CPD frequently asked questions

It is possible to export your CPD logo using the ‘Export CPD activities’ button at the bottom of your listing. This will export all the information you have entered to a spreadsheet.

Please note: the data will be exported in its raw form, including all data fields, and will not be formatted.

You do not need to submit evidence of your CPD activity when you are recording it on the CPD tool, but a proportion of members will be randomly asked to provide evidence that they have undertaken the activities they have logged and that they are complying with the CIPP’s CPD requirements.

Logging your CPD is an easy process and is designed to help you tailor your learning and development to yourself, and your organisations goals. 

Almost all the CPD activities that you undertake will fall into certain categories; writing, reading, speaking, listening, doing and, structured learning. See FAQ for more information.

Logging your CPD:

1. Log into your My CIPP members’ area
2. Find ‘My CPD’ on the side menu
3. Record your learning objectives on the main CPD page
4. Click on the blue box ‘Add a new record’
5. Complete the form, record your activity and click ‘submit’
6. The main CPD page will keep a running total of the points you have recorded during the current membership year

Some activity may fall into several categories but you can only log each CPD activity once, against a single category.

The number of points allocated will be based on a number of factors such the type, duration and attainment level of the activity undertaken. The table below outlines the current point allocations for each activity type.

You can use the year filter at the top right of your CPD log to show your logged records during that year. This is based on the subscription year and not an calendar year. 

Year filters are created once CPD records are added for that subscription year. If no records have yet been created for your current subscription year then no filter will show. Once you have added a record that falls in your most recent subscription period, the filter will be created.

Almost all the CPD activities that you undertake will fall into certain categories;

Writing
To create written material that would involve research and preparation to assess data and identify information

Reading
To read material that reviews or offers new information that expands the individual's understanding or knowledge

Speaking
To present information verbally to others, which has required either learning of the material or research to prepare and analyse information in a manner that will be effective for that presentation.

Listening
To pay notice to the comments being offered by others on professionally related topics where information is new, or developing personal understanding or experience

Doing
To undertake a role where there is an opportunity to learn new activities or experiences

Structured Learning (As a student)
To follow a training program either attending one or a series of events or to participate by distance learning, studying a specific topic.  The experience could be based at the workplace, at a specified location or with online study even at home. Must be a payroll, pensions, rewards, or professional course.

CPD is any form of learning or development that benefits you in your professional environment.

Examples include:

• Calls into the CIPP’s Advisory Service
• On the job learning
• Attending national forums
• Any form of networking where you may have learned something new

Attending training courses and/or events - CPD is not just completing a qualification; it is the part that comes after that. Achieving a qualification is a great way of demonstrating knowledge and skills at a given point in time. CPD is demonstrating that you have maintained and developed your knowledge and skill set and you demonstrate this by setting learning objectives and development goals, whatever stage of your career you are at.

Almost every day most people will be undertaking some form of CPD.  For example, if an employee requests Shared Parental Leave and pay but you have never dealt with this type of request before, you would no doubt undertake research on GOV.UK, you may also call the CIPP’s Advisory Service to confirm your understanding, you may even book yourself on to a training course.  All these activities would count as CPD, the research on GOV.UK would count as reading, calling the Advisory Service as listening and attending a training course would be structured learning.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is a combination of approaches, ideas and techniques and is essential to help you manage your own learning and development.

CPD can be any activity undertaken that helps you learn and grow as a payroll, pensions or reward professional.

The CPD Certification Service is the independent CPD accreditation centre. Their aim is to enable and support organisations and institutions implementing continuing professional development, by providing an industry recognised accreditation for CPD applicable activities and learning.

Thousands of CPD training courses, events, e-learning programmes, conferences, workshops and seminars are formally accredited by the service every year.

The service evaluates and assesses learning activities to the highest standards and issues the CPD Certified symbol as a qualitative benchmark. Use of this symbol, along with the CPD Member symbol, offers individuals and organisations reassurance that the material concerned achieves the required qualitative standards.

Many of CIPP’s training courses, qualifications and events are now accredited by the CPD Certification Service.

Recording CPD is mandatory for CIPP associate level members and above.

Associate, full and fellow members are expected to log at least one CPD activity per subscription year and there is no minimum points total.

Chartered members are required to achieve at least 40 CPD points each subscription year to renew their membership at Chartered level. At least one CPD activity must be either structured learning (e.g. attending a course) or attending a CIPP event (e.g. Annual Conference or national forum).

At the beginning of your membership year, the points value will reset to zero and you will begin recording activities again.

Most of the CIPP’s training courses, qualifications and events are accredited by the CPD Certification Service; the independent service for evaluating and assessing learning objectives. in educational products. See below for more information.

If you cannot see all your CPD activities listed, you may have moved onto a new subscription year with the filter defaulted to your current year.

Check the subscription year filter at the top of your CPD logo and change it to the previous years to see if this displays the records as expected. 

The listing will only display CPD logged since 4 October 2017 so if you have not logged anything since this date - it is likely your log will be empty. Your previous records are not lost but they will not display on the new logging tool.

If you continue to have problems, or your CPD is not displaying at all, please email us or call 0121 712 1073.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is an important aspect of your career as it demonstrates to yourself and your organisation that you are developing as an individual and as an employee, to improve and learn.

Logging your CPD helps you to keep track of the learning and development that you complete, as well as planning for the future based on you, your team, and your organisations goals and strategies.