Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
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What is Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
It’s an ongoing commitment to learning and development that professionals undertake to stay up-to-date with industry trends, best practices, and advancements in their field. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the term for a framework of learning and development activities which is seen as contributing to an individual’s continued effectiveness as a professional.
Another associated term is ‘lifelong learning’, although CPD has become the most commonly used term. This is because CPD comprises more than just learning activities which are largely associated with taking courses and passively receiving information. CPD takes place in a number of contexts and through various activities. It does not simply involve taking a refresher course or two, but taking part in less structured, more job-specific activities such as on-the-job learning or mentoring.
ThevChartered Institute of Hospitality, Tourism and Management of America CIHTMA aspires to having all members engage in CPD activities to ensure that they continue to represent the Institute as competent and knowledgeable professionals in their chosen specialist fields. Members are expected to keep a log of their activities using the on-line CPD tool in the members section of the website. It is the intention of the Institute that monitoring of CPD activities will take place on a sampling basis and all members are asked to keep appropriate records for this purpose. There is an expectation of 30 hours per calendar year of CPD activities.
The way we manage and record members’ CPD records is being updated. In the interim, please use the form below to record your CPD
Continuity is very important when it comes to CPD. Learning does not stop with the completion of a formal qualification as knowledge can quickly become outdated, particularly in the areas of technology and legislation, hence the need for CPD.
CPD requires:
Personal commitment to keeping your professional knowledge up-to-date and improving your capabilities – helping you to be an even better professional.
Focus on what you learn and how you develop throughout your career.
Focus on the individual, so you decide what, when and how much you do.
Formal learning – courses, qualifications.
Professional learning – conferences, seminars, coaching, mentoring, networking, taking part in working groups.
Informal learning – reading, keeping up to date.
Continuing Professional Development is not necessarily:
Imposed on you from above or outside – you decide what you want to do and when.
Additional work – you’re probably already doing CPD, perhaps without realising it.
What counts as eligible CPD activity?
Institute of Hospitality recognises a variety of CPD activities, which fall broadly into three categories: structured professional learning, work-based professional development and unstructured professional development activity.
Each CPD activity has a pre-determined maximum number of hours per year. You may exceed this but it will not count as CPD activity.
View the schedule of maximum hours for full details.
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Structured professional learning includes:
Continuing education (part-time, full-time, online / distance learning) leading to qualifications (e.g. Chartered Institute of Hospitality, Tourism and Management of America CIHTMA. Qualifications)
Attending seminars, courses, webinars and workshops, including online learning courses
Long-term research projects (six months+)
Career based professional development includes:
Attending networking events (e.g. Chartered Institute of Hospitality, Tourism and Management of America CIHTMA AGM, Annual Dinner and Awards, Fellows’ Dinner)
Attending conferences and exhibitions (e.g. Florida International Hospitality Show)
Staff training, preparation of training materials
Coaching and mentoring
Preparation / presentation of papers for conferences, meetings or publication
Active participation in Institute of Hospitality or other regional management briefings and working groups
Work shadowing, secondments, on-the-job training
Informal professional development includes:
Private study (e.g. reading hospitality management related books, journals, magazines and newsletters; conducting online research)
Attending exhibitions relevant to your industry
Submitting responses to Chartered Institute of Hospitality, Tourism and Management of America CIHTMA member consultations and targeted research surveys
Keeping up with current affairs within the sector via television, radio, publications and social media
If you think there are other types of activity or specific resources which we should consider as contributing to members’ CPD, please email us: library@cihtma.org
Useful CPD Resources:
Learn more about Continuing Professional Development and the benefits of CPD by downloading this guide by the CPD Certification Service.
Read our news post about keeping track of your Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Read the guide .
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