CPD

What is CPD?

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the lifelong process of learning and continuing personal development. It’s the means by which you can maintain and enhance your knowledge and skills to complement both your current role and your future career progression.

IBS members are responsible for deciding themselves what and how much CPD activity to undertake in any year. You will need to plan, coordinate and evidence that you are working to continually improve your professional competence.

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A planned, structured approach to your own personal development will help you:

  • Learn new skills and keep up to date with the latest trends
  • Perform better in your current role
  • Gain a competitive edge and improve your future employment opportunities
  • Increase your self-confidence
  • Enhance your professional reputation
  • Achieve tangible evidence of your commitment, competence and professionalism

What are the different types of CPD?

Almost anything which improves your knowledge and skills can be considered CPD, including “on the job” learning. IBS recognizes two distinct types of CPD – formal and informal.

Formal CPD

Formal CPD is generally structured and consists of interactive and participation-based activities such as attending training courses, workshops, seminars, special interest groups, regional group events, undertaking e-learning courses, making presentations, writing articles or presenting at conferences. These types of activity can be more easily independently measured and verified by attendance certificates, test results, preparation of written materials etc.

Informal CPD

Informal or self-assessed CPD is less structured. Typically, activities include reading relevant publications, news articles, podcasts, trade magazines, case studies and industry updates. It can also include study and revision for professional examinations, reading industry-specific newsfeeds or undertaking research into relevant fields.

Try and maintain a balance between formal and informal activities.

Here are some examples of typical CPD activities.

  • Writing articles or reports published by IBS or another third party
  • Authoring risk management or associated textbook
  • Study material developer or reviewer
  • Contribution to technical documents and guides
  • Studying for a formal business related qualification
  • Undertaking an e-learning program
  • Setting or moderating examination papers
  • Marking examination scripts or assessing course work
  • Participation in meetings focus groups or research initiatives, e.g. Regional or Special Interest, Groups
  • Member of an organizing group, e.g. IBS Special Interest Group or Regional Group
  • Member of a technical committee
  • Writing a book review for the Institute’s magazine
  • Course/workshop trainer or leader
  • Mentor or coach
  • Paper presented at a risk related seminar or conference
  • Provider of risk related training course or workshop
  • Presenting a webinar
  • Attendance at risk related conference/event/seminar
  • Attendance at formal risk related or personal development training course
  • Attendance at IBS Special Interest Group or Regional Group meeting
  • Speaking/facilitating
  • In-house presentation on risk management
  • On the job training – interactive and participative discussion by a subject expert
  • Development of in-house risk training program
  • Member of technical working group or committee