Recording CPD Activities

Overview:

This page provides you with the information you need to meet the requirements of the Continuing Professional Development Policy, whether as a Fellow, Professional or Associate member.

 

Schedule of Activities

CPD is a learning activity and applies to any activity whether provided by CDAA, a CICA association or any other association or organisation which assists you to develop any of the competencies of the Professional Standards. This also applies in relation to counting towards CPD for more than one professional association. The Standards competencies are listed in brief in Section 11 of the CDAA CPD Policy.

CPD Type

Relevant Activities

Hours

Maximum per annum

Academic study Beyond Entry Level Academic study / coursework in the field of career development – relevant to the Professional Standards Log hours of study excluding breaks 15 hours
Conference Participation in conferences or skill development programs provided by
  • CDAA
  • CICA member organisations
  • Other relevant associations (national or international)
Log hours of attendance excluding breaks 12 hours
Membership in Relevant Association or Committee Active membership of committees, advisory bodies and other relevant representative bodies in the field of career development –
  • CDAA (Division and/or National)
  • CICA member associations
  • Other career related associations
Log 1 hour per meeting attended including sub-committees (Office bearers add bonus of 2 hours per annum) 10 hours 12 hours including bonus
  Representation at Trade Expos – on CDAA Stand Log hours of attendance excluding breaks 5 hours
Professional Mentoring Engaging in mentoring of career development practitioners
  • as mentor or mentee
  • individual or group mentoring
Mentee log hours of participation Mentor log hours (add bonus of 2 hours per mentoring relationship) 10 hours 12 hours including bonus (Cannot claim both supervision and mentoring for same person)
Professional Supervision Engaging in supervision of career development practitioners – individual or group Supervisor log hours (add bonus of 2 hours per supervisory relationship) 12 hours including bonus (Cannot claim both supervision and mentoring for same person)
Quality Assurance Participation Engaging in formal evaluation of professional practice outcomes Log hours of collating, analysing and reporting on evaluation data collected 12 hours
Reading Professional Publication Reading professional journal articles or other relevant articles including web-based material Log @ 1 hour per journal edition 12hours
Research Research activities or projects relating to the field of career development
  • Research/Development for workshops or programs
  • Industry visits
  • Information interviews (may be phone or email)
Log hours of research /preparation Log hours of attendance Log hours of interaction 10 hours 5 hours 5 hours
Workshop Participation in professional development workshops or activities provided by
  • CDAA (Division or National level)
  • CICA member organisations
  • Other relevant associations

Relevant on-line or other web-based PD activity

Log hours of attendance excluding breaks Log hours of interaction 15 hours
Writing or Presentation Professional Paper Writing professional journal articles (peer reviewed) or contributions to books (not self-published) Log @ 2 hours per article 10 hours (Cannot claim for multiple publication)
Writing a review of a book or an article from a journal, authoritative internet site, multimedia product or CDAA PD event that you attended that is published in ACP or Division newsletter Log @ 1 hour per review/article 5 hours (Cannot claim for multiple publication or if already claimed in another category)
Writing skill or knowledge development articles that are published in ACP, Division newsletter, Press or other media and DEWR Career & Job Search Tips Log @ 1 hour per article 5 hours (Cannot claim for multiple publication or if already claimed in another category)
Editing career development publication – print or online Log @ 1 hour per edition 5 hours
Facilitating/presenting workshops/seminars provided by
  • CDAA (Division or National level)
  • CICA member organisations
  • Other relevant associations
Log hours of facilitation, excluding breaks Add bonus of 2 hours per workshop 10 hours facilitation 4 bonus hours (Only claim once for the same workshop or paper regardless of the number times it is presented)

Remember to fulfil the CDAA criteria required for annual membership renewal, the following minimum accrual is required per year:

Level of Membership Required CDP Accrual (min.)

  • Associate Member 20 hours
  • Fellow or Professional Member 30 hours

How to Record CPD Activities:


CPD Activities are recorded through the online "Evolve" recording system. You can access this system at www.activ8evolve.com/Members/default.asp Your primary e-mail address recorded in the CDAA member database has been duplicated in Evolve and represents your username for access to the system. The initial password will be the postcode that relates to your postal address as recorded in the CDAA member database. This password can be personalised once you have logged in for the first time.

