What is Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
                     What is Continuing 
Professional 
Development (CPD)?
What is CPD?
CPD stands for Continuing 
Professional Development. It 
refers to the process of tracking 
and documenting the skills, 
knowledge and experience that 
you gain both formally and 
informally as you work, beyond 
any initial training. It’s a record 
of what you experience, learn and 
then apply. 
Source: career-advice.jobs.ac.uk
Development as a 
professional
The term is generally used to mean a 
physical folder or portfolio documenting 
your development as a professional. 
Some organisations use it to mean a 
training or development plan, which I 
would argue is not strictly accurate. 
This article is about Continuing 
Professional Development as a process of 
recording and reflecting on learning and 
development.
Source: career-advice.jobs.ac.uk
What is it for?
The CPD process helps you 
manage your own development 
on an ongoing basis. Its function 
is to help you record, review and 
reflect on what you learn. It’s not 
a tick-box document recording 
the training you have completed. 
It’s broader than that.
Source: career-advice.jobs.ac.uk
Training or 
development – 
what’s the 
difference?
These terms are often used 
interchangeably, though there is a 
distinction. As a rule of thumb, 
training is formal and linear. It’s to 
do with learning how to do 
something specific, relating to skill 
and competence. Training can be 
as simple as using a PC application 
and as complex as learning how to 
be a pilot.
Source: career-advice.jobs.ac.uk
Key features of the 
CPD process
1. be a documented process
2. be self-directed: driven by you, not 
your employer
3. focus on learning from experience, 
reflective learning and review
4. help you set development goals and 
objectives
5. include both formal and informal 
learning
Source: career-advice.jobs.ac.uk
What will it do for 
you?
CPD may be a requirement of 
membership of a professional body. 
It can help you to reflect, review 
and document your learning and to 
develop and update your 
professional knowledge and skills.
Source: career-advice.jobs.ac.uk
Useful
1. provide an overview of your professional 
development to date
2. remind you of your achievements and how far 
you’ve progressed
3. direct your career and help you keep your eye on 
your goals
4. uncover gaps in your skills and capabilities
5. open up further development needs
6. provide examples and scenarios for a CV or 
interview
7. demonstrate your professional standing to clients 
and employers
Source: career-advice.jobs.ac.uk
 Identifying Your 
Needs
There are a number of ways in which 
you can identify development needs.
For example, you can carry out a 
skills audit. You may receive feedback 
from colleagues or your line manager 
about an area in which you are 
weaker. Alternatively, you may have 
an interest in a particular area and 
want to develop your knowledge.
Source: www.skillsyouneed.com
Planning and 
Carrying Out 
Development 
Activities
1. Formal, such as training courses or 
particular qualifications. These are 
often, though not always, provided by 
an external provider, and may carry a 
cost. 
2. Informal learning, including side-by-
side learning, video training (for 
example, for doctors in particular 
surgical techniques), shadowing, 
mentoring, coaching or reading on the 
subject.
Source: www.skillsyouneed.com
Reflecting on Your 
Learning
Reflecting on what you have 
learned is a vital part of continuing 
professional development. 
Learning does not emerge only 
from activities that you designated 
as ‘development’, and you may find 
that you are learning at least as 
much from your day-to-day 
activities.
Source: www.skillsyouneed.com