Do you feel like you could use a little more guidance when it comes to continuing your professional development? Do you know what CPD is? How about what CPD units are? If you have questions, then you’re in luck! We’ll tell you everything you need to know about CPD and cover topics such as what counts as continuing professional development, the importance of continuing professional development, and what resources are available to help you stay up-to-date in your field. By the end of this post, you’ll be ready to take on your next round of continuing professional development with confidence!
What is CPD?
Continuing professional development (CPD) is the process of keeping your skills and knowledge up to date. It’s important to do this throughout your career, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been working in your field for many years. CPD can help you to progress in your career, make a difference in your job and improve patient care.
What are CPD Units?
CPD units are measures of your participation in educational activities that maintain, develop or increase your professional competence and expertise. In the Philippines, 1 CPD unit is equal to 1 hour of actual learning time spent on an activity. The number of CPD units needed varies based on your profession. For instance, accountants need 15 CPD units every two years, but medical laboratory technicians only need 10 CPD units.
Who needs CPD?
According to the Republic Act No. 10912, also known as the “Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act of 2016,” CPD is mandatory for the renewal of the Professional Identification Card of all registered and licensed professionals under the regulation of the PRC.
These include:
- Accountants
- Teachers
- Engineers
- Pharmacists
- Doctors
- Architects
- Nurses
- Dentists
- Social Workers
How to Prepare and Study for CPD
There are many CPD courses offered in the Philippines. You can attend workshops, conferences, seminars or online CPD courses offered by professional associations, colleges, or universities. You can also read books, journals or articles related to your field of work.
What to Expect from CPD?
CPD is about more than just attending workshops and seminars. It should also involve reflection on your own practice and how you can improve the services you provide to clients and patients. CPD activities can be used to help you identify areas where you need further education and training. Each CPD course varies per industry. For instance, you can expect to learn new technique that are currently used in other countries during a CPD for nurses course. Or you may learn spreadsheet shortcuts and formulae for a CPD for accountants course.
Importance of CPD
CPD is important because it helps you to stay up to date with the latest developments in your field. It also allows you to reflect on your practice and identify areas where you could improve. This can make a big difference to the quality of care you provide. CPD is important because it helps you to keep your skills and knowledge up to date. It’s also a way of showing your commitment to your career and keeping yourself motivated. Doing CPD can make you more employable and help you progress in your career.
What are the Benefits of CPD?
1. Improving patient care
CPD can help you be knowledgeable with the latest developments in your field, which can in turn improve the quality of care you provide to your patients or clients.
2. Keeping your skills and knowledge up-to-date
As your career progresses, it’s important to keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date. CPD can help you to do this by providing you with new opportunities to learn.
3. Reflecting on your practice
CPD provides a chance for you to reflect on your current practice and identify areas where you could make improvements. You can better gauge your weak points, target them, and make a bigger difference in your field.
4. Progressing in your career
CPD can help you to progress in your career by providing you with new skills and knowledge. It can also make you more attractive to potential employers.
5. Improving patient safety
CPD can help you to identify potential risks to patients and take steps to minimize these. This can improve patient safety and reduce the chance of errors occurring.
6. Reducing stress
CPD can help you to manage your time more effectively and plan your workload in a way that reduces stress. This can lead to a better work-life balance and improved job satisfaction.
7. Increasing job satisfaction
CPD can increase your job satisfaction by providing you with new opportunities to learn and develop in your role. It can also make you feel more valued by your employer.
8. Enhancing your professional reputation
CPD can enhance your professional reputation by demonstrating your commitment to lifelong learning. This can make you more attractive to potential employers and help you to progress in your career.
9. Saving time and money
CPD can save you time and money by providing you with new skills and knowledge that can help you to work more efficiently. It can also lead to improved work output, which can save your organization money, too.
So, there you have it! Our complete guide to continuing professional development. Now you know what CPD is as well as its importance to your profession. We hope this has helped and that you are now feeling inspired and motivated to take your career to the next level.
Continue learning and expanding your skillset by obtaining a postgraduate certificate online. Enroll in self-paced Continuing Professional Development short courses online through AMA Post Grad, the country’s pioneer in online learning.