Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is crucial for any professional to stay up to date with the latest innovations and enable professional growth during their careers. CPD is a universally acknowledged concept, although we tend to follow different approaches to implementing it in different parts of the world. This guide explores CPD around the world, how CPD is embraced and practiced and how it is an integral part of different industries across cultures.
CPD in Europe
Widespread Adoption across European Countries
Nowhere has CPD been more widely adopted than in Europe, where it has become a key feature of professional life. Across the continent, CPD is not only encouraged, but in many sectors, it is mandated by regulatory bodies as a requirement for continuing professional practice, particularly in fields where public safety or the quality of service is dependent on up-to-date levels of skill and knowledge. There has also been a significant push for CPD from the European Union, which has emphasized lifelong learning.
We can look to countries such as the UK, Germany, and France that have long-established CPD models, where professionals are required to undergo regular training and education in order to maintain their certificates and licenses. It is this widespread adoption that highlights the region’s dedication to maintaining the integrity of professional practice standards and to ensuring that people remain fit to practice.
Key Industries and Professions Embracing CPD
Some areas in Europe have made CPD compulsory; a clear example is in fields where public trust and safety are an issue. In healthcare, doctors, nurses, and other professionals must update their knowledge and skills, or their licenses will be taken away. This is important because of the fast-paced nature of medicine, where healthcare providers need to be able to do their best work.
Many teachers and educators throughout Europe follow a process of CPD in order to keep up with new teaching methods and processes, remain aware of changes in the curriculum, and learn how to use new educational technologies.
CPD is also expected in engineering, where it is often required to keep up with technological advances, regulatory changes, and emerging ‘best practices’. Professional bodies such as the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in the U.K. and similar bodies across Europe increasingly require their members to undertake CPD as a condition of membership.
Role of Regulatory Bodies and Professional Associations
It is the CPD activities that are most often promoted and monitored through the mechanisms of European regulatory bodies and professional associations. European regulatory bodies and professional associations These bodies often set the standards for CPD by defining the minimum number of hours, typically a number of hours per year or over a given period, as well as the types of CPD activities.
For example, in the U.K., the General Medical Council (GMC) stipulates that doctors must complete 50 hours of CPD per year. In Europe, the European Federation of National Engineering Associations (FEANI), an umbrella organization that represents engineering associations, is involved in setting standards. Furthermore, in many countries, professional associations require professionals to document their CPD activities as part of the certification or licensing process.
Professional associations also provide a wide variety of learning opportunities for CPD, such as workshops, seminars, online courses, and conferences. Professional associations also play a role in guiding and assisting professionals in maintaining their CPD and furthering their careers. Collaboration between regulatory bodies and professional associations ensures that CPD remains at the heart of professional development in Europe.
CPD in North America
Significance of CPD in the United States and Canada
CPD is embedded in professional development in North America, where it is embraced as an important component of employment in professional practice in regulated industries. The professional bodies in the United States and Canada each have a system of continuing professional development that stresses lifelong learning and the need to keep up with the changing trends in the marketplace. In the U.S. and Canada, CPD also plays a role in licensing and certification of professionals, thereby ensuring that those whose competence is being called into question can demonstrate that they are up to date on their skills.
Today, many professions in the United States and beyond are similarly governed by CPD requirements as a condition of their licensing process—from those in the law to those in medicine and finance. Lawyers must complete Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE), for example, to keep up with legal developments and best practices. Financial advisors are required to do CPD activities to maintain certifications such as the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.
In Canada, CPD requirements exist in many professions, too. The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and other professional bodies stipulate that doctors must engage in continuing education and training. Such activities are necessary for the standard of practice to continue, and public confidence in professional services is likely to evaporate.
Integration into licensing and certification requirements
CPD is enmeshed in the licensing and certification processes in the U.S. and Canada. State and provincial regulatory bodies within these countries mandate CPD activities as part of the process of maintaining the certification or licensure of professionals. Practitioners need to be abreast of the developments in their fields so that they can maintain high-quality services.
For example, in large sectors such as healthcare, individuals need to maintain their licenses, which they do through attending regular, accredited CPD programs. For example, a doctor in training might need to attend a conference, finish a MOOC or do some hands-on training, and write up a diary for a tutor. All of these activities could be logged and reported to the relevant licensing body, which enforces the CPD requirements.
