
- be evaluative rather than descriptive of what has taken place
- be an essential component of professional and personal life, never an optional extra
FEANI - European Federation of National Engineering Associations
FEANI defines CPD as the acquisition of knowledge, experience and skills, as well as, the development of personal qualities. It contains both the acquisition of new skills, to broaden competence, and the enhancement of existing skills to keep abreast of evolving knowledge.See also
- Professional developmentProfessional developmentProfessional development refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement. Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal learning...
- Initial Professional DevelopmentInitial Professional DevelopmentProfessional development may be separated into two distinct phases, Continuing Professional Development and Initial Professional Development.- Definitions :...
- Continuing educationContinuing educationContinuing education is an all-encompassing term within a broad spectrum of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United States and Canada...
- Continuing legal educationContinuing Legal EducationContinuing legal education is professional education of lawyers that takes place after their initial admission to the bar. In many states in the United States, CLE participation is required of attorneys to maintain their license to practice law...