APEGBC Launches New Program to Recognize Members' Continuing Professional Development Activities
Over the past year, APEGBC Council and the CPD Committee have sought feedback on the implementation of a formal CPD program. During this time, members provided input on their professional development activities and the proposed structure of the program. The feedback received was considered in the development of the new CPD Guideline, which was approved by Council at their September 8, 2006 meeting.
The new CPD guideline outlines the types of activities and the amount of professional development that practicing members should be undertaking. Developed after extensive benchmarking of programs from other Canadian jurisdictions and other professions, it is designed to provide flexibility to meet members' unique requirements.
Compliance with the CPD Guideline is recommended but not mandatory. Members will be asked to indicate whether they have met the requirements of the CPD Guideline for the 2007 calendar year by signing a statement on their 2008 Annual Dues form. To recognize members who participate in the program, a note will be placed in the public On-line Member Directory identifying that the member has declared that they have met the requirements of the CPD Guideline. It is important to note that under the Code of Ethics, members who choose not to report that they have met the requirements of the CPD Guideline are still required to keep up to date and to practice only in those fields where their knowledge is current.
To meet the requirements of the CPD Guideline, members must complete an average of 30 hours per year (90 hours on a 3-year rolling average). Hours are accrued as Professional Development Hours (PDH) where 1 PDH = 1 hour of relevant professional development activity. The four categories of eligible CPD activities are: Formal Methods (e.g. structured courses, programs or seminars that are at least 4 hours in length), Informal Methods (e.g. self-directed study, journal reading, seminars, technical field trips, trade shows), Participation (e.g. mentoring, committee meetings), and Presentations & Contributions to Knowledge (e.g. presentations, writing papers, developing codes and standards). Members are required to complete activities from at least two of the four categories and a maximum of 20 PDH can be claimed in any one category in a calendar year.
To help keep track of their CPD activities, members may use the Online CPD Reporting Centre, though use of this system is not necessary to meet the requirements of the CPD Guideline.
For more detailed information on the CPD program or for a copy of the CPD Guideline, please visit the APEGBC website at http://www.apeg.bc.ca/prodev/cpdmain.html.