Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the development of knowledge, skills and understanding, and the capabilities necessary for an individual to fulfil the professional, managerial and technical responsibilities they may face throughout their career.

CPD is the continuation of professional development undertaken when initially qualifying - this is called Initial Professional Development or IPD. The scope of CPD is very broad and includes but is not limited to:

  1. Extending technical expertise beyond initial specialisation.
  2. Re-training in a new technical field or with a new technology.
  3. Developing an awareness of regulatory and compliance issues such as health and safety. 
  4. Developing management and soft skills, such as an understanding of ESG, finance and accounting, foreign language capabilities, and critical thinking.

There are many other ways to undertake quality and meaningful CPD, and IOM3 offers numerous opportunities to do this.

CPD opportunities offered by IOM3

IOM3 offers and facilitates a number of activities, opportunities and resources to support its members and others in CPD, which include:

  • Webinars, podcasts, conferences, seminars and workshops.
  • Local society events.
  • Open learning courses.
  • Acting as a mentor, trainer, membership or accreditation assessor, or speaker at one of our events.
  • Authoring technical and non-technical content.
  • Serving on one of our technical committees.
  • Access to content published digitally and in hard copy such as Materials World.

IOM3 approves various activities for CPD purposes and these carry the 'PD Approved' logo.

Please let us know if you think that an activity should be approved by IOM3.

See IOM3 Events Calendar

 

Recommendations and requirements

IOM3 recommends that as a member, regardless of your grade or stage of career, you should undertake an annual programme of CPD and record the activities and benefits. It is recommended that 35 hours of CPD each year will be sufficient to maintain and develop knowledge, skills and understanding, and demonstrate the necessary commitment to professional standards.

If you hold professional registration with the Engineering Council, Science Council and/or the Society for the Environment, undertaking an annual CPD programme of 35 hours duration and maintaining a record of the respective achievements is a mandatory requirement for ongoing registration. IOM3 is required to carry out random sampling and assessment of registrant CPD records, and every IOM3 registrant is liable to submit their CPD record upon request from IOM3. 

Guidance and supporting tools

IOM3 is happy for members to record and reflect upon their CPD activities in a way that best suits them.

The presentation of a CPD Record does not have to be over complicated - a simple spreadsheet is sufficient, provided it contains the necessary detail required. Many employers have their own recording systems and IOM3 is happy for members to use these tools and submit their records from them.

When it comes to the recording of CPD, members should not only record the individual activities undertaken but also the benefit they have derived from them. IOM3 has two recording tools which allow you to record your CPD activities in different formats:

  • CPD Recording Form A allows you to list individual CPD activities and then reflect on them through a paragraph of not less than 200 words.
  • Alternatively, CPD Recording Form B requires you to list your individual CPD activities but to reflect on each through an individual statement.

Both CPD Recording Forms A and B are downloadable at the bottom of this page.

Members also have access to the mycareerpath online recording tool via a link on the My IOM3 menu when you are logged into the IOM3 website. Alternatively, you can log on directly at https://mycareerpath.iom3.org - if you have not used this before, you will need to set up an account. The system allows you to set up a plan and record evidence against competences. Guidance is provided on the website.

Sanctions

IOM3 (as with other Engineering Council licenced bodies) is required to have a policy in place which enables it to sanction its Engineering Council registrants who fail or refuse to submit an appropriate record of their CPD activities when requested to do so. A copy of this policy can be downloaded at the bottom of this page. The Institute has determined that this policy will equally apply to its Science Council and Society for the Environment registrants.

IOM3 has taken the decision to exempt its retired and non-professionally active Engineering Council registrants from the need to submit a CPD record. Unfortunately we are not permitted to extend this exemption to Science Council or Society for the Environment registrants. There are however situations where IOM3 can grant an exemption and these are detailed in the policy.

IOM3 members holding professional registration are advised to read this policy and seek advice from IOM3 if they have any questions.