What is CPD?

This definition for CPD (continued professional development) from The Allied Health Professions Project ‘Demonstrating competence through CPD’ in the UK is a broad definition that seems to encompass what CPD should be for all health professionals.

‘a range of learning activities through which health professionals maintain and develop throughout their career to ensure that they retain their capacity to practice safely, effectively and legally within their evolving scope of practice’

Throughout the world it is widely accepted that all health professionals should continue their education and professionally develop throughout their careers although the nature of this tends to vary depending on the profession and where they live. Many professional groups place emphasis on collecting ‘points’ by the formal attendance at courses which sometimes need to be accredited by professional groups.  This can be an expensive and time consuming method for people to meet their professional requirements, however, CPD as defined above allows the busy health care professional to include a wide range of learning activities into their professional development.  Many of these activities are events that occur during normal daily practice and don’t cost any money at all.  All it therefore requires for a health professional to be continually professionally developing is the motivation to independently and actively engage in their own CPD .

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