Structured CPD
Courses, workshops, seminars and live events where learners take part in planned teaching, discussion, practice or assessment.
What is Continuing Professional Development?
CPD is the learning people complete throughout their working lives to keep knowledge current, improve practical skills and maintain professional standards.
CPD explained
Professional learning does not stop after initial training.
Continuing Professional Development is the habit of keeping skills, knowledge and judgement up to date after formal education or workplace induction. It helps people respond to changes in regulation, technology, practice and client expectations.
CPD can be formal or informal. A person might attend a course, take part in a workshop, watch a webinar, read specialist guidance, complete reflective notes or discuss practice with a mentor. The activity matters less than whether it is relevant, purposeful and recorded.
CPD hours
How CPD hours, points and credits are usually understood.
CPD hours are a measure of learning time. One hour usually means one hour spent actively learning, excluding breaks, registration, sales activity or general networking that is not part of the learning outcome.
Some professional bodies use points or credits instead of hours. Many schemes treat one point as broadly equal to one hour, but this is not universal. The safest approach is to follow the rules set by the learner's regulator, membership body or employer.
A CPD certificate should make the time claim clear. It should state the activity title, completion date and CPD hours, and it should avoid implying that the learner has gained a regulated qualification unless that qualification exists separately.
Reflective CPD
Briefings, recorded lectures, podcasts, case studies or professional updates where the learner records what was learned and why it matters.
Self-directed CPD
Reading, research, peer discussion and independent learning chosen by the learner to address a current professional need.
Keeping records
A good CPD record is useful after the learning is finished.
CPD records help learners explain what they completed and how it supported their role. A useful record includes the date, title, provider, learning time, a short reflection and any supporting evidence.
Employers and professional bodies often need this record later. Clear certificates and notes make it easier to review development, prepare for audit or plan future learning.
The safest CPD records avoid overclaiming. They show what was completed, how long the active learning took and which evidence supports the learner record.
See how accreditation supports records
Accreditation
What CPD accreditation adds to a course.
Accreditation gives a course an independent review before approved CPD wording is used. It checks whether the course purpose, audience, learning outcomes, materials, completion evidence and CPD-hour claim are aligned.
This is different from saying a provider is approved for every course it delivers. Course accreditation is tied to the named activity submitted for review. Provider approval is a separate route for the organisation and its learner support, quality controls and certificate records.
For learners, the value is clarity. For providers, the value is a cleaner course file and a certificate record that can be understood after completion.
FAQ
Questions about CPD.
Short answers to the questions people usually ask before recording CPD hours or choosing an accredited activity.
What does CPD mean?
CPD means Continuing Professional Development. It describes relevant learning that helps a person keep their knowledge, skills and professional practice up to date.
What counts as CPD hours?
CPD hours normally reflect active learning time. Breaks, registration, sales presentations and unrelated networking should not be counted as CPD learning time.
Are CPD points and CPD hours the same?
Many organisations treat one CPD point as one hour, but the rules are set by each professional body, regulator or employer. Learners should follow the scheme that applies to their role.
Does CPD have to be a course?
No. CPD can include courses, events, webinars, reading, research, mentoring, reflective work and professional discussion when the learning is relevant and recorded.
How should CPD be recorded?
A useful CPD record normally includes the date, activity title, provider, learning time, short reflection and any certificate or evidence issued on completion.