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CPD - RICS - Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

Many different activities can qualify as CPD. Deciding on what is "relevant" is up to the individual RICS member because learning is based upon personal assessment.

Don't restrict your learning to formal training courses, seminars and workshops. RICS like many other professional bodies recognises there are many other relevant methods of learning.

This section provides a checklist of some activities or events from which you may be able to obtain a learning outcome. These sources can be grouped into four main categories:

Professional work-based activities
Self-directed and informal learning
Personal activities outside work
Courses, seminars and conferences

Work-based activities (on-the-job development)

business management skills
coaching/mentoring
personnel management skills
planning and running an in-house training event
internal discussion groups
adviser/consultancy positions
arbitrator/expert witness/adjudicator
professional interviews
voluntary (professional) work
special project work
staff training
study of a foreign language may be relevant if you work in an international context
information technology
secondment - transfer to another department

Professional Meetings, Panels and Working Groups

faculty and forum work
course accreditation exercises
APC/ATC assessor preparation
NVQ assessor/internal verifier training
external examiner positions
regional officer ie organisational skills

Presentations and Publications

research for publications and papers
preparation for presentations to colleagues, clients, faculty groupings, national and local associations
participation in public meetings
lecturing on careers/the profession

Self-directed and informal learning

Private study, structured reading is one of the most efficient and cost effective ways for members to broaden their knowledge in areas of general professional interest and also in more specialised areas. There are savings to be made from using this service both in terms of time and money. Suggested sources of information are:
internet sites of professional interest
books, journals, magazines, newspapers
technical manuals
research papers
CD-ROM disks, videos, audio tapes
transcript of speeches/conference items, lecture/seminar notes
reports/guidance notes issued by professional bodies
CPD study packs

Personal activities outside the workplace

Skills acquired from personal activities outside the workplace are just as relevant to the development of personal competence.
Voluntary (non-professional) work. Active involvement with voluntary/charitable organisations can be a rewarding experience. You may be learning about applications for grants and lottery funding or developing skills in organising/running meetings.
School governor, JP, member of PTA. These activities can broaden knowledge and understanding of many issues and institutions which form part of the broad context of people management.
Parish council/other local government work
Youth groups
Local business community boards eg Chamber of Commerce

Training Courses and Conferences

Training courses and seminars - in-house or external - on any topic of relevance to your professional and personal development
Long-term qualifications and projects (6 months or more) eg full/part-time study, open distance learning, contributions to original research