cii continuing professional development (cpd) · pdf fileq2. who is required to comply with...

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CII Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme

FAQs

A CENTURY OF PROFESSIONALISM

These FAQs are provided in advance

of the CII CPD scheme changes

being implemented in July 2012, so may be

subject to change.

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key

feat

ures

New Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme: FAQs

Key features• AnewCPDschemeisbeingintroducedfrom02July2012(Q3)

• TheschemewillapplyasaconditionofmembershiptoallqualifiedPFS/CIImembers(Q4)

• Memberswillneedtocompleteaminimumof35hoursCPDeachyear(Q4)

• CPDinvolvesaprocessofidentifyingneeds,carryingoutactivities,recordingtimespentandreflectingontheoutcomes(Q6)

• CPDcanincludeboth‘structured’and‘unstructured’activities(Q6)

• Memberscanswitchtothenewschemeanytimebetween02July2012and31December2012(Q13)

• AnewonlineplanningandrecordingtoolIsbeingintroduced(Q26)

• CIIwillcontinuetoselectarandomsampleof10%ofmembers’recordseachyeartomonitoradherencetoandcompliancewiththeschemerules(Q15).

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FAQs

Q1. Why is the CII Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Scheme changing?AspartofthechangesbeingintroducedfollowingtheRetailDistributionReview(RDR),theFinancialServicesAuthority(FSA)isintroducingarequirementforretailinvestmentadviserstoundertakeaminimumof35hoursofCPDeachyearfrom1January2013.AgainstthisbackgroundofraisingprofessionalstandardsweundertookacomprehensivereviewofourexistingCPDscheme,findingthat:

• Somemembersfoundthecurrentcredits-basedCPDschemecomplicatedandconfusing;

• SomequalifiedmemberswereunawarethatCPDwasaconditionofmembership;

• SomesawCPDasacomplianceactivityratherthanaspartoftheirpersonalcommitmenttoprofessionaldevelopment;

• ThereisaneedforagreateremphasisonCPDandmorecommunicationaboutitspurpose.

Thereisalsoincreasedpublicappetiteforgreatertransparencyfromprofessionalbodies,sowehavedecidedtointroduceanewhours-basedCPDscheme,asaconditionofmembership,forallPFS/CIIqualifiedmembers.

Q2. Who is required to comply with the CII CPD scheme? AllqualifiedPFS/CIImembersmustcomplywiththeCIICPDscheme.

Q3. When is the new CPD scheme being introduced?Thenewschemewillbelaunchedon02July2012andallmembersmusthavetransferredtoitby01January2013.

TransitionalarrangementswillbeinplaceforthosememberswhohavebegunCPDactivityundertheexistingcredit-basedschemesothattheyarenotdisadvantaged.FulldetailsontheseareprovidedbelowinQ16.

Q4. What will the new CPD requirements be?Allqualifiedmemberswillneedtocompleteaminimumof35hours’compulsoryCPDeachyear(of which at least 21 hours must be structured CPD–moreonthisbelow–seeQ6).Thisfigureof35hoursis,however,onlytheminimumrequired;inpractice,manymembersexceedthisfigure.Theactualrequirementwillbedeterminedbyanindividual’sdevelopmentneedsinany12-monthperiod.

It is important to note that this CPD requirement is not an additional requirement to development activity ordinarily undertaken, but incorporates this.

Q5. How was the figure of 35 hours CPD obtained?IncommonwithotherprofessionalbodieswebelieveitisimportanttosetaminimumnumberofhoursofCPDperyearasabenchmarkforqualifiedmembers.Eligibilityforanduseofqualificationdesignationsisnotsimplyanindicatorofstudycompleted.ItisanindicationtothepublicthatamemberofaprofessionadherestoaCodeofEthicsandkeepshisprofessionalknowledgecurrent.CPDprovidesaframeworkforensuringknowledgeiskeptup-to-date.

ThetablebelowprovidesacomparisonofournewminimumCPDrequirementwiththoseofaselectionofotherprofessionalbodies.Therequirementfor35hoursormoreiscommon.

