Education & compliance
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the ongoing learning professionals undertake to maintain and grow the skills and knowledge needed in their field. CPD is often tracked in hours or points and is required to keep many professional designations and memberships current.
Key takeaways
- Ongoing, career-long learning
- Tracked in hours or points
- Often mandatory for professional bodies
- Spans formal and informal learning
- Commonly evidenced with digital certificates or badges
What is Continuing Professional Development?
CPD is the combination of structured and self-directed learning professionals pursue throughout their careers to stay current and competent in their field.
Why CPD matters
CPD maintains competence, is required to keep many professional designations, and supports career progression by keeping skills up to date.
How CPD works
Professionals complete qualifying activities and log CPD hours or points, often verified by their professional association or awarding body.
CPD vs CEU
CPD is broader and common internationally, measured in hours or points. A CEU is a specific, standardized US unit (often 10 contact hours).