The full guide to the use of the system can be access here (pdf). A quick reference guide is available here (pdf).

Contact the CDAA national office on 1800 22 390 or info@cdaa.org.au should you experience difficulties.

 

 

 

FAQs

What happens if I engage in PD activities that are not necessarily career development specific, will these hours count?
Yes, provided the CPD

  1. relates to developing any of the 7 core competencies and their related sub-competencies defined in the Professional Standards and
  2. can be applied directly to your work as a career development practitioner and
  3. is listed as an eligible activity as defined in the CPD Policy

I undertake more than 30 hours of professional development each year but much of it doesn’t seem to match CDAA requirements so can it be included?
Yes, if any professional development you undertake enables you to develop and extend any of the 7 core competencies and their related sub-competencies defined in the Professional Standards then it can be included in your CPD record

I informally provide advice and support to a colleague who is studying towards his Grad Cert in Career Education. Can this be considered as ‘professional mentoring’?
Yes, professional mentoring involves an experienced practitioner providing advice or assistance to one less experienced (i.e. you being the mentor). But it can also mean receiving advice or information from someone more experienced (i.e. you being the mentee).

If I am unable to accrue sufficient CPD hours in one year can I accrue additional hours in the subsequent year?
Yes, it is possible to accrue your hours over a two year period. For example, if as an Associate member you are only able to accrue 14 of your required 20 hours in one year, then in the following year you would be expected to accrue 26 hours so that your total would reach 40 cumulative hours.

Can I claim CPD hours for an activity provided by an organisation other than CDAA?
Yes, if the activity enables you to develop any of the career competencies and is relevant to your work as a career development practitioner then it can be claimed regardless of which organisation provided the CPD

Is there any way in which my CPD requirements can be temporarily suspended?
Yes, you can request a suspension of your CPD requirements for a range of personal and/or career related circumstances. This request will be considered based on the following principles:

  1. a maximum 12 months suspension will be granted at a time
  2. you must maintain your CDAA membership during the period of suspension
  3. you will need to reapply if you wish the period to be extended beyond 12 months

Can a program of further study be considered an eligible CPD activity if it doesn’t include the words ‘career development’?   

Yes, providing the study is demonstrably related to a number of competencies defined in the Standards AND is directly applicable to your work as a career development practitioner

Will my participation in a local professional networking group count towards my CPD?   

Yes, participation in any bodies or groups in the field of career development will be considered CPD activity. It can include both formal and informal activities with CDAA, CICA member associations and other local career related groups

Can I claim volunteer work on behalf of my professional association as CPD activity?   

Yes, representation of your professional association at a Trade Expo or other career industry event.

Is it possible for me to accrue CPD hours by supervising the work of other career development practitioners?   

Yes, this is considered to be relevant CPD activity. The only limitation is that you can’t claim hours for both supervision and mentoring of the same practitioners.

For mentoring to count towards CPD hours does it have to be part of a formal program or can informal mentoring be claimed? If it can what are the criteria that need to be met?   

Yes, mentoring can be on an informal basis as well as part of a formal program if you choose. You can also claim as either a mentor or mentee as both will enable professional development learning to take place. Key criteria that need to be met include:

  1. Both mentor and mentee need to be career development practitioners
  2. Mentoring can be one to one or group based
  3. Mentoring activity should be characterised by
    1. Ongoing regular contact, either face to face or remotely
    2. Discussion 
    3. Provision of guidance, support and advice 
    4. Constructive two-way feedback

Is research conducted on behalf of clients able to be counted as ‘research” in CPD hours?   

Yes, gathering of information to support the career development of clients is relevant CPD activity. Research may involve development of workshop materials, undertaking industry visits or conducting information interviews.

Should career development practitioners be claiming industry visits as “Research”   

Yes, industry visits are an important information gathering tool that will enhance the knowledge and skills base of practitioners in supporting their clients.