CPD stands for continuing professional development and is a type and style of learning that a person undertakes to increase their knowledge, understanding, experience and competence of a subject related to their area of work. In terms of electrical testing and contracting, it is how a person demonstrates their ability to comply with the requirements of new legislation and therefore the current installation and testing requirements common to the industry.
A CPD course is an ongoing and planned learning and development process. It differs by industry sector and the demands and requirements of people change according to how an industry is regulated. The CPD course includes a formal process of recording how learning is progressing and the end result is usually a professional qualification of some form. All CPD courses are different, and they can take many different forms, such as one or more of:
- Supervised tutorials
- Submitting assignments
- Work-based learning
- Personal mentoring and job shadowing
- Online reading
- Attending webinars
- Personal research
What is the purpose of a CPD course?
When a CPD course is successfully completed it:
- Provides the knowledge required for new and more complex work situations
- Helps a person achieve specific career goals and professional development targets
- Gives a person more confidence in work situations
- Demonstrates to an employer or regulator a person’s commitment to developing their own skills
- Proves you have the skills and knowledge to comply with current regulations
How CPD courses apply to electrical contracting
In terms of training and qualifications, electrical contractors usually undergo an apprenticeship in the first instance, which is a combination of on-the-job training and classroom-based learning. They will then progress to achieving relevant qualifications and then obtaining a licence from the relevant industry body, such as the NICEIC.
For electricians, a CPD course is a method of staying up to date with the latest regulations, and understanding developing testing techniques and new installation and testing equipment. It is essential that electrical contractors maintain these skills and competencies to ensure they can carry out safe and reliable contracting work. A CPD is often required by professional bodies and regulatory organisations in order that individuals and their employers can maintain appropriate certification and licensing.
How does an electrical contractor demonstrate their CPD course status?
Upon the successful completion of a CPD course, the individual will receive a CPD certificate. This is a document which verifies that the person has completed a certain amount of training and learning, and to what level. The certificate also demonstrates to an employer or regulator that there is a commitment to ongoing learning and development.
During a CPD course a person should log how many hours have been spent undertaking the course. This is because a particular course may take longer than normal due to other work commitments, and this shows that the person is actively working on their skills and knowledge and other people can see they are. A system to log this continuous progress is often made available by professional bodies or regulators associated with the industry.
It is recommended that a person renews their CPD certificate on a routine basis, to reflect changes in regulations and working practices within the industry. This is particularly relevant to electrical contracting, and while there is no set time limit for renewing CPD learning, to demonstrate that this is suitably ongoing and continuous, a person should look at renewing their CPD certificate around every two years.
Please note that this section is for information purposes only. Anyone using equipment referred to in this section must be suitably qualified and/or experienced within the respective field. If in doubt before use, please consult a qualified electrician or engineer & thoroughly read all instruction booklets.