Continuing Professional Development
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) helps you maintain up-to-date technical skills and knowledge of processes, technology and legislation. It also enables you to attain and maintain your Chartered Status.
Objective
CPD activities are designed to extend or update your knowledge, skill or judgement in your area(s) of practice, and enable you to:
- Maintain technical competence
- Retain and enhance effectiveness in the workplace
- Be able to help, influence and lead others by example
- Successfully deal with changes in your career
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Better serve the community.
Requirements
Chartered Professional Engineers, Chartered Engineering Technologists and Chartered Engineering Associates should be aware of the obligation to meet the Continuing Professional Development Policy.
Minimum requirement
Your CPD records must document a minimum of 150 hours of structured CPD over a three-year period* **.
Specific requirements
For all practitioners, of the 150 hours:
- At least 50 hours must relate to your area(s) of practice
- At least 10 hours must cover risk management
- At least 15 hours must address business and management skills
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The remainder must cover a range of activities relevant to your career & interests.
*For engineering academics and teachers: in addition to the 150 hours, practitioners must demonstrate at least 40 hours industry involvement in any three-year period. (If the industry involvement satisfies the other CPD criteria, it may be included as part of the submitted CPD hours. Otherwise, the industry involvement is an additional requirement.)
**Special provisions for part-time workers also apply. Please refer to Clause 3.4 of the Continuing Professional Development Policy.
Career Break Provision
The CPD requirements are more flexible for Chartered members who have been on a career break of at least six months during the three year period.
Such members must complete 150 hours of CPD over five years rather than the standard three years.
Members should refer to the Career Breaks Policy for details.
Working Towards Chartered Membership
If you are currently working towards achieving your Chartered Membership directly on the Engineering Competency Report Pathway (ECR Pathway) or the Professional Development Program Pathway (PDP Pathway) you will be expected to have recorded sufficient hours to demonstrate a commitment to CPD.
If you wish to pursue the Mature Experienced Engineers Pathway (MEE Pathway) you must have completed the full requirement of 150 hours over three years and provide a record at the time of enrolment on eChartered.
If you are applying through a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA Pathway), you should note that some MRAs require that you present records of 150 hours CPD over three years; if the MRA does not include this requirement, you may be expected to have recorded sufficient hours to demonstrate a commitment to CPD at the time of application.
Types of CPD
CPD Activities have been classified into the following Types:
I. Formal post-graduate study and individual tertiary course units not undertaken for award purposes
II. Short courses, workshops, seminars and discussion groups, conferences, technical inspections and technical meetings, including Engineers Australia meetings, where these are delivered or facilitated by recognised practitioners in the field
III. Learning activities in the workplace that extend your area of practice competence base
IV. Private study which extends your knowledge and skills in your area of practice and/or in the core areas of risk management, business and management skills outlined above
V. Service to the engineering profession
VI. The preparation and presentation of material for courses, conferences, seminars and symposia
VII. Chartered members employed in tertiary teaching and/or academic research
VIII. Any other structured activities not covered by I to VII above that meet the objectives of the policy.
For more details, including the specific requirements or notes for each Type, see the CPD - Types & Conditions
Understand CPD
Access and Record
- Ways to access CPD
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Record your CPD online
(members only)
Audit
Contact
CPD Team
Email: cpdaudit@engineersaustralia.org.au
