How To Get Valid CPD Points Without Breaking The Bank – Continuous Professional Development for Engineers

There is a pervasive misconception that seems to be circulating among young engineers

That is, the false belief that CPD can only be gained by attending pricey, formal events such as webinars and seminars.

While these are valid ways to obtain CPD hours, they’re just the tip of the iceberg.

In this blog post, I will help you understand and demystify CPD.

What Exactly is CPD?

At its core, CPD(Continuous Professional Development) refers to the ongoing process of developing your skills and knowledge throughout your career.

In Simple terms it just means “keeping your skills and knowledge up to date so you can do your job well.”

It’s not only about learning new technical skills but also about personal growth, improving leadership abilities, and staying updated with industry trends

Requirements

Most professional institutions like

• ZIE (Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers),
• ECSA (Engineering Council of South Africa),
• ICE (Institute of Civil Engineers) and
• ENZ (Engineering New Zealand)

All have established CPD frameworks that serve as blueprints for engineers.

These institutions provide detailed guidelines on their websites that normally cover,

• The minimum number of CPD hours required per year (typically between 30 to 40 hours, depending on the institution).
• Categories of CPD activities that count towards your annual requirement.

Demystifying CPD – A Broader View of CPD: More than Just Webinars

There is no doubt that webinars, seminars, and conferences are excellent ways to gain CPD hours, but they’re not the only options.

In fact,

If you are relying solely on formal events, you are likely missing out on several avenues for professional development.

Let me help you by breakdown some of the CPD options you might have been ignoring.

On-the-Job Training (OJT)

When you’re engaged in learning new techniques, software, or methodologies at your workplace,

This counts as CPD!

For example, if you spend a few hours shadowing a senior engineer who is teaching you a new design process that you didn’t know, you’re not just gaining knowledge—you’re also earning CPD.

Documentation Tip: Keep a detailed log that records the training received, the skills acquired, and how they have been applied in your work.

Reading and Research

Reading books, research papers, or technical reports related to your field is an excellent way to stay updated with the latest trends.

ICE, ENZ, ZIE and ECSA all recognize this as valid CPD activity, and it can be a flexible way to meet your CPD quota without paying for expensive events.

Documentation Tip: Keep track of titles, authors, and a brief summary of your learnings. Include reflections on how the reading has impacted your current projects or thinking.

Mentoring and Being Mentored

Mentorship can be incredibly enriching, whether you’re the mentor or the mentee.

Teaching someone else forces you to articulate concepts clearly, while being mentored helps you gain insights from those more experienced like in OJT

Both activities count towards CPD under most of these Professional Board’s frameworks.

Documentation Tip: Record the time spent mentoring or being mentored, along with a summary of the topics covered and the skills exchanged.

Workplace Discussions and Peer Learning

This is what actually prompted this blog in the first place.

A discussion on Concrete Mix Designs, and maybe a bit of harbouring aswell.

Often, valuable CPD opportunities arise from informal discussions with colleagues or peers.

Group discussions, problem-solving sessions, or even brainstorming meetings can all qualify as CPD if they contribute to your professional development.

My former supervisor also helped me to understand this.

Documentation Tip: Document the nature of the discussion and how it has expanded your knowledge or helped solve a problem. You might also want to note any references or further reading that came out of the discussion.

Presenting at Conferences and Seminars

Yes, attending formal events like conferences or workshops is valuable CPD.

However, did you know that presenting at these events can often count for double the CPD hours?

This is because you’re not just absorbing information; you’re actively contributing to the knowledge pool.

And ey! sometimes when you are a presenter you get in for free!

Documentation Tip: Keep a record of the event name, date, and your specific role—whether you were a participant, presenter, or panel member.

How to Track and Document Your CPD

One key to successfully fulfilling your CPD requirements is proper documentation.

Engineers need to demonstrate that they are not just attending events, but actively engaging with the material and applying it in their work.

ICE, ENZ and ECSA offer templates for logging your CPD activities, but you can create your own method if you prefer.

As for ZIE you have no option but to drum up one for yourself.

CPD Documentation Checklist:

• Date of Activity: Record the date(s) of the CPD activity.
• Type of Activity: Specify whether it was reading, attending a seminar, on-the-job training, etc.
• Duration: Keep track of how many hours were spent on the activity.
• Summary: Write a brief reflection on what you learned or gained from the activity.
• Field of Knowledge: Note which objective and field of knowledge this is helping you to address in your development.

Summary of the Myths

Myth 1: CPD is expensive.

• Reality: Many CPD activities, such as reading, peer discussions, and mentoring, can be done for free or at minimal cost.

Myth 2: CPD only counts if it’s from a formal provider.

• Reality: As long as the activity contributes to your professional development, it can count as CPD—even informal learning like reading a technical blog or engaging in a discussion.

Conclusion

CPD is an essential part of maintaining your skills and staying competitive as an engineer.

However, it is not limited to formal events and paid webinars. By expanding your understanding of what counts as CPD and making use of the diverse options available, you can easily meet your annual requirements while growing in your career.

If you are unsure where to start, take stock of the activities you are already doing.

Are you mentoring someone? Are you reading technical books or attending workplace discussions?

You may already be closer to fulfilling your CPD than you think.

With that in mind, go forth young padawan, enhance your skills and become the next Jedi master

May The Force Be With You!