CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT(CPD)
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT(CPD)
What does CPD mean?
CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It refers to the process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge and experience that you gain both formally and informally as you work, beyond any initial training. It’s a record of what you experience, learn and then apply. The term is generally used to mean a physical folder or portfolio documenting your development as a professional. With the IWH PB, it means continuing training, upskilling and development as well as the proof that you are still fit and competent to do the job at hand even better than before. It also means that you are on a professional developmental path for further development.
Training and development – what’s the difference?
These terms are often used interchangeably, though there is a distinction. As a rule of thumb, training is formal and linear. It’s to do with learning how to do something specific, relating to skill and competence. Training can be as simple as using a PC application and as complex as learning how to be a pilot. Development is often informal and has a wider application, giving you the tools to do a range of things and relating to capability and competency. It involves progression from basic know-how to more advanced, mature or complex understanding. Alternatively, it can be about widening your range of transferable skills like leadership, managing projects or organising information.
The Benefits of CPD
- Ensure better performance in your job, through maintenance and enhancement of your knowledge, ability, skills and habits.
- Expands your portfolio to enable into to other work at height related roles.
- Provides you with improved job satisfaction.
- Gives you the confidence to face change.
- Keeps your professional designations up to date.
- Helps you develop new skills.
- Makes you more marketable.
- Raises your profile within the organisation.
- Enables you to reassess your goals.
- Assist you in your career direction.
The key features of the CPD process within the IWH PB
To justify the name, CPD needs to:
- Be a documented process, for example completing a logbook,
- Be self-directed, by your Training Provider or by your employer
- Focus on learning from experience, reflective learning, new developments in the industry and review (re-assessment)
- Help you set development goals and objectives
- Include both formal and informal learning.
What will it do for you?
CPD is a requirement of membership of a professional body. It can help you to reflect, review and document your learning and to develop and update your professional knowledge and skills. It is also very useful to:
- Provide an overview of your professional development to date
- Remind you of your achievements and how far you’ve progressed
- Direct your career and help you keep your eye on your goals
- Uncover gaps in your skills and capabilities
- Open up further development needs
- Provide examples and scenarios for a CV or interview
- Demonstrate your professional standing to clients and employers
- Help you with your career development or a possible career change.
How do I start?
Attend your training with an IWH PB recognised Training Provider. After your first-time training with them, they will register you as an IWH registered practitioner.
IWH PB registered practitioners are required to acquire new and updated levels of knowledge and skills that will not only add measurable benefits to the practice of work at height compliant with mandatory national standards and regulations but also enhance and promote professional integrity of the work at height industry. In addition to maintaining their own competence, the registered practitioner should strive to contribute to the advancement and promotion of the work at height industry, and to the profession in general.
In terms of the National Qualifications Framework Act (Act 67 of 2008), the IWH PB is charged to promote the protection of the public from malpractice related to the fulfilment of the professional duties and responsibilities of professionals registered with them as well as encourage social responsibility and accountability within the professions relating to professional services communities and individuals.
Section 42 (ix) of the Act confers the power on to the IWH PB to determine conditions for renewal of registration. Section 28 (V) of the Act further imposes a duty on a professional body to set criteria for promoting and monitor continuing professional development for its registering persons. The discretion provided for in the Act to make use of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as a mechanism to determine renewal of registration, gives the IWH PB the opportunity to comply with both the renewal of registration and CPD requirements.
The IWH PB instituted the system of CPD in January 2014, which is linked to the renewal of registration after a 2- or 3-year cycle (depending on the designation) whereas registered persons have to be re-registered as per the criteria set out by the Skills and Ratification Committee.
Only IWH PB recognized training providers will be allowed to register CPD Programmes/Activities with us unless otherwise approved by the Skills & Ratification Committee.