Suitable CPD activities
A range of activities 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.
Activities should only be recorded if they have assisted your professional development. Members are bound by our Code of Ethics to be honest in their declarations.
Activity |
Definition |
Evidence to keep as proof * |
Structured or unstructured |
---|---|---|---|
Training courses & |
Interactive, participative course provided by employer or external third party which sets clear objectives and learning outcomes. |
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Structured – involves activity which has stated learning outcomes, activity designed to address these and some form of assessment or reflection; and addresses an identified learning need. |
Conferences, seminars & |
Informative presentation or series on topics provided by internal or external subject experts. |
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Structured - involves activity which has stated learning outcomes, activity designed to address these and some form of assessment or reflection; and addresses an identified learning need. |
Studying for exam |
Any one examination offered by examining body which is business related, including all related study. Excludes time spent in an exam sitting. |
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Structured - involves activity which has stated learning outcomes, activity designed to address these and some form of assessment or reflection; and addresses an identified learning need. |
Formal |
Facilitated by third party (internal or external), e.g. focus groups, research initiatives, committees or technical events. Excludes social events. |
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Normally unstructured - involves activity which does not have stated learning objectives, and supporting activity and assessments designed to reinforce these. Typically cover identified learning points incidentally. |
On-the-job training |
Interactive & participative discussion and instruction by a subject expert. |
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Structured - involves activity which has stated learning outcomes, activity designed to address these, and some form of assessment or reflection; and addresses identified learning need. |
Training others |
Providing interactive & participative discussion, lectures, tutoring and/or instruction for others which involves setting objectives and learning outcomes. |
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Preparation for training is structured, e.g. updating knowledge on subjects, attending courses on developing training skills. |
Self-managed |
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 - involves activity which has stated learning outcomes, activity designed to address these, and some form of assessment or reflection; and addresses identified learning need. |
E-learning |
Online packages which set clear objectives and learning outcomes and assessment measures. |
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Structured - activity has stated learning outcomes, activity is designed to address these, and some form of assessment or reflection; and addresses identified learning need. |
Exam setting & |
Setting and moderating any exam offered by an examining body which is business related. Includes all associated study options. |
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Preparation for the exam setting is structured, e.g. updating your subject knowledge to inform your examining work. Moderation work would be unstructured (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 - involves activity which; has stated learning outcomes, activity designed to address these; and some form of assessment or reflection; and addresses an identified learning need. |
Reading & viewing |
Technical and trade publications, fact files, bulletins/regular updates, manuals, professional |
Does not require evidence unless you wish to claim it as structured CPD activity (see notes in next column). If so, provide details of learning outcomes or research reasons for undertaking reading or use of other media. |
Structured - reading done with specific purpose in mind, e.g. to meet specified learning and development need or because you are researching topic for work-based project and material used has been produced to meet specific learning outcome. |
Mentoring |
Providing instruction, guidance and support to trainees or examination students. |
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Preparation for certain aspects of mentoring is structured, e.g. attending training course on developing mentoring skills. |
* 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.