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Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requires that most individual working professionals in most sectors, including healthcare professionals, engineers, teachers, social workers, architects, and accountants need to comply with a CPD program in one form or another as stipulated by the governing body of their relevant profession. CPD is especially important in the Healthcare industry.
What is CPD?
A Continuing Professional Development Program, CPD, is a program designed to help professionals develop their professional and academic skills on an ongoing basis, beyond their initial studies and training. The CPD process involves evaluating and verifying the learning and development of the professional, which is submitted to and monitored by the governing body to which the professional is affiliated.
The importance of CPD
In the wake of new technologies and improved processes, CPD is a learning process that is designed to ensure that professionals continuously update their skills and knowledge so as to continue to provide services of the highest standard and quality to the communities that they serve. To illustrate the importance of CPD, consider whether you are likely to trust an engineer who qualified 10 years ago and whose knowledge and expertise are not up to speed with the latest trends and technologies to build a high-tech bridge. This single example hits home in demonstrating the importance of Continuing Professional Development.
Is the CPD Process Compulsory for Professionals?
The CPD process has been deemed compulsory by the majority of professional governing bodies and in certain cases, the renewal of the professional’s license to practice is contingent upon whether they have met the necessary CPD requirements. Hence, the main purpose of any CPD program is to uphold public safety and guarantee a high level of service. A CPD program also safeguards professionals and employers alike in making sure that expertise and knowledge are current and in line with the latest developments in a particular field.
How does one become CPD Compliant?
The conditions for compliance differ widely from one professional governing body to another.
Each governing body has specific requirements in terms of how CPD points should be obtained.
Here is a guide to the CPD requirements for each of the main professions.
Teachers
South African Council for Educators (SACE)
Every teacher must earn 150 PD (Professional Development) points every three years. Please visit the following link for more information.
South African Council for Educators (SACE)
Engineers
Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)
Five credits are earned per year in each of the three categories of CPD activities, for a total of 25 credits earned over a five-year period. CPD credits must be earned in at least two of the three categories as stipulated, with at least one credit earned in Category 1. Registered individuals who intend to participate in a Category 1 CPD Activity must ensure that the Activity has been validated and that the credits awarded will be recognised by ECSA. Please visit the following link for more information.
Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)
Accountants
South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) requires a member to obtain a minimum of 120 CPD hours over a 3-year rolling cycle. Of these 120 hours 60 hours must be verifiable and a minimum of 20 CPD hours must be attained annually. Please visit the following link for more information.
South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
Architects
South African Institute of Architects (SAIA)
Registered professionals are generally required to accumulate at least 25 CPD credits in each five year renewal of registration cycle. At least 3 CPD credits must be accumulated in any one year of the cycle and at least 1 Category CPD credit must be earned each year. Please visit the following link for more information.
South African Institute of Architects (SAIA)
Lawyers
Law Society of South Africa (LSSA)
Attorneys will need to obtain the following credits over a three-year cycle:
- 72 credits if they have been practising for less than six years;
- 54 credits if they have been practising for six to 12 years; and
- 36 credits if they have been practising for more than 12 years.
Attorneys must obtain a minimum of three credits in every year of the cycle. Please visit the following link for more information.
Law Society of South Africa (LSSA)
Health Care Professionals
Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
Healthcare professionals need to earn 60 CPD points every 24 months. Without the required CPD points, the healthcare practitioner is open to a CPD audit, after which the Professional Board may consider or take appropriate action. Please visit the following link for more information.
Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
How can professionals benefit from CPD?
- Ensures that knowledge is kept up-to-date and in line with developing technologies.
- Enables higher standards of service delivery.
- Keeps professional credentials current.
- Opens up greater opportunities for employment.
- Allows one to better take advantage of new business opportunities.
- Creates a higher level of professional standing.
How is CPD calculated?
Certain professional governing bodies measure CPD compliance using a point system while others calculate CPD hours. Typically, professionals are required to obtain a specified number of points or hours over a 2/3-year cycle. For instance, for the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) it is compulsory for healthcare providers to obtain 6 Ethics points and 30 CPD General points every two years. For example, a standard online course counts for 3 General points. Hence, a healthcare provider should attend 10 courses each year.
CPD Hours
Where certain professional governing bodies measure compliance in hours, for the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), a CPD hour would usually take the form of a 60-minute formal lecture or an online lecture comprising 4 courses of 15 minutes each.
Does a CPD course require a written exam?
Apart from those professional governing bodies that make provision for non-verifiable CPDs, the majority of online courses require that one complete a multiple choice questionnaire at the end of the course and one needs to obtain a minimum pass rate of 70%. For face-to-face training courses, no exam is required and one is merely required to verify attendance by signing an attendance register.
Short Courses can help you obtain CPD points
Even if you are an architect or engineer, you might need to upskill yourself in other disciplines, such as business administration, management and leadership or computer skills. Give us a call and we will help you leverage your training to earn the CPD points you need.
Reference sources: cpdexpress.co.za