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FAQs

Professional Body CPD annual requirement

AssociationofCharteredCertifiedAccountants 40units(where1unit=1hourofdevelopment)

InstituteofDirectors c.30hours

CharteredInstituteofTaxation 90hours

CharteredInstituteofBankersinScotland 35hours

TheCharteredInstituteforSecurities&Investment 35hours

CharteredInstituteofMarketing 35hours

RoyalInstitutionofCharteredSurveyors 20hoursminimumrecommended

Q6. What is meant by structured and unstructured CPD?Toqualify,allCPDactivitymustaddressanindividual’spersonaldevelopmentneeds.Itisuptotheindividualmembertodeterminewhattheseare.Theprocessbywhichadevelopmentneedismetinvolvesfourstages:

• Identifyinglearninganddevelopmentneedsandplanningactivitiestoaddressthem

• Carryingoutactivitiestomeettheseneeds

• Recordingthetimespentforeachactivityandmaintainingaverifiableaudittrailoftheseactivities

• ReflectingontheoutcomesoftheCPDactivity(answeringthequestion:“Didtheactivitymeetmylearningneeds?”).

Structured CPDistheundertakingofanyformallearningactivitydesignedtomeetaspecific learning outcome(thisiswhatanindividualisexpectedtoknow,understandordoasaresultofhisorherlearning).AnexamplewouldbeattendingatechnicallecturetounderstandExchangeTradedFunds.

Structuredlearningactivitiesincludebutarenotlimitedto:

• studyingforanexamination

• participatinginseminars(webbasedorinperson)

• lectures

• conferences

• workshops

• coursesand

• completingappropriatee-learning.

Foraminorityofactivity,itmightalsoincludeeducationalreading,wherehighqualityreadingmaterialhasbeenproducedtomeettherequiredlearningoutcome.

Unstructured CPDisanyactivityanindividualconsidershasmeta learning outcome,butwhichmaynothavebeenspecificallydesignedtomeettheirdevelopmentneeds.Thismightincludereadingatradepublicationthatincludesatechnicalarticleonatopicforwhichtheyhaveadevelopmentneed,whichtheindividualhasreadaspartoftheirnormalday-to-dayactivities,ratherthanspecificallyreadingthistomeetaspecificlearningneed.

Q7. What is meant by “designed to meet specific learning outcomes”?Learningoutcomesarewhatalearnercanbeexpectedtoknow,understandordointheirday-to-dayjoborajobtowhichsomeoneaspiresasaresultofaprocessoflearning.ACPDactivitythatisdesignedtomeetspecificlearningoutcomesshoulddeliverappropriatecontenttoachievethedesiredoutcome.Typically,thelearningoutcomesfortheactivitywillbestatedattheoutsetandattheendoftheactivity,therebyenablingthelearnertoreviewwhetherthisactivityhasindeedmetthelearningoutcome.

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FAQs

Q8. Is there a minimum amount of time I need to spend on any individual CPD activity?TheFSAexpectsindividualstospendatleast30minutesonanyindividualCPDactivity.TheCIIhasdecidedtoadoptthiscommonsensestandardforallitsmemberqualificationholdersaspartoftheCPDschemerules.

Q9. I am completing a structured learning activity which indicates the time it should take to complete, e.g. 30 minutes. If it takes me either less or more time than this, what do I record, the actual time taken or the indicated time? Thestartingpointistoconsiderwhethertheactivityhasactuallymetyouridentifiedlearningneed.Ifithasn’t,furtherlearningactivitywillberequired.

InconsideringthetimeshowninrespectoftheCPDactivity,thisisonlyanindicationorguide,asinpracticethetimetakentocompletethiswillvaryfromindividualtoindividualaccordingtofactorssuchastheirabilitiesandexistingknowledgelevels.

Youshould,therefore,recordthetimethatittookyoutocompletetheactivity.Duetotherequirementthatrecordedactivitiesmusthaveaminimumdurationof30minutes,onlythosewhichmeetthisrequirementshouldberecorded.Differentactivities,oflessthan30minuteseach,undertakentomeetaspecificlearningoutcomecanbecombinedandrecordedtogether.

