Frequently Asked Questions - CPD
1. What is CPD?
2. How many CPD credits do I need to accrue?
3. Why is CPD important?
4. How many credits do I have to achieve if I am working part-time?
The same requirements apply to all those on the register regardless of their work situation. Registrants should refer to the CPD Guidance and CPD Support issued by their Registration Board. It is expected that at minimum you can demonstrate achieving 30 CPD credits in every 12-month period. This demonstrates ongoing engagement in CPD.
If called for audit a registrant may apply to their Registration Board for deferral of submission of their CPD record. A decision to grant deferral will be determined on a case by case basis by your Registration Board.
5. How many CPD credits are required for those on maternity leave/career break/statutory leave?
The same requirements apply to all those on the register regardless of their work situation. Registrants should refer to the CPD Guidance and CPD Support issued by their Registration Board.
If called for audit a registrant may apply to their Registration Board for deferral of submission of their CPD record. A decision to grant deferral will be determined on a case by case basis by your Registration Board.
6. How are CPD credits awarded?
7. Can I carry surplus CPD credits forward to the next cycle?
8. If I attended the same activity twice, could I record CPD credits for both?
9. Can I only accrue a certain amount of CPD credits for each learning activity type?
10. Will CORU accredit CPD activities?
11. What CPD activities will be considered suitable for registrants to complete?
Further information on CPD activities is available in the CPD Support issued by your Registration Board. This list of learning activities is varied and not exhaustive. Registrants should identify learning activities that are related to their own learning needs and are relevant to their practice. There are no specific mandatory CPD activities.
For example, for a registrant who is an academic, their record might contain learning around the areas of research or teaching skills. Similarly, if you are working in management, your CPD activity should reflect this.
12. Do I need to consult with a manager or supervisor to meet my Board’s CPD requirements?
No. This is not a requirement set by your Registration Board. Registrants are responsible for identifying their own learning needs. CORU’s CPD model is flexible ensuring that those in private practice as well as those that work in teams can demonstrate how they meet their Boards requirements.
Professional development planning or performance appraisal may be a feature of some workplaces and can inform the CPD process. It may be useful for registrants to combine both to increase efficiency and maximise the impact on their professional practice.
13. I don’t have access to a supervisor. Will I be able to meet the CPD requirements?
14. Can I claim credit for supervising students on practice placement?
15. Are courses and workshops the only type of acceptable CPD?
16. My workload is too heavy, and I don’t have the time. How will I find the time to do CPD?
17. Can unexpected learning be used to accrue credits?
18. What needs to be included in the record of CPD?
- Implementation of learning activities that achieved a minimum of 30 CPD credits of new or enhanced learning
- Evaluation and reflection of the learning achieved
- Review of learning needs for the next 12-month period
- Planned learning activities for the next 12-month period
19. I am dual registered but spend most of my time working in another jurisdiction?
20. What if I am registered with CORU but have not been practising?
21. Does reflective practice always have to be positive?
22. Is it a requirement to use the CORU CPD record template?
CORU's CPD Record Template is designed to assist and support registrants in complying with their CPD audit requirements. The CPD Record Template that has been supplied on the CORU website is required for those registrants called for audit; it is designed for audit purposes and may not be extensive enough for some registrants to keep their full CPD record. There is no requirement for registrants to use this template for recording all of their CPD for their own records. Registrants may choose to keep their records with their professional body or themselves without using the CORU Record Template.
23. How long should I keep my CPD documentation?
Your CPD documentation should be kept for as long as you are on the Register.
These documents will support you to provide the necessary information for participation in your Registration Board’s CPD audit. You should keep these documents independent of any audit requirement.
24. Where can I find information regarding CPD audits?
Continuing Professional Development Audit FAQs
1. Will I be called for audit automatically?
2. Can a particular group be called in the audit?
3. Can I only be called for audit at the end of a CPD cycle?
No. Registration Boards reserve the right to target a particular group of practitioners or an individual at any time. For this reason, it is imperative that CPD is completed on an ongoing basis and an up to date record is maintained.
Dates of the audit period for your profession are available on profession specific CPD pages on CORU website.
4. Are there any exemptions from the routine audit?
Only those who have been on the register for the full audit period will be eligible to be called for routine audit.
Those who join the register mid period should engage with CPD without delay in order to be compliant with their Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, but will be ineligible to be called for the random audit.
5. How will I know if I have been called for audit?
6. Once I have been called for audit, how long do I have to submit my CPD record?
7. Can I defer an audit?
Registrants are expected to engage in CPD as a requirement under their Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. However, in recognition of personal circumstance, we understand that it may not always be possible to comply with the requirement to participate in CPD audit.
These circumstances may include maternity/adoptive leave/other statutory leave or long-term illness. Requests for deferral can be made to the Registration Board following request to participate in CPD audit and will be considered on a case by case basis. There is no guarantee that requests to defer audit will be successful. Those accepted for deferral will automatically be selected in the next round of audits.
8. How can I request a deferral of audit?
Deferrals may only be requested following a notification of random selection for CPD Audit.
You will have 30 days to submit your deferral form from the date that you have been selected for audit. You may request a deferral form from CORU and submit by email via cpdaudit@coru.ie.
9. My application for deferral of audit has been granted what next?
10. Who will assess my CPD record?
11. Will my CPD record be returned to me?
12. What are the possible outcomes of an audit?
A review of your CPD record could result in one of two outcomes. Either you are deemed compliant or non-compliant.
A registrant may be deemed non-compliant if they fail to engage with their Registration Board having being selected for CPD Audit, fail to submit a CPD Record and have not been granted a deferral by their Registration Board or if there are concerns raised regarding their fitness to practice as a result of information disclosed on their CPD record.
Further information on CPD Audit Guidelines is available on the CPD Audit page.
13. Can I be selected again for audit if I have already been deemed compliant?
14. Do I need to submit supporting documentation with my CPD Record?
Registrants are not required to submit supporting documentation, for example certificates, case studies or minutes of meetings. CORU’s CPD Record Template is the only document that we require registrants selected for audit to submit.
Registrants should however maintain supporting documentation as evidence of engagement in CPD.
Further information on completing CORU's CPD Record Template is available as a visual aid here.
15. What are the Executive looking for when reviewing a record?
The CPD record should include your:
- Implementation of learning activities that achieved 30 CPD credits of new or enhanced learning
- Evaluation and reflection of the learning achieved
- Review of learning needs for the next 12-month period
- Planned learning activities for the next 12-month period
16. If I am not able to meet the deadline for submission of my CPD record due to exceptional circumstances that have arisen unexpectedly. What should I do?
17. What feedback will I receive on my CPD records?
18. I have more questions about CPD. Where can I find more information?
Registrants are advised to read the CPD Guidance and CPD Support issued by their Registration Board on the CORU website for more information about CPD.
Specific queries can be emailed to cpd@coru.ie.
19. I need help with completing my CPD Record Template. Where can I find more information?
20. Do I need to include a digital signature at the end of my CPD record?