In the legal field, in most jurisdictions, lawyers must, as a condition of continuing to practice, maintain their professional competence through a process known as CPD (continuing professional development). This often entails attending workshops, completing legal research, and training in ethics. Requiring CPD and making it part of licensing and certification assures that professionals remain competent and continue to meet the demands of their roles.
Differences in CPD Practices Between the U.S. and Canada
However, while the United States and Canada share a strong focus on CPD, there are regional differences in how these requirements are operationalized. In the United States, there can be substantial CPD variations across states. For instance, in the law and medicine professions, CPD requirements differ from state to state. Depending on the profession and state, there can be unique rules and standards regarding CPD.
In Canada, CPD can be more standardized across the country in those areas and sectors that are regulated. For instance, the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Canada sets uniform CPD requirements for all its members, whether they work in British Columbia, Ontario, or Nova Scotia.
Nevertheless, although there are many differences between the two approaches, there is also one common goal: to use CPD to maintain and improve the skills of professionals so that they can continue to provide a high-quality service to the public.
CPD in Asia-Pacific
Growing Importance of CPD in Asia-Pacific Countries
Nowhere is CPD more important in the Asia-Pacific, seeking to upgrade and maintain its position in the global economy by ensuring that its skills and knowledge base remain competitive. This has become even more of a need with the explosion of new technology and the rapid rates of change in many fields. Australia, Japan, and Singapore have been at the forefront of those nations that have implemented CPD in professional fields that require a high level of expertise and deep knowledge.
In many professions—especially healthcare, law, and engineering—such professional development is established in Australia. In fact, for many regulated industries, CPD is now compulsory under legislation from the Australian government and peak professional bodies. This helps to ensure that professionals remain competent and are able to perform to a high, safe standard in their roles. The Australian Lifelong Learning Framework has helped embed CPD within most professions.
CPD has also been embraced in Japan. In particular, it is seen as important in the technology and engineering industries. The pace of technological change is rapidly increasing, and this poses a challenge for those involved as it means constantly having to update their skill sets. To try to address this, Japanese companies are increasingly investing in CPD.
So, in Singapore, there is a government-backed view that continuing professional development (CPD) is essential to remaining an international business hub. This applies across sectors, including finance and education. For example, the Singapore Accountancy Commission, the Singapore Institute of Directors, and the Singapore Society of Fellows have all made CPD a priority rather than a voluntary add-on. Singapore’s commitment to CPD has helped foster a culture of excellence and innovation, blazing a trail for the rest of the region.
Globalization and Economic Development Driving CPD Demand
Globalization and economic development are perhaps the drivers of the increasing significance of CPD in the Asia-Pacific region. As countries in the region are integrated with the global economy, occupationally regulated professionals must engage in continuous learning to meet the international standards of practice.
For the largest countries at the forefront of the next phase of economic growth—China, India, and elsewhere—workforce CPD is at the core of their economic transformation, as companies and governments discover that a skilled workforce is needed to drive growth, innovation, and creativity. As Chinese and Indian industries expand and engage more deeply with global markets, workforce CPD will likely increase. Multinational companies’ growing presence in the region further adds to the significance of CPD as they transfer global training standards and best practices to their workforces in Asia.
There are also drivers for CPD coming from economic development in the Asia-Pacific region. We’re seeing governments invest in education and training initiatives to upskill their growing workforces because CPD is seen as vital to continued national economic growth and future global competitiveness.
Sectors Where CPD Is Gaining Traction
Indeed, CPD is making headway in some of the most dynamic sectors of the Asia-Pacific region, such as technology, finance, and education.
In the technology sector, rapidly changing fields, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and software development, make it essential for professionals to upskill and keep up with the latest trends. As a result, CPD programs that cater to technology professionals are becoming more commonplace.
Likewise, the need for continued professional development (CPD) is growing in the finance sector in the Asia-Pacific region as financial markets become more sophisticated and global. For example, in Singapore and Hong Kong, CPD helps financial professionals maintain their certifications and stay up-to-date on changes in regulation, the market, and new financial products.
In general, in the education sector, CPD needs to keep up with changes in teaching methodologies, new educational technologies, and syllabuses. Governments and educational institutions from the region are investing in CPD in order to equip teachers and educators with the necessary skills to provide quality education for students and also prepare for future changes in the education system.
Furthermore, as Asia-Pacific countries continue to grow and develop, the need for CPD in these and other sectors is likely to expand as professional excellence and economic success become pressing issues.