Q10. How do I calculate the amount of CPD hours spent on an activity?Youshouldonlycounttheactualtimespentonthelearningactivity,e.g.ifyouattendaconferenceyoushouldcountonlythattimespentinactivitythataddressesidentifieddevelopmentneeds.Youshouldalwaysexcludethetimetakenfortea/coffeebreaksandlunch.

Q11. I work part time. Does this mean I still have to complete the full 35-hour CPD requirement?Yes.Therequirementtomaintainyourknowledgeand,inturn,yourcompetencetoundertakeyourrolerequiresthecompletionofaminimumof35hoursCPD,regardlessofthetotalnumberofhoursyouwork.

Q12. If I take a career break (e.g. maternity leave or long-term sickness), do I still have to complete the 35 hour requirement?No.TheCPDrequirementswillbesuspendedduringyourcareerbreak.IfyourCPDrecordisselectedforvalidationpurposes,wewillaskyoutoprovideevidenceconfirmingyourbreakinwork.

Q13. When do I need to start using the new CPD scheme?Thenewschemewillbelaunchedon02July2012.Youcanbeginanytimefromthisdate,butyoumustbasetherecordingofyourCPDonanhoursbasisforallactivitiescommencedonorafter02January2013.

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FAQs

Q14. When should I start creating a new CPD log? TherequirementforundertakingCPDandkeepingarecordstartswhenamemberbecomesqualified.However,werecognisethatthetimingofmembers’annualCPDprogrammesmayreflectotherfactors,suchastheannualperformancereviewsortheCPDrequirementsofotherprofessionalbodiestowhichtheybelong.Inthesecircumstanceswewillrecogniseanysuchrequirements,thoughwemayrequestevidenceshouldyourCPDrecordedbeselectedforvalidation.

Q15. Should I submit my record to the CII automatically at the end of a 12-month period?No.YouonlyneedtosubmityourrecordiftheCIIrequeststoseeit.Typicallywewillrandomlysampleabout10%ofmembers’recordseachyeartocheckthesehavebeenfullyandcorrectlycompleted.

Q16. The new scheme launches in July – I’ve already logged CPD activity as credits under the existing scheme. Do I need to start logging activity in hours or credits for the remainder of 2012?Wehavemadethenewschemeasflexibleaspossible,givingyouthechoiceof:

• aCPDrecordbasedonthenewschemewhereyouhaveapplied‘hours’toCPDactivityundertakenbefore02July2012;or

• aCPDrecordbasedontheoldschemerequirements(100creditsayear),switchingontothenewschemefrom01January2013;or

• aCPDrecordbasedonamixoftheoldschemeandthenewschemefortheperiod02Julyto31December2012.

Q17. Do I need to convert past CPD credit-based records into hours?Notnecessarily.Thiswilldependuponwhichscheme,creditsorhours(oramixofthetwo)youwishtouse.SeeQuestion16.

Q18. Do I need to convert CPD credit-based records from previous years into hours? No.IfyourCPDrecordisselectedforreview,youwillonlyneedtoprovidetherecordforthepreviousfullyearofcompletedCPD.TheonlyexceptionwillbetherequirementformorerecentevidenceofCPDactivityifasignificantperiodoftime,typicallymorethanonemonth,haselapsedsincetheendofthelastfullCPDyear.

Anyrecordsfrombeforethiscanberetainedintheircredit-basedformatand,inanyevent,willnotbecalledforvalidationbytheCII.

Q19. When is the first date the CII will ask for a full CPD record presented only in hours rather than credits? TheCIIwillfirstaskforaCPDrecordsolelyinhoursfromJuly2013.Priortothisdatewewillnotaskforannualrecordsinhoursduetothetransitionalrulesthatapply,whichallowmemberswhocommencedonthecurrentcreditbasedschemetocompleteonthisbasisuntiltheendof2012.SeeQuestion16.

Q20. If my CPD record is selected in 2012 for validation, do I need to submit this based on the new scheme or old scheme?SeeQuestion16.

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FAQs

Q21. If my record is selected under the new scheme, what will I need to provide to the CII?YouwillneedtoprovideyourCPDrecordshowing:

a)theactivitiesyouhaveundertaken

b)whethertheactivitywasstructuredorunstructured

c)thehoursyouhaverecordedagainsteachactivity

d)areflectionoftheoutcomesachieved.

