Why CPD is important?

Why is CPD important and why does it matter?

Why is CPD important

Chances are, you either finished Higher Education or graduated from University. You now sit back and give yourself a pat on the back. But don’t take too long about it or you could be lagging behind your colleagues. The same can be true for professionals with many years’ experience in the workplace.

So why is CPD important? Continuing professional development (CPD) is important as it ensures you continue to be competent in your profession. It is a contractual obligation for several professions.

The ultimate outcome of well-planned CPD is that it protects the public, the employer, the professional and the professional’s career.

  • CPD ensures knowledge stays in line with up-to-date research and keeps pace with current standards
  • CPD helps you maintain and enhance the knowledge and skills to ensure your customers, clients and community receive a professional service
  • CPD helps you to stay interested and interesting.  Focused CPD opens up to new possibilities, new knowledge and new skill areas
  • As technology develops, the pace of research and therefore change is probably faster than it’s ever been. If you stand still you will get left behind, as the currency of your knowledge and skills becomes out-dated. CPD supports the spread of best practice
  • CPD helps you continue to make a meaningful contribution to your team. You become more effective in the workplace. This assists in the advance in your career and move into new positions where you can manage, influence, coach and mentor others

The importance of CPD should not be underestimated.  In many professions, the regulatory body prescribe a minimum level of CPD.

Sometimes it is mandated by professional organisations or required by codes of conduct or codes of ethics. But at its core it is a personal responsibility of professionals to keep their knowledge and skills current so that they can deliver the high quality of service that safeguards the public and meets the expectations of customers and the requirements of their profession.

The most important thing to remember is research, innovation, reviewing of best practices and adoption of new technology will see your work place evolve, probably quicker than at any time before.  If you do not keep up with that evolution you could be ‘Out of Date’ very quickly.  The final point to make is the workforce no longer views a job as ‘A job for life’ so when you are looking for your next career step, make sure you are ‘Current’ and ‘Up to Date’.