CPD in the Middle East and Africa
Emerging Focus on CPD in the Middle East and Africa
Over the last decade, there has been strong growth in the focus on CPD in the Middle East and Africa, reflecting greater awareness of the role of CPD in supporting economic growth and development. In the face of rapid and complex change—economic and sociocultural—to their societies, countries in the Middle East and Africa are facing a growing demand for skilled professionals in new and changing industries. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Nigeria, for example, CPD is now making its way into the professional landscape—in particular in the areas of health and social care, education, and engineering.
Governments and organizations in the Middle East are now promoting CPD as a way to improve the skills of the workforce so as to help professionals remain competitive in the globalized economy. In the UAE, there has been major progress in embedding CPD in health and education, which are sectors that depend on continuous learning to remain at the forefront of their field.
Other countries in Africa, such as South Africa and Nigeria, also have a growing sense of the need for CPD to build a cadre of skilled workers who can contribute to economic development. The progress of CPD in Africa is still at an early stage in many countries. There remains a significant need for more awareness of CPD’s benefits, particularly in the sectors where new knowledge and skills are needed most.
Influence of Multinational Companies and Global Standards
Multinational companies and the globalization of best practices are major forces pushing CPD in the Middle East and Africa. The global footprint of international companies means that they bring the benefits of their global footprint, including CPD, to the Middle East and Africa. These multinationals tend to force their local staff to go through some form of CPD in an attempt to meet best practices across their global operations.
Alongside multinational companies, international professional organizations are also driving CPD in these regions. For example, the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) are working on CPD frameworks for countries all across the Middle East and Africa, especially in the fields of finance and accounting.
To the extent that there is alignment, global standards are also influencing the very content and form of CPD programs, as more and more countries in these regions also begin to conform their professional development practices to global standards. CPD is now an inescapable part of professional life.
Key Challenges and Opportunities for CPD Development
However, in spite of prevailing attention to CPD, there are several challenges to its widespread implementation in the Middle East and Africa. One of these is the existence of barriers to infrastructure and resources to develop CPD programs, especially in regions of less developed states. In many African countries, for instance, there needs to be more access to quality training programs and educational resources, making CPD difficult for professionals to engage in.
Another issue is the cultural expectation of lifelong learning. In some countries, there might be resistance to this idea, with professionals viewing their learning as having ended with formal schooling. Changing these attitudes is a vital task in promoting a culture of CPD.
But these regions offer considerable potential for CPD as well: the proliferation of technology, and in particular mobile technology, opens up new channels for the delivery of CPD programs, with online courses, webinars, and virtual workshops becoming more commonplace and accessible to professionals wherever they are.
Moreover, as the requirement for a skilled workforce increases in sectors such as oil and gas, construction, and finance, governments, donors, and other organizations have a chance to invest in CPD as a means of developing a competitive workforce. If the challenges and opportunities are rightly experienced and addressed, then the Middle East and Africa region could see itself becoming the global leader in professional development in years to come.
CPD in Latin America
Adoption of CPD in Latin American Countries
CPD is now embraced, albeit with some challenges, in Latin America, where several countries—including Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina—are spearheading the charge and have considerable influence on thinking in other countries. In each of these countries, the professionalization of CPD is happening in healthcare, education, and engineering, among others. Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile are moving forward in vibrant ways.
Photo courtesy of Felipe Dana/APIn Healthcare, CPD remains critical for doctors to keep up to date with the latest medical science and technology. Many professional bodies in Latin America require doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers to engage in CPD to retain licenses and certifications. In Brazil, for instance, this is a requirement for the professional order. Similarly, in Argentina, physicians must engage in CPD in order to be recertified. This seems obvious for a country that aspires to offer the same quality of care offered elsewhere.
Complementary to the expansion of higher education is the increasing attention on CPD in the Latin American education sector. Teachers and educators are encouraged to engage in lifelong learning and self-development through professional development so that they can continue to improve their professional practice and stay up to date with new educational technologies and methods. In recent years, Latin American governments and educational institutions have been promoting CPD and investing in providing professional development opportunities for teachers and educators.
CPD is also vital for engineers as the region goes through an infrastructure boom and new technologies are introduced. Mexican and Colombian engineers, among others, need to keep up to date with the latest industry standards, rules and regulations, and technological developments in order to perform their job safely and reliably.
Role of Government Regulations and Professional Bodies
Latin American governments and professional bodies have played an essential role in promoting CPD. The role of governments is also important in many Latin American countries, where they have introduced regulations mandating CPD for certain professions, mainly those that have direct implications for public safety and welfare. In Brazil, for example, the Federal Council of Medicine requires medical practitioners to undertake CPD as part of their professional certification.
