CPD Policy

CPD Policy

Continuing professional development is a commitment by members to continually update their skills and knowledge in order to remain professionally competent.

CPD is the key to managing your career, it’s how to keep up to date with current practice, and drives you to improve your skills and progress into new roles. CPD will help you to:

  Achieve your goals efficiently

 Keep pace with changing technology  Achieve recognition

  Stay in the job market

 Develop leadership skills and help to influence others  Provide evidence of competence when it is required  Demonstrate commitment to your profession

The ITP’s commitment to our members continuous professional development

The Institute of Telecommunications Professionals (The ITP) provides a variety of services and products to support our members' continuing professional development (CPD) activities, many of which are free or discounted. Any source of CPD content is acceptable.

Recording CPD

When recording and planning your CPD, remember the acronym TWAVES

• Training course  

• Work Experience  

• Academic Study  

• Volunteering

• Events and Seminars  

• Self-study

ITP members plan their own learning and development, and this can take many forms but it is mandatory that you record all of your CPD activities. There are many ways that you can do this. When you record your CPD you need to include the following: -

• Hours undertaken in the previous years

• Nature of the CPD, e.g., Training, Work Experience, Volunteering, Seminars, Workshops, Insight Visits etc.

• Brief reflection on the activities

Even though, there is no minimum amount of time which should be spent on CPD each year, we suggest that all members should undertake and record around 30 hours of CPD activity each calendar year. We understand that the amount and type of CPD for engineers and technicians can vary according to where you are in your career.

However, registered EngTech, ICTTech, IEng and CEng engineers make a commitment to maintaining their competence through CPD. You may be selected as part of a random sample to provide samples of your CPD record by a Licensee. You should take the necessary steps to maintain and improve your competence through CPD. By committing to CPD, professionally registered individuals are assuring the public, their fellow engineers and employers of their competence and ethics. Anyone who doesn’t engage with CPD could be at risk of losing their professional title.

Self-Reflection in CPD

Self-reflection is an integral component of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and offers a range of valuable benefits:

• Self-reflection encourages you to examine your experiences, actions, and outcomes. This deep examination helps you identify what went well and what could have been improved, leading to more insightful and impactful learning.

• Through reflection, you gain a clearer understanding of your strengths and areas that need improvement. This self-awareness enables you to leverage your strengths and actively work on your weaknesses.

• Reflecting on your CPD activities helps you clarify your professional goals. You can assess whether your current activities align with your objectives and adjust your plan accordingly.

• Self-reflection promotes adaptive learning. It allows you to adjust your strategies and approaches based on your experiences, leading to continuous growth and development.

• By analysing challenges and successes, you develop problem-solving skills. You can apply lessons learned to similar situations, leading to better decision-making.

• Regular self-reflection can lead to improved job performance. As you identify areas for improvement, you can proactively work on enhancing your skills and competencies.

• Recognising your achievements and the progress you've made over time boosts your confidence and motivation to continue your professional development journey.

• Reflecting on your professional growth and accomplishments provides a sense of personal satisfaction and fulfillment, reinforcing your commitment to CPD.

• Self-reflection helps you plan future CPD activities more effectively. You can align your learning opportunities with your identified needs and goals.

• Engaging in self-reflection cultivates your critical thinking skills. You learn to assess situations, make connections, and analyse outcomes more effectively.

• Self-reflection nurtures a mindset of continuous learning. It encourages you to seek out new challenges and opportunities for growth.

Incorporating self-reflection into your CPD practice can significantly enhance your professional development by providing valuable insights, guiding your growth, and ultimately contributing to your success in your field.