Itisrecommendedthatyoukeepanyevidenceoftheactivityyouhavecompleted,forexample,acertificateofattendance,aswemayasktoseethisifyourrecordisselectedforreview.SeeQuestion33forsuggestionsregardingsuitableevidencefordifferenttypesofCPDactivity.

Examplesofcompliantrecordswillbemadeavailableatlaunchatwww.cii.co.uk/cpd

Q22. Am I able to retrospectively change items from structured to unstructured where I have incorrectly recoded themYes,providedyoudothisbeforesubmittingyourrecordtotheCII,ifrequested.

Q23. Can I change an activity at the end of the year from structured to unstructured and record my 14 hours of required unstructured activity if I am top-heavy on structured activity? Thereisnoneedtodothis.Ourrequirementisfor35hoursofactivitywithaminimumof21hoursofstructuredactivity.Thereisnorestrictionontheamountofstructuredactivityand,assuchtheentire35hourscanbecomprisedofstructuredactivityifthatiswhatyouhaveundertaken.

Q24. How do I know what development activity I should carry out?Responsibilitylieswitheachmemberindividuallyasonlytheywillknowwhatdevelopmentactivityisrequired.

Q25. If I study for an exam which recommends 60 hours of study, can I count this as a full year’s worth of CPD hours under the new rules?Inprinciple,yes.However,inpracticeitisunlikelythatasingleexamsubjectwillservetoaddressallyourannualdevelopmentneeds.Forthisreason,duringthecourseofany12-monthperiod,weencouragememberstocarryoutavarietyofCPDactivitiestohelpthemkeeptheirknowledgeup-to-date.ThereisnomaximumtotheamountofCPDthemembercancarryout.

Q26. Will the CII provide an online recording tool for my CPD?Yes.Wealreadyhaveanonlinetoolforourcredit-basedCPDschemewww.cpd.cii.co.ukandwewillprovideanew,simple-to-useonlinerecordingformwhichyoumayusetorecordyourhours-basedCPD.Thiswillbeavailablefrom02July2012.Inlate2012,early2013,thiswillincludefunctionalitythatwillautomaticallyrecorddetailsofyourattendanceatanyCIIFace-to-FaceTrainingcourses,PFSevents,etc.

Q27. Do I have to use the CII CPD recording tool?No.YoucanuseanymethodtorecordyourCPD,butitmustprovidealltherequiredinformation(fullguidancewillbemadeavailableat www.cii.co.uk/cpdfrom02July2012).

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Forexample,ifyouareaFinancialASSESSuser(theCII’sonlinelearningandcompliancesystems),anyCPDyouundertakeusingthiswillbeautomaticallyrecorded.YouwillalsobeabletoenterdetailsofotherCPDactivityundertakenoutsidethissystem.

ThisfacilityisbeingupgradedtobefullycompliantwiththenewCIICPDscheme.PleasenotewhereyourrecordisrequestedbytheCIIyouwillneedtosupplyitinfullastheCIIcannotaccesstheserecords.

IfyourecordCPDviayouremployerorother3rdpartyschemeyoucanusethisasyourCPDrecord.YoujustneedtomaintainarecorddetailingalltherequiredinformationandprovideitonrequestbytheCII.

Q28. I am using the CII online credit based CPD recording tool. When do I need to start using the new hours-based recording tool?Thecurrenttoolwillbeavailableuntil31December2012(pleasenoteanyexistingrecordswillberetainedforyourreferencepurposes).Onceithasgonelive,youwillbeabletoswitchtothenewrecordingtoolatanytime,butyoumustensureyourexistingCPDplanonthecurrenttooliscompletedby31December2012.

Q29. Will the online tool show how many hours I need to do to finish my CPD record?Yes.Theonlinerecordingtoolwillshowhowmanyhoursyouhavecompletedandhowmanyyoustillneedtocomplete.

Q30. Will the online recording tools (either the existing credit based or new hours based) automatically change any of my activity into hours from previous years?No,thisisn’tafeatureoftheexistingcredit-basedornewhours-basedonlineCPDrecordingtool.