Finally, professional organizations throughout the region are also investing to stimulate CPD. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Latin American Federation of Engineers (UNIOESTE) run CPD programs and distribute CPD materials to help professionals maintain their skills and competencies. These bodies often work with government agencies to ensure that CPD programs are aligned with national and international standards.
The commitment of both states and professional bodies has helped make CPD an integral feature of professional life in Latin America: professionals must be seen as competent and worthy of the trust placed in them by members of the public and other professionals.
Varying Levels of CPD Implementation Across the Region
In spite of these advances, there are significant differences in the implementation of CPD across the region. In the most advanced Latin American countries—Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina—CPD has been incorporated into the professional structure of the country. They have mature CPD programs that are supported by the state and the profession and provide serious training and development opportunities for professionals.
However, in most less-developed countries and regions, CPD is at an early stage of development. Lack of educational resources, infrastructural issues, and economic constraints may impede the professionals from CPD, and it is critical to allocate more resources and investment to CPD programs in these areas to allow all the professionals to keep and improve their skills.
In spite of these difficulties, there is an increasing awareness across Latin America of the need for CPD, and efforts are being made to extend its provision. As the region develops, we expect to see a further increase in the adoption of CPD, thereby raising standards of professional practice and aiding economic growth.
Global Trends in CPD Adoption
Increasing Globalization of CPD Standards and Practices
As the world grows more connected globally, we also see a growing ‘globalization’ of CPD standards and practices, with more professionals acknowledging the value of lifelong learning and skill upgrading and adopting more standardized CPD frameworks that can be applied between countries and across industries.
International bodies such as the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are promoting standardized CPD at the global level. They are urging countries to adopt best practices in professional development worldwide. As a result of these efforts, a growing number of professionals in various countries around the world are receiving the same quality of training and are equally prepared to meet the demands of their sectors, regardless of their geographic location.
Globalization also spurs the globalization of CPD in that it promotes convergence in CPD requirements between places. For instance, as multinational companies increasingly require their employees to participate in CPD activities that meet international standards, the standards for CPD tend to converge between different places.
Influence of International Professional Organizations
In addition, international professional organizations are disseminating CPD practices across countries. They’re providing the resources, training programs, and accreditation services that help professionals maintain their valued skills and stay abreast of developments in their industries. Professional organizations also help to establish consistent standards for CPD across the globe.
For instance, the IBA and the International Council of Nurses (ICN), a global federation of national nurses’ associations representing more than 130 countries, maintain CPD programs that are recognized across national borders and thus enable professionals to keep their certifications and licenses valid while working outside their country of origin. Both organizations publish guidance for best practices in CPD that many countries use as a basis for developing their frameworks for professional development.
Not all influence is sector-specific. It could be from global associations, of which there are thousands. For example, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), a body that offers continuing professional development (CPD) accreditation for human resources (HR) professionals, is helping to raise the standards of the HR profession and ensure that good practice is aligned with global standards.
Role of Technology in Making CPD More Accessible
Technology is also helping to make CPD more accessible to professionals across the world. With the development of online learning platforms, webinars, and virtual conferences, professionals are able to engage in CPD regardless of where they are in the world. This is especially important for regions with limited access to educational resources.
With platforms such as Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy, professionals can find a variety of CPD courses to complete in their spare time, wherever they are in the world. The flexible nature of this learning allows professionals to fit their education around their working and personal commitments.
Along with online courses, V.R. and A.R. technologies are also beginning to enable CPD in more immersive ways: for example, experiencing the simulated effects of new surgical techniques before actually performing them or learning how to handle specific situations that are high-risk for nurses in advance. This kind of experiential learning allows professionals to practice in a simulated environment and transfer their newly acquired skills to real life.
Technology is also enabling CPD to become democratized, with the extension of learning opportunities to professionals in developing regions and remote places. Over time, as technology continues to improve, CPD too will become far more widespread, with the potential to enhance the competitiveness and careers of millions of professionals in every part of the world.
Conclusion
CPD has become the world’s currency. Every professional needs to follow it to make sure they have the necessary skills to become or remain competitive. Moreover, with CPD’s global growth, any person aspiring to a career in any industry worldwide needs to embrace CPD to ensure they remain current with industry developments. CPD is a world currency that will ensure a continuous flow of knowledge for the benefit of any professional anywhere in the world.