CPD revision

Rouma Hye explains your CPD obligations and reports the results from the latest CPD survey

Are your CPD records up-to-date?
RICS regulation is stepping up the monitoring of continuing professional development (CPD) records to help ensure the highest standards are being maintained by members. Here are a few helpful tips on how to make sure records are kept up to scratch and how to avoid falling foul of RICS obligations.

The new CPD rule
From January 2009 RICS’ regulatory arm began to call in more members’ CPD records. When the new regulatory regime came into force in June 2007 RICS moved to a principles-based set of rules of conduct, which included the rule on CPD or lifelong learning (LLL). The bureaucratic and lengthy rules on CPD were replaced with a clear, easy-to-follow rule:

Lifelong learning – Members shall undertake and record appropriate lifelong learning and, on request, provide RICS with evidence that they have done so.

The emphasis is on learning to be as effective as possible, enabling members to do their work to the highest standard. Historically members had to carry out 60 hours of CPD over a three-year period. There were also rules on the types and amounts of learning that members could undertake as well as the requirement for new members to gain a business qualification.

Following the introduction of the rules RICS Regulation commissioned research in 2008 to glean members’ knowledge of their lifelong learning obligations. The results of the survey showed that members were not particularly familiar with what is required of them and some were still following the old rules. A brief summary of the results from the 1,200 responses is given on page 28.

The new CPD monitoring regime
Along with modernising the rules, RICS has been revising the way it monitors members’ CPD records. An increase in the monitoring of the CPD rules allows RICS to check compliance which, in turn, underpins our credibility as a self-regulating profession, giving the public confidence in members’ competence.

RICS Regulation is monitoring CPD in several ways: through requesting a random sample of members’ records, targeting certain members who are performing high risk activities and concentrating on those whom RICS has a statutory obligation to monitor, such as Home Inspectors. In the future, RICS will include CPD checks during regulatory review visits to firms.

What counts as CPD?
There are a large number of activities that can aid your professional development and as a result can be included within members’ CPD records. As a general rule, CPD activities fall into four categories:

•  Courses, conferences and seminars
Courses can be a useful way of remaining up-to-date. Members should book onto a course that is of a high quality which will meet their learning needs.

•  Work-based learning
Many companies provide training which can be included as part of your CPD records. Members’ work-based learning does not have to be limited to seminars but can include other types of learning, for example, knowledge gained by working on new projects or through being a mentor.

•  Personal structured learning
Personal structured learning can include targeted reading of books, journals or online material, or interactive web-based learning.

•  Voluntary or charity work
Activities undertaken for charity can be included within CPD records if skills are gained that can be used in the workplace. For example leadership skills from coaching a football team, or business skills from being a Young Enterprise mentor. 

Meeting CPD obligations
The new rule does not give a set number of hours that need to be carried out so how do you ensure that you are carrying out an appropriate number of CPD hours?  RICS now follows an output-based system that checks whether members are assessing and meeting their learning needs. The quality of learning is just as important as the number of hours spent learning. When reviewing CPD records, RICS Regulation looks at members’ learning plans as well as the number of hours undertaken. As a general guide members should undergo an equivalent of approximately 20 hours learning per year. Naturally this amount will change given the field a member works in and the stage in their career.

In order for RICS Regulation to be able to measure whether a member has met their learning needs, CPD records must contain the following four key components:

• Planning
Set and prioritise learning goals and decide what actions will be taken to achieve them.

• Actions taken
Describe what learning activities have been undertaken to meet the goals, including the type of learning, title, number of hours and date. RICS Regulation is looking to see that a variety of quality activities have been undertaken that are tailored to your original goal.

•  Results
Provide objective assessment of whether the learning has been constructive. e.g. use a peer or client assessment as a part of evaluating how effective the learning has been.

•  Reflection
Consider what further skills or knowledge are needed to improve.

It is up to each member to decide how to record their learning – RICS Regulation does not prescribe a particular manner of how CPD should be recorded. Options include: using a personal method; following a firms’ appraisal system; using the RICS personal development planner or recording details on line.

If RICS Regulation finds that members are not complying with the CPD rule they will offer as much guidance and assistance as possible to ensure members get back into compliance. As a means of last resort RICS will take disciplinary action against a member who fails to comply. 

What’s in a name? CPD–vs–LLL
The terms CPD and LLL are interchangeable. Although LLL is the formal term and used in the rules of conduct, and RICS’ bye-laws and regulations, members are long familiar with the term CPD and continue to use it.

How can your CPD help you during the current economic downtown?
Making sure that your professional knowledge and expertise is up-to-date can provide a useful lifeline in this economic climate. Not only will it show your existing employer that you are the most skilled, competent and knowledgeable person for the job but it will also provide any new employer or client with reassurance of your skill set and capability in an ever restricted marketplace. In an increasingly litigious environment, comprehensive CPD records can also help to show that you have sought to remain competent in the event of a claim.

The five key points to remember are:
•  familiarise yourself with your CPD obligations and the supporting help sheet
•  make sure you undertake appropriate CPD and keep your records up-to-date
•  book yourself on courses that offer RICS CPD hours
•  be prepared to provide RICS Regulation with your CPD records
•  contact RICS Regulation if you are in any doubt or need help meeting your obligation.

Further information
Contact RICS Regulation on +44 (0)20 7695 1670 or at regulation@rics.org, or visit www.rics.org/cpd

For CPD training and education contacts, visit The Directory