What are the benefits of CPD?

This article provides a simple overview as to the benefits of CPD, helping to explain what is CPD, how it works, and different types of CPD, as well as how CPD benefits individuals with their ongoing learning, improvement and career opportunities.

CPD is the shortened term to describe Continuing Professional Development. CPD describes the learning activities that a professional individual undertakes, such as training courses, online and eLearning, conferences and events, designed to develop and enhance their workplace skills and abilities.

Types of CPD

There are 3 core types of CPD which cover a range of different learning methods. The first type of CPD is called Structured CPD, which is considered active learning and often involves participation-based learning. Structured CPD is often proactive and includes training courses, online modules, eLearning, seminars, workshops and CPD certified events.

The second type of CPD is called reflective learning, which involves no participant-based interaction, and so this form of CPD is much more passive and one directional. The last type of CPD is called self-directed CPD, which typically involves all unaccompanied CPD activities such as the reading documents, articles and publications.

What are the benefits of CPD?

CPD benefits individuals by providing a structured and methodical framework to learning that helps individuals focus on improving their workplace skills and knowledge. It helps ensure both academic and practical qualifications do not become outdated, and allows an individual to continually upskill throughout their career. Furthermore, it aims to help support academic qualifications with ongoing vocational and skills-based learning.

Other benefits of CPD is that it enables individuals to clearly showcase their further learning and development, which can help create a competitive advantage within the job market, for example. CPD can help increase confidence, with the knowledge that professional capabilities are improving and evolving to support any industry changes.

How to record your CPD

Most professional bodies provide individuals with annual Continuing Professional Development requirements, normally set as a number of CPD hours. These CPD hours are obtained by completing appropriate training courses, online and eLearning, seminars, workshops, conferences and events. CPD hours are sometimes converted to points, units or credits.

An individual would usually record their annual CPD learning on a record form, sometimes called a CPD portfolio. A CPD record should be kept up to date, be accurate and meet the requirements of a professional body or association. The CPD activity is recorded in terms of the learning outcomes and objectives, and what can be put into practice. The benefits of recording CPD correctly is that it helps provide evidence that ongoing learning is being completed, which can then be useful for career development and workplace appraisals.

The myCPD Portal is a free CPD record tool that can help professionals to log their Continuing Professional Development training in one simple place. Using the myCPD Portal can make it easier to manage any ongoing CPD requirements effectively, set annual CPD targets, store CPD certificates of attendance, and track learning progress throughout the year.

What is a CPD Certificate of Attendance?

A CPD certificate of attendance is often obtained from a structured and accredited CPD learning activity, such as training courses, online workshops, seminars and educational events. A CPD certificate of attendance is important item as it can be attached to an individuals CPD record as evidence to help show a professional body or employer that further learning has been completed relevant for their role and industry.

Understanding the CPD Cycle 

The CPD Cycle is a useful tool that helps individuals structure their annual CPD learning, so any training that is undertaken is considered suitable for an individuals ongoing Continuing Professional Development requirements. The benefits of using the CPD Cycle is that it can make managing your annual CPD extremely effective and efficient. Find out more about the CPD Cycle.

Benefits of CPD - Why is CPD important?

One of the main benefits of CPD is that it allows an individual to focus short term on specific knowledge gaps and missing skills, in order to be assured there is a recognisable improvement to personal proficiency. Industries are always progressing, which in itself creates both opportunities and challenges. The benefits of CPD is that it enables an individual to regularly apply focused attention to important areas of growth, analyse any shortfalls and take appropriate action to make specific improvements.

CPD is used by millions of professionals to improve their capabilities. CPD helps display a clear commitment to self-development and professionalism, helping individuals to identify knowledge gaps and to resolve these in a recognisable approach to personal development.

CPD Benefits for Employers

Many organisations have employees with CPD requirements, as members of professional bodies. In these circumstances, the benefits of employers providing CPD training is that it can help improve business performance and efficiencies, whilst also help staff with their learning requirements. Employers are able to make use of CPD to take a more proactive and supportive development role with employees, with the clear benefits being a more highly skilled, capable and motivated workforce. Read more about the benefits of CPD for employers. 

About The CPD Certification Service

We hope this article was helpful. Established in 1996, The CPD Certification Service has over 27 years’ experience providing CPD accreditation. With members in over 100 countries, our CPD providers benefit from the ability to promote themselves as part of an international community where quality is both recognised and assured.

If you are interested in offering training courses, seminars, workshops, eLearning, or educational events suitable for Continuing Professional Development, please visit the Become a CPD Provider page or contact our team to discuss in more detail.