Most professional bodies commonly use CPD Hours as their Continuing Professional Development measuring unit, and the terms CPD points or credits are typically used, where 1 CPD point normally equals 1 CPD hour.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is not just a box to tick; it’s an ongoing commitment to enhancing your skills and knowledge. One of the key components of CPD is earning CPD credits, also known as CPD points. Lately, to ensure that teachers continually improve their skills and stay current with educational developments, the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) has established Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements. Teachers are typically required to complete a specific number of CPD hours or points over a set period, often a school year. For example, a primary school teacher might be expected to gather 30 CPD hours annually, while a secondary school teacher might need to earn 40 CPD hours. Similar to this, professional bodies, trainers, employers and clients are now more vigilant in focusing on the CPD credits alongside the expertise. This article will explain what CPD credits or points are, why they matter, and how they can benefit your career.
CPD For Medical Professionals in the UK
Doctors should complete a minimum of 250 hours (credits) of CPD over a five year period.
Nurses are expected to have 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to your scope of practice in the three year period.
Understanding CPD Credits, Points, and Hours
‘What are CPD points, units, or credits?’ and ‘How do CPD points relate to CPD hours?’ are probably two of the most frequently asked questions. And the simplest answer would be that CPD credits, units, hours, and points are all the same thing.
Regardless of how they are named differently, CPD credits, or CPD points, are basically a measurement unit used to quantify the learning and development activities you undertake as part of your professional growth. These activities can encompass a wide range of experiences, including workshops, courses, seminars, conferences, webinars, and self-directed learning. CPD credits provide a structured way to track and demonstrate your commitment to ongoing learning.
Why do CPD Points matter?
CPD points are significant for the progression of your career. They make it easier for you to keep up with the most recent developments in your field, which is especially important in professions that are subject to rapid innovation, for instance, teaching, training, construction, healthcare, marketing, social work, IT etc. When you acquire a good number of credits, required by your industry, it demonstrates to everyone that you take your work seriously and strive to be the very best at what you do. To maintain your licence or qualification, some organisations even require that you receive continuing professional development credits. In addition, participating in CPD activities can help you become even better at your job, which in turn can open up additional doors for you in your professional life.
How to earn CPD Points?
Earning CPD points or credits involves various activities, and the specific requirements may vary depending on your profession and location. You can earn CPD credits through the following most common activities:
- By attending Workshops and Conferences. Participating in relevant industry events can earn you a good amount of CPD credits. These events often provide valuable networking opportunities as well.
- Enrolling in Online courses. Accredited online courses or webinars are a convenient way to earn CPD credits, especially if you have a busy schedule.
- Indulging in Self-Directed learning. Reading books, research papers, or articles related to your field and documenting your learning can also count towards CPD credits.
- Being mentored by a senior professional or attending mentorship programs can contribute to your CPD credits.
How to calculate CPD Points?
The amount of time invested in an activity is the primary factor that determines the number of continuing professional development (CPD) credits or points that you have gathered from an activity. Let’s say a classroom course is five hours long and you have successfully completed it, you will be awarded five CPD credits or five CPD points.
CPD Points/CPD Credits = Total number of active learning hours in a CPD activity
It is important to know that these credit hours are dependent entirely on the amount of time spent actively learning. Even if the lengths of the courses varied, they might nevertheless provide the same number of CPD credits. For instance, one class might last for two days and consist of six hours of classroom instruction each day, while another class might be spread out over a period of 12 weeks and involve learning for just one hour per week. Due to the fact that learners participated in learning activities for a combined total of 12 hours across both scenarios, the courses will each be awarded a value of 12 CPD credits.
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