Continuing Professional Development Policy
What counts as continuing professional development, the annual requirement by grade, and how it is recorded and audited.
- Reference
- IIOET-POL-0008
- Version
- 1.0
- Issued
- 8 October 2026
- Approved by
- Board of IIOET Limited
- Classification
- Public
1. Purpose
The fields IIoET serves change faster than almost any other area of professional practice. A grade awarded on evidence from some years ago says little about what a practitioner can do today unless they have kept their knowledge and skills current. This policy sets out what IIoET expects of its members in continuing professional development (CPD), what counts, how it is recorded and how IIoET checks it. It is read with the Code of Conduct (IIOET-COD-0005), whose first principle requires members to keep their competence current, and with the Membership Grades and Admission Framework (IIOET-FWK-0006).
2. Who the requirement applies to
2.1 CPD is required of members at the assessed grades: Associate Member (AMIIoET), Member (MIIoET), Fellow (FIIoET) and Senior Fellow (SFIIoET).
2.2 CPD is encouraged, but not required, for Student Affiliates and Affiliates. They may record CPD in the same way as other members, and a record of CPD is useful evidence when they apply for an assessed grade.
2.3 Honorary Fellows are encouraged to take part in CPD but are not required to record it.
3. The annual requirement
3.1 Each member at an assessed grade completes and records CPD in each membership year to the requirement for their grade.
| Grade | Annual CPD requirement |
|---|---|
| Associate Member | 20 hours |
| Member | 30 hours |
| Fellow | 30 hours |
| Senior Fellow | 30 hours |
3.2 At least half of each year’s CPD must be structured activity, meaning learning with defined outcomes, such as a course, a qualification, an assessed module, or an IIoET webinar or event. The balance may come from any of the categories in section 4.
3.3 CPD should be relevant to the member’s practice and to their development within their domain. Members are encouraged to plan their CPD at the start of each year, reflect on what they have learned, and record how it has affected their practice.
3.4 For Fellows and Senior Fellows, the contribution commitments of Fellowship in the Membership Grades and Admission Framework are a separate requirement. Activity that meets those commitments, such as writing a paper or mentoring, may also be recorded as CPD.
4. What counts
CPD is any activity that maintains or develops a member’s competence in their domain. It falls into four categories.
Structured learning
Formal courses, training and qualifications; assessed modules; certifications, including IIoET certifications under the Certification Framework (IIOET-FWK-0009); and conferences and workshops with defined learning outcomes.
IIoET activity
Attending or watching IIoET webinars and events, and taking part in IIoET member programmes. IIoET activity counts as structured learning where it has defined learning outcomes.
Contribution
Mentoring, including through the Emerging Careers Pathway; acting as an assessor or panel member; standards work; writing for the IIoET Journal or Insights or other professional publications; peer reviewing papers; and speaking or teaching. Contribution activity counts where it develops the member’s own competence, not only where it benefits others.
Self-directed learning
Reading and discussing Journal papers and other professional literature; research; structured reflection on practice; and learning a new technique, tool or standard through independent study.
Routine work that does not develop competence does not count as CPD. Where a member is unsure whether an activity counts, they may ask IIoET for guidance.
5. Recording CPD
5.1 Members record their CPD in the member area of the membership platform at members.iioet.org, where they can attach evidence and see their progress against the requirement.
5.2 Each entry records the date, the activity, the category, the time spent, what the member learned, and how it relates to their practice. Members keep evidence of each activity, such as a certificate, an attendance record, a published output or a reflective note, for three years.
6. Annual declaration
At each renewal, every member at an assessed grade declares that they have met the CPD requirement for their grade for the year just ended, or that a pause under section 9 applies. The declaration is part of the renewal and is made alongside the member’s reaffirmation of the Code of Conduct. Making a false declaration is a breach of the Code.
7. Audit
7.1 Each year IIoET selects a sample of five per cent of members at the assessed grades to audit. The sample is partly random and may include members selected for a reason, such as a previous incomplete return.
7.2 A member selected for audit is asked to provide their CPD record and supporting evidence within 28 days. Records are reviewed by trained reviewers against this policy.
7.3 The outcome is either that the record meets the requirement, or that it does not, with feedback on what is missing.
8. Non-compliance
8.1 A member who has not met the requirement, or whose audit shows a shortfall, is given three months to make up the shortfall and record it. IIoET will offer guidance on suitable activity.
8.2 A member who does not make up the shortfall within that period, or who does not respond to an audit request, is not renewed until they do so. If the shortfall is not made up within a further three months, their membership lapses and the right to use designatory letters ends, as set out in the Designatory Letters Policy (IIOET-POL-0010).
8.3 Deliberately false records or declarations are referred under the Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure (IIOET-PRC-0007).
9. Pauses and reductions
A member may ask IIoET to pause or reduce their CPD requirement for a period of parental or adoption leave, illness, caring responsibilities, a career break, unemployment or similar circumstances. Requests are handled sympathetically and in confidence, and members are not asked for more information than is needed. A pause or reduction is agreed for a stated period, and the requirement resumes at its end. Members on a pause keep their grade.
10. CPD and upgrading
CPD is the route by which members grow from one SFIA level to the next. Members are encouraged to use their CPD record to plan development towards the level of the next grade, for example by taking on activity that broadens their responsibility, influence or the complexity of their work, and to use the record as evidence when they apply to upgrade under the Membership Grades and Admission Framework (IIOET-FWK-0006). Assessors may take account of a member’s CPD record as part of the evidence for an upgrade.