Earn CPD the fun way: Write for us, climb a mountain or learn french

The quest for continuing professional development (CPD) points may seem like a never-ending succession of dry seminars but in fact it is amazing what can count towards your annual tally.

Both the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) offer their own activity logs and guidance notes. But meeting the CPD requirements of 100 points year-in, year-out under the unstructured CII scheme or clocking up between 31 hours and 35 hours to comply with the CISI guidance can be a challenge.

However, some everyday activities – and others that are a little more offbeat – can qualify under both schemes. 

The key question to ask before logging or completing any activity is ‘how will this boost my professional competence, either now or in the future?’

Self-improvement

CISI managing director Ruth Martin said: ‘CPD is something that has always been taken very seriously by firms, especially the bigger ones.

‘For individuals, it can mean keeping on top of the major issues in order to be continually effective in their position. However, it also helps them to improve themselves and they can choose different activities provided they and their firm are happy.

‘For example, a lot of people are thinking about the retail distribution review and the training they need for the future. This in itself reflects the aspirational element that can be involved in CPD.’

Among the more unusual CPD-compliant activities, which both the CISI and the CII may approve, are learning a new language and venturing out on outward bound days, provided these are relevant to your job and can add to your ability to perform in the near or longer term.

Martin explained: ‘[Learning a language] is absolutely fine so long as it’s not solely for personal trips abroad.’