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CPD Compliance Obligations | Record Keeping | CPD Categories and Information | Resources | Application for CPD Exemption
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
CPD comprises learning activities that enhance and keep individual professional knowledge and skills current whilst focussing on behavioural and workplace capabilities and technical competence. API helps all Members to develop their potential and adapt their careers whilst holding them accountable to the community through a compliance process.
Members are encouraged to embrace this ongoing learning and career adaptation process by regularly reflecting on their personal development, gaps, and need. Planning CPD activities ahead of time and recording outcomes is the best way to progress as a professional.
API:
- requires all Professional Members to meet specified CPD requirements
- certifies Members for completion of annual CPD Obligations, as evidence for third parties
- provides guideline materials and advice for further detail and clarification.
CPD Compliance Obligations
Every CPD year, Associate, Provisional and Fellow Members must complete 20 CPD points inclusive of compulsory modules.
Members in the MAPI category must complete 10 CPD Points 1 CPD point is accrued per 1 hour of CPD activity or equivalent.
Please review the CPD Policy and the API Membership Policy to better understand your membership requirements
Record Keeping
Members are required to maintain a record of and lodge all CPD activities using the API CPD diary.
For each CPD Activity, include the following information:
- Date of activity, provider, format, description, enrolment details
- Number of CPD points claimed and whether the activity relates to a compulsory
area.
Members should provide ‘Certificates of Completion’ for API mandatory modules. Certificates of Compliance are required for the preceding year to evidence compliance with API policy. This does not preclude a Member from undertaking required activities in the current year.
CPD certificates are generated annually upon fulfilment of CPD obligations.
CPD Categories and Information
Defining a CPD Activity
All CPD should update knowledge or address individual development needs. A CPD activity can either be structured or unstructured.
The limits on unstructured CPD are outlined in point 6 of the CPD Policy.
Structured CPD
Structured CPD should be designed around learning objectives and outcomes, which may include assessment.
Structured CPD can include attendance and participation at a:
- Seminar
- Workshop
- Short course
- Conference
- Technical site visit
- On-line learning program
- Higher education coursework
Structured CPD may include the preparation and presentation of materials for teaching.
Unstructured CPD
Unstructured CPD includes attendance at:
- Informal knowledge sharing events
- Attending API committee meetings or
- Approved API working groups.
Unstructured CPD can include self-managed learning, such as reading journal articles.
Structured CPD should address individual development gaps and needs or update professional knowledge. This includes participation time in:
- A Seminar;
- Workshop;
- Webinar;
- Short Course;
- Conference;
- Technical site visit; and
- Online learning program.
This may also include higher education coursework and reasonable claims for associated study. Ideally, activities should be designed around learning objectives and outcomes – including assessment tasks. These may also become requirements of Structured CPD in the future.
Structured workplace learning programs are claimable, but regular external peer interaction is encouraged. Reasonable claims for self-managed learning programs may be accepted if there is evidence of clear learning outcomes linked to individual development needs.
The API may on request provide advice on CPD points claimable for planned activities.
CPD points claimed for unstructured activities should reflect the extent of learning outcomes and reasonable equivalence to Structured CPD hours. Learning outcomes should be described when making claims for Unstructured CPD. This may include:
- Attendance at informal knowledge sharing events;
- Informal site visits;
- Private study;
- On-the-job training;
- Supervised practice; or
- Research for articles, technical resources or presentations.
Unstructured CPD may also include reasonable claims for relevant learning arising from coaching, mentoring, board and committee participation, professional certification or accreditation panels.
While learning takes many forms, for CPD compliance purposes we do not generally recognise work tasks, casual reading, social networking, generic IT training or business meetings.
Please note a maximum of 5 of your 20 CPD points is able to be sourced from Unstructured CPD.
New and returning members, and members upgrading from Affiliate status, are exempt from current calendar year CPD points requirements on a pro-rata basis, for the period from 1 January to their commencement date.
A Member may on application be exempted from CPD points requirements for career breaks of between three and twelve months, beyond which Affiliate status is required. Career breaks may include parental, compassionate, or sick leave, unemployment or other breaks from practice.
Members on career breaks should endeavour to keep up to date and, on return, should assess risks of outdated practice and seek targeted CPD and formal peer support accordingly.
A Member returning to practice may be required to submit a Return to Practice Plan, outlining:
- Professional roles and responsibilities;
- Recent CPD and practice history;
- Initial peer support or supervisory arrangements; or
- A development needs reflection and CPD plan.
CPD non-compliances may have a range of consequences according to significance and past record. Consequences may include:
- Counsel and cautionary notice;
- Requirement for a CPD Rectification Plan; or
- Referral to Complaints Officer as a Professional Misconduct case.
A Member may make a written application for an exemption on the required form.
Members returning from Parental leave must be up to date with the mandatory CPD requirements.
Student members are not required to participate in the CPD Program.
Connect Members are not required to participate in the CPD Program.
Retired Members are not required to participate in the CPD Program.
Honorary Members are not required to participate in the CPD Program.
Exemptions from CPD may be granted for a period between three and 12 months. Exemptions may be granted in circumstances such as parental, compassionate, or sick leave, unemployment, or other breaks from practice.
Members on exemptions should endeavour to keep up to date. Before their return to practice, members should review their knowledge, seeking targeted CPD in their practice area and peer support to address any knowledge or skills gaps that have developed during the exemption period.
CPD points on a pro-rata basis for Members granted an exemption or new Members who join the API during the CPD year is referred to in our CPD Policy.
