A guide to getting the most from your CPD

Kirri Porter-White, CABE’s Head of Competence and Learning, offers a guide to getting the most from your CPD.

Since 2024, CABE has required 35 hours of CPD annually from all fee-paying members. CPD is an essential means of enhancing skills, keeping knowledge up-to-date and adapting to the ongoing changes in a dynamic industry. The Association recognises CPD as a matter of public interest and encourages active engagement in this process. So, here’s how to make CPD work for you.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any mandated CPD topics?

No. Presently CABE does not require that a certain number of yearly hours are dedicated to a particular subject or topic. However, the advice is always to make sure that you focus on a variety of subjects and gain CPD across different methods. Reading, research and technical meetings can be just as valuable as more formal, structured training courses; a well-rounded record comprises a mixture of both formal and informal CPD.

Try to always qualify what you learnt and why you undertook that piece of CPD with learning outcomes. This is checked at audit too.

Can I upload my CPD from another professional body or my employer?

Yes. As long as a CPD record contains enough hours and a good amount of detail, it can be from any source.

What do I do if I can’t reach CABE’s 35-hour requirement?

Sometimes our year doesn’t go as planned, making it difficult to engage in additional learning. If you are facing circumstances such as parental leave or unemployment and need to request a concession, please do get in touch. However, during particularly busy periods, it’s still important to take time to reflect on the knowledge you’ve gained organically.

Professional development doesn’t always require formal study – learning often happens naturally through the work we do every day. It may simply be a matter of recognising and reflecting on the skills and insights acquired while delivering projects or navigating complex tasks.

CMS Support

A CPD record is the culmination of a year’s learning and development. To make the most of your efforts, consider using CABE’s Competency Management System (CMS) to set clear goals and structure your CPD activities around achieving them. Whether you’re aiming for a membership upgrade or seeking Engineering Council registration, the CMS allows you to map out your development activities and focus your year on meeting specific competence milestones.

For more info visit cbuilde.com/CMS

Can I log my qualification as CPD?

Qualifications offer fantastic, well-structured knowledge and development. Often they contain a vast number of hours that can leave members feeling as if they can take their foot off the pedal when it comes to logging CPD.

We would encourage you to still think about other elements you can focus on, such as soft skills, communication or social skills, and continue to engage and log CPD in other areas around your qualification.

For membership of a professional body to mean competence, it is essential that members can demonstrate how they have maintained their standards. By logging CPD and being audited, members are able to show their ongoing commitment to safety, quality and development.

For more information on how to log CPD to your record, visit cbuilde.com/cpd
To find training courses, CPD and webinars, don’t forget to regularly check the Training & CPD pages at cbuilde.com

Image credit | Shutterstock