Continuing Professional Development, most commonly known as CPD, is basically keeping up to date with professional knowledge and skills that are needed for your work or profession.
It would be expected that, for example, an ECS Installation Electrician who has signed up as a Registered Electrician to keep up to date with the latest edition of the wiring regulations (BS7671). For those who are working in other specialisms, or perhaps engaged in low carbon technologies, a qualification such as in Electric Vehicle installation would be a good example of CPD.
CPD is more than just qualifications though, and can include professional membership, in house training or other types of ongoing learning.
A CPD record shows the continuous learning and improvement that has taken place.
As technology develops and new regulations come into force it is important to demonstrate or prove that people are up to date and is an important part of being a competent and qualified person. A CPD record helps keep all the training and knowledge development in one place and can be shown to an employer, client or professional institution when needed as a downloadable report.
Sometimes it is necessary to demonstrate that a minimum amount of CPD has been carried out in a year. The CPD record helps to provide the evidence to prove this.
Things that can be consider as CPD can be formal qualifications, relevant reading (such as a trade magazine or an online article), watching a webinar or attending events.
Toolbox talks from an employer or the induction from a new work placement or construction site are also a useful source of CPD and should be recorded.
There is now the facility to record CPD directly into an ECS cardholder MyECS record.
ECS cardholders just need to log on to their online MyECS account to add and to view their CPD record.
Anything can be added to the MyECS CPD record but only relevant qualifications that support an ECS card application will be validated by the JIB when an ECS card application is made.
You can download this CPD report from the MyECS App and from your MyECS portal for quick reference on verified and self-declared experience, skills and endorsements.
More information about how to add CPD to your MyECS account can be found here