Q31. Will the hours-based online tool keep my past CPD records showing the credits I accrued?Yes.Wewillkeeptheexistingonlinetoolrunninguntil31December2012.Afterthatdate,youwillstillbeabletoviewanyrecordsthatyouentered.

Q32. If I am selected to submit my CPD record, which 12-month period do I need to provide?YoushouldsupplyyourmostrecentannualrecordofCPDactivity.Forexample,ifweaskyoutoprovideuswithyourrecordinMarch2013andyourlastcompletedplanwasfortheperiod01January2012to31December2012,youshouldsendusthisrecord.Typically,wherethereisagapofgreaterthan1monthsinceyourlastrecordwascompleted,wemayalsoaskyoutoprovidesomemorerecentevidenceofyourCPDactivity.

Q33. What is the list of suitable CPD activities? Pleasenotethattheactivitieslistedbelowareonlyindicativeofwhethertheyarestructuredorunstructured.

FAQs

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Development activity

Definition Types of evidence you should look to keep as proof of completion*

Structured or unstructured?

Training courses and Workshops

Aninteractive,participativecourseprovidedbyyouremployerorbyanexternalthirdpartywhichsetsclearobjectivesandlearningoutcomes.

• Attendancecertificateorwritten/emailconfirmationofattendancefromthetrainingproviderorfromyouremployer

• Course/workshopoutlineoragendawhichclearlyshowswhatwascoveredduringthesessionandthelearningobjectives

• Anypresentationslidessenttoyou

• Anyreflectionsontheoutcomeofthecourse/workshop.

Structured(Thisinvolvesactivitywhich:• Hasstatedlearning

outcomes,activitydesignedtoaddressthese;andsomeformofassessmentorreflection;and

• Addressesanidentifiedlearningneed).

Conferences, seminars and webinars

Aninformativepresentation,orseriesofpresentations,ontopicsprovidedbyinternalorexternalsubjectexperts.

• Attendancecertificate,conferencebadgeorsomeotherwritten/emailconfirmationofattendancefromeventproviderwherepossible

• Eventagendawhichclearlyshowswhatwascoveredduringthesession(s)andlearningobjectives(ifapplicable)

• Anyreflectionsontheoutcomeoftheconference/seminar.




Studying for an examination

Anyoneexaminationofferedbyanexaminingbodywhichisbusinessrelated,includingallrelatedstudy.Excludestimespentinanexaminationsitting.

• Copyofqualificationcertificateorexamentryconfirmation(ifnotCII)

• Copyofexamsyllabus(ifnotCII)

• Informationreceivedfromyouremployer(ifapplicable).




Formal discussions/ meetings

Discussionsfacilitatedbyathirdparty(internalorexternal).Participationmayincludefocusgroups,researchinitiatives,committeesortechnicalevents.Excludesattendanceatsocialevents.

• Meetingagendaoranywrittendetailsofthepurposeofthediscussion

• Officialminutesofthemeeting/discussionorwrittenconfirmationofyourparticipationbytheorganisers

• Writtenconfirmationofyourparticipationbytheorganisers(ifnotCII/PFS)

• Copiesofresearchresults.

Normally unstructured(Thisinvolvesactivitywhichdoesnothavestatedlearningobjectives,andsupportingactivityandassessmentsdesignedtoreinforcethese.Insteadthesetypicallycoveridentifiedlearningpointsincidentally).

On-the-job training

Interactiveandparticipativediscussionandinstructionbyasubjectexpert.

• Writtenconfirmationfromyouremployerthattraininghastakenplace

• Broadoutlineofwhathasbeencovered

• Anyreflectionsontheoutcomeofthetraining.



•Addressesanidentifiedlearningneed).

FAQs

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Training for others

Providinginteractiveandparticipativediscussion,lectures,tutoringand/orinstructionforotherswhichinvolvessettingclearobjectivesandlearningoutcomes.

• Writtenconfirmationfromthetrainingorganisersorcopiesofmarketingliteratureforthecourseshowingyouasthetrainer

• Copiesofthecourseoutline,learningobjectivesandlearningoutcomes

• Anyreflectionsontheoutcomesofyourtrainingworkinrelationtoyourlearninganddevelopmentneeds.

