Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is essential for anyone aiming to advance in their career; but what exactly counts as CPD? From joining professional bodies and taking short courses to engaging in mentoring and earning certifications, CPD activities can enhance your skills, broaden your knowledge, and make you more competitive in the job market.
What counts as CPD activity?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) encompasses any activity that builds your skills, knowledge, and experience in a professional context. From training sessions to mentoring opportunities, CPD activities keep you up-to-date and enable growth within your field. By regularly engaging in CPD, you can improve your chances of career progression and place yourself in a greater position to secure your next promotion. BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT offers a free tool to help you create a Personal Development Plan to help IT and tech professionals easily plan, record, and reflect on their CPD efforts. Sign up for a free account to get started.
What are some examples of CPD?
If you’re keen to continue your professional development but are uncertain where to begin, here are five engaging examples of CPD activities to consider:
1) Involvement in a professional body
Joining a professional body, such as BCS, can be a valuable first step. Participation in specialist groups or volunteering can contribute significantly to your CPD. Engaging with a professional body gives you access to the latest industry knowledge, supports networking opportunities, and enhances your visibility within the field. For instance, you might join a BCS specialist group to grow your expertise in cybersecurity or artificial intelligence. This type of involvement is an excellent way to build practical insights and enhance your professional standing.
2) Attending webinars
Webinars are a flexible and accessible way to engage in CPD. The BCS events calendar offers a range of webinars on key topics in the technology sector, such as software development, data science, and ethics in AI. These events can be accessed from anywhere, fitting conveniently around busy schedules. Not only do webinars provide insight into trending topics, but they also allow for interaction with industry leaders and experts.
3) Short courses
Enrolling in short courses is a straightforward yet effective way to expand your skill set. Courses may cover technical skills, like coding languages or project management techniques. BCS offers a wide selection of online courses, both free and payable, designed to support the various stages of a tech career. Whether you’re starting out or seeking more advanced skills, investing in short courses demonstrates initiative and commitment to your own continuous improvement—qualities that employers appreciate.
4) Mentoring
Mentoring, whether as a mentor or mentee, is a rich learning experience and a valuable CPD activity. Through the BCS mentoring scheme, professionals can connect with experienced mentors who provide guidance and share industry insights. Alternatively, you might choose to become a mentor, which is also beneficial as it requires refining your knowledge to effectively support another’s growth. Mentoring fosters critical thinking, empathy, and communication skills, all of which are essential for career development.
5) Certifications that add to your skills portfolio
Gaining new certifications is essential if you are aiming to specialise in a particular area or stay competitive in a fast-evolving field. Certifications act as formal recognition of your expertise and can make your CV stand out to prospective employers. BCS certifications are respected in the industry and can be tailored to suit various technology roles, including cybersecurity and business analysis. By pursuing relevant certifications, you add credentials to your skills portfolio, underscoring your commitment to ongoing development.
For you
Be part of something bigger, join BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
6) Considering professional registration
You might consider applying for a professional registration, in the tech sector this might be RITTech, CEng or Chartered IT Professional (CITP). Registrations serve as independent endorsements of your skills, knowledge, and integrity, affirming your commitment to high professional standards. To maintain your registration, you’ll often need to demonstrate evidence of CPD, ensuring you stay current and continue developing within your field. A professional registration marks you as a safe and trustworthy pair of hands in a dynamic and fast moving industry where customers demand the highest quality work carried out by dedicated, professional individuals.
Make CPD easier by joining a professional body
Joining a professional body like BCS is one of the easiest ways to access a wide variety of CPD activities. Not only can you tap into resources like events, webinars, and specialist groups, but the BCS Personal Development Plan tool also makes tracking your progress straightforward. Organising your CPD progress and staying current with industry standards will help you grow and prepare you for new opportunities—whether that’s earning your next promotion, transitioning to a new specialism, or becoming Chartered.
