The importance of continuing professional development (CPD)…

In the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC), it states that employers of registered engineering professionals have the assurance of knowing that their employees have had their competence independently assessed, their credentials verified and their commitment to continuing professional development (CPD) established.

BINDT expects registered engineers and technicians to demonstrate a personal and professional commitment to society, their profession and the environment. They are required to show that they have adopted a set of values and behaviours that will maintain and enhance the reputation of the profession. Specific evidence is required, particularly in the area of carrying out CPD, which is necessary to maintain and enhance competence.

While most engineering professionals undertake CPD, this is often on a casual basis and without any deliberate planning, recording of activities or conscious reflection. Whatever its purpose or nature, learning through CPD should be reflective and should relate to specific objectives, even if these are only to maintain professional engineering competence. Having a regularly reviewed development plan will facilitate learning, although there will always be a place for unplanned activities. Registrants should record both their CPD activities and what they have learned or achieved through them and relate this to any planned objectives. Doing this will help them to determine their future needs and plan accordingly, as part of a cyclical process. It will also encourage an outcome-based approach, which is more appropriate to professional learning than relying solely on quantitative measures, such as hours or points.

CPD has several purposes, which will vary in relation to a registrant’s circumstances, their needs and their career progression. Very often, registrants will carry out CPD to assure their continuing competence in their current job. At other times, CPD may be carried out to enable a different role within or outside their organisation (which may have more management content or may not be purely an engineering role). Equally, CPD may help them to follow a longer-term career development plan or enhance their professionalism in a wider context than a specific job role. The focus of learning may therefore be on different areas of competence at different times. CPD can also take a variety of different forms. At its heart is informal learning through the challenges and opportunities of working life and interaction with others (for example colleagues, customers and suppliers), including professionals from other disciplines. However, this may be supplemented by structured activities such as courses, distance learning programmes, private study, preparation of papers and presentations, mentoring, involvement in professional body activities or relevant voluntary work (this list is not intended to be exhaustive). Individual registrants are best placed to determine their needs and how to meet them. Often, employers or experienced colleagues will play a significant part in this, but individuals should be responsible and proactive in seeking professional development opportunities.

To summarise, BINDT expects registered engineers, members and non-members to:

Maintain a structured CPD, which should include activities such as courses, distance learning programmes, private study, preparation of papers and presentations, mentoring, involvement in professional body activities or relevant voluntary work;
Record both their CPD activities and what they have learned;
Have a regularly reviewed development plan that will facilitate learning;
Provide specific evidence in the area of carrying out CPD that is necessary to maintain and enhance competence; and
Be prepared for Engineering Registration.

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