About CPD

As a member of the Institute for Learning (IfL), you commit to recording your continuing professional development (CPD). This demonstrates that you are improving relevant knowledge and skills in your subject area and teaching or training. A wide range of formal and informal activities could count as meaningful professional development. You just need to be able to answer yes to these questions:

  • Have you undertaken professional development activities this year?
  • Have you reflected on the learning you have gained from these activities?
  • Have the activities and the reflection made a difference to how you teach or train?
  • Can you show evidence of this difference and the impact it has made to learners, colleagues or the organisation in which you work?

Recording your CPD

Your record will need to show that you have spent at least 30 hours each year (or pro-rata if you are a part-time teacher or trainer, with a minimum of 6 hours per year) on professional development. This needs to be declared to the IfL by 31 August every year.

You can record your CPD in any form that suits you and your circumstances although we strongly recommend that you use REfLECT, an on-line personalised learning space that is one of your member benefits. REfLECT is a personal and secure space, designed specifically for the IfL to support you in keeping a log of your CPD activities and reflections.

What counts as CPD?

Examples include:

  • Reading relevant journal articles or reviewing books
  • Training courses or formal development or study
  • Peer review, mentoring or shadowing
  • Online learning including engagement in discussion forums and blogs
  • Viewing and reviewing television programmes, documentaries and the internet
  • And much more!

Declaring your CPD

Declaring your CPD is a requirement of IfL membership. The window for declaring CPD is between 1 June and 31 August each year. Members are sent an email notification at the beginning of June and more information is posted on this website.

Declaring your CPD simply involves telling us how many hours of CPD you have done during the current year (1 September - 31 August) on REfLECT or My Pages. No evidence needs to be sent unless you are selected for sampling, which would involve reviewing your CPD record and providing feedback. This sample also informs our annual CPD review.

Should you have any questions, please contact the CPD team at cpdenquiries@ifl.ac.uk

More information can be found in our CPD Guidelines