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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.
  • Attendance certificate or written/email confirmation of attendance from the training provider or from your employer
  • Course/workshop outline or agenda which clearly shows what was covered during the session and the learning objectives
  • Any presentation slides sent to you
  • Any reflections on the outcome of the course/workshop.
Structured
This 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 and
webinars
An informative presentation, or series of presentations, on topics provided by internal or
external subject experts.
  • Attendance certificate, conference badge or some other written/email confirmation of attendance from event provider where possible
  • Event agenda which clearly shows what was covered during the session(s) and learning objectives (if applicable)
  • Any reflections on the outcome of the conference/seminar.
Structured
This 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 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.
  • Copy of qualification certificate or exam entry confirmation (if not CII)
  • Copy of exam syllabus (if not CII)
  • Information received from your employer (if applicable).
Structured
This 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
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.
  • Meeting agenda or any written details of the purpose of the discussion
  • Official minutes of the meeting/discussion or written confirmation of your participation by the organisers
  • Written confirmation of your participation by the organisers (if not CII/PFS)
  • Copies of research results.
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.
  • Written confirmation from your employer that training has taken place
  • Broad outline of what has been covered
  • Any reflections on the outcome of the training.
Structured
This 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.
Training for
others
Providing interactive and participative discussion, lectures, tutoring and/or instruction for others
which involves setting clear objectives and learning outcomes
  • Written confirmation from the training organisers or copies of marketing literature for the course showing you as the trainer
  • Copies of the course outline, learning objectives and learning outcomes
  • Any reflections on the outcomes of your training work in relation to your learning and development needs.
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.
  • Confirmation of enrolment (if applicable)
  • Course outline showing course content, learning objectives and learning outcomes
  • Copies of tutor marked assignments                     
  • Any reflections on the outcome of the learning.
Structured
This 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.
E-learning Online packages which set clear objectives and learning outcomes and include assessment measures.
  • Confirmation of the modules and/or assessments completed (these can be screen printouts).
Structured
This 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.
Examination
setting and
moderation
Setting and moderating any examination offered by an examining body which is business related. Includes all associated
study options.
  • Details of the examinations you have worked on (e.g. exam name, awarding body and content outline)
  • Written confirmation from the relevant awarding body of your participation (if not CII)
  • Any reflections on the outcomes of your examining work in relation to your learning and development needs.
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.
  • Copies of the items you've written and details of the publications they appeared in or who they were distributed to
  • If you have written a book please provide full details of the publication (e.g. title, publisher, year of publication and ISBN number if applicable).
Structured
This 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 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.             
  • This category does not require evidence unless you wish to claim it as structured CPD activity (see notes in next column). In which case, please provide details of the learning outcomes or research reasons for undertaking this reading or use of other media.
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.
  • Written confirmation from an employer (if applicable) or the mentee
  • Any reflections on the outcomes of your mentoring work in relation to your learning and development needs.
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.