Structured Thepreparationforthetrainingwouldbestructured.e.g.updatingyourknowledgeonthesubjectsyouaretrainingin;attendingcoursesondevelopingtrainingskills.

Thedeliveryofthetrainingwouldbeunstructured(Thisinvolvesactivitywhichdoesnothavestatedlearningobjectives,andsupportingactivityandassessmentsdesignedtoreinforcethese.Insteadthesetypicallycoveridentifiedlearningpointsincidentally).

Self-managed learning

Personallearningononesubjectwhichisformallyassessedbyathirdpartysubjectexpert,e.g.distancelearningwhereassignmentsaresenttotutorsformarking.

• Confirmationofenrolment(ifapplicable)

• Courseoutlineshowingcoursecontent,learningobjectivesandlearningoutcomes

• Copiesoftutormarkedassignments

• Anyreflectionsontheoutcomeofthelearning.




E-learning Onlinepackageswhichsetclearobjectivesandlearningoutcomesandincludeassessmentmeasures.

• Confirmationofthemodulesand/orassessmentscompleted(thesecanbescreenprintouts).




Examination setting and moderation

Settingandmoderatinganyexaminationofferedbyanexaminingbodywhichisbusinessrelated.Includesallassociatedstudyoptions.

• Detailsoftheexaminationsyouhaveworkedon(e.g.examname,awardingbodyandcontentoutline)

• Writtenconfirmationfromtherelevantawardingbodyofyourparticipation(ifnotCII)

• Anyreflectionsontheoutcomesofyourexaminingworkinrelationtoyourlearninganddevelopmentneeds.

Thepreparationfortheexaminationsettingwouldbestructured,e.g.updatingyoursubjectknowledgetoinformyourexaminingwork.

Theactualmoderationworkwouldbeunstructured(Thisinvolvesactivitywhichdoesnothavestatedlearningobjectives,andsupportingactivityandassessmentsdesignedtoreinforcethese.Insteadthesetypicallycoveridentifiedlearningpointsincidentally).

FAQs

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Technical authorship

Writingarticles,reports,books,instructionmanuals,etcwhicharepublishedforusebyothers.

• Copiesoftheitemsyou’vewrittenanddetailsofthepublicationstheyappearedinorwhotheyweredistributedto

• Ifyouhavewrittenabookpleaseprovidefulldetailsofthepublication(e.g.title,publisher,yearofpublicationandISBNnumberifapplicable).




Reading and watching

Technicalandtradepublications,factfiles,bulletins/regularupdates,manuals,professionalbriefs,journals,financialortradepress,podcastsandrelevantdiscussionsviasocialmedia,e.g.LinkedInUseofvideo(DVDs,YouTube,websites,etc),TV,audioandothermedia.

ThiscategorydoesnotrequireevidenceunlessyouwishtoclaimitasstructuredCPDactivity(seenotesinnextcolumn).Inwhichcase,pleaseprovidedetailsofthelearningoutcomesorresearchreasonsforundertakingthisreadingoruseofothermedia.

Structuredifyourreadinghasbeendonewithaspecificpurposeinmind,e.g.tomeetaspecifiedlearninganddevelopmentneedorbecauseyouareresearchingatopicforawork-basedprojectandthematerialusedhasbeenproducedtomeetaspecificlearningoutcome.

Unstructuredifthepurposeistokeepup-to-datewithwhatishappeningintheindustryatagenerallevelorthematerialusedhasnotbeenproducedtomeetaspecificlearningoutcome.

Mentoring Providinginstruction,guidanceandsupporttotraineesorexaminationstudents.

• Writtenconfirmationfromanemployer(ifapplicable)orthementee

• Anyreflectionsontheoutcomesofyourmentoringworkinrelationtoyourlearninganddevelopmentneeds.

Thepreparationforcertainaspectsofmentoringwouldbestructured,e.g.attendingatrainingcourseondevelopingmentoringskills.

Theactualmentoringwouldbeunstructured.

*Please note: if you are selected to have your CPD record audited it is not a requirement for you to send in supporting evidence at the point of audit. However, you should keep evidence of what you have done and be able to produce it if requested to do so in support of your CPD record.

FAQs

Ref:CII–CPD011(05/12)C12J_7197

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