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What is RICS CPD?

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Ruth Bopearachchi
What is RICS CPD?

Each year, anybody who is a member of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), will have to undertake 20 hours of CPD each calendar year. RICS CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development and refers to the professional practices which can be used as additional learning tools within the industry. RICS requires that 10 of the 20 hours must be formal RICS CPD hours. This form of professional learning is implemented to help keep industry knowledge refreshed and health and safety regulations fulfilled throughout workplaces. 

How Many CPD Hours do I Need? 

RICS CPD requires you to complete 20 hours in total before December 31st each calendar year. This is a figure provided by RICS in order to develop and refresh your existing skills to provide the best service to your role and to your employer. Any hours spent with a clear learning outcome can count towards your CPD hours. As a RICS member, you can revise the RICS Global Professional and Ethical Standards; this will count a one hour formally contributing towards your CPD. All hours must contribute towards a learning outcome with relevance to your professional role.  

Why is CPD Needed? 

Continuing Professional Development is important because it allows individuals to explore new educational pathways or strengthen existing pathways with new and innovative knowledge. With an industry as dynamic and evolving as construction, it’s important to keep on top of new practices and methods. New technology is constantly changing the world, and it’s important that if these technologies are implemented into your workplace, you know how to operate them safely and efficiently.  

Formal Versus Informal 

Throughout your CPD journey, you will hear the terms formal and informal CPD quite frequently. Knowing the difference will make sure you do the correct amount of each. Informal hours are usually named so because they are prepared on your own accord. This includes reading relevant academic material in your own time, such as academic journals. You can also use training you receive while working towards your informal CPD hours.  

Formal CPD hours are where your core learning objectives will come from. These hours will be made up by professional academic courses, creating an academic piece of writing or attending industry-led seminars or workshops. You can find online CPD courses on the internet which will help refine your skills and teach you new information. You could hold a professional conference in order to showcase your new or existing knowledge to others within the industry.  

What Can I Do For CPD? 

The methods of CPD are constantly adapting. There are so many different activities to do and routes you can take in order to complete your CPD. You can use your CPD to further your knowledge on health and safety requirements within the workplace through an online course such as Health & Safety and CDM Regulation. Another option is asking a senior colleague at your workplace to mentor you and provide knowledge and training for that role. This will provide both personal and career development opportunities. You’ll be able to log any mentoring or training as informal CPD hours. As mentioned earlier, you can revise the RICS Global Professional and Ethical Standards. If you have already completed this, it must be refreshed every 3 years, so it is worth noting when you need a top-up. 

Logging Your Hours 

When participating in your RICS CPD you must plan and document your learning hours. This not only proves to RICS your completion of CPD but is useful to look back on to evaluate your past learning outcomes and what you can plan to learn next. You’ll also have a record of all the formal and informal knowledge you learned throughout the year to refresh your memory should you need it. To log your RICS CPD hours, you will have to use the RICS CPD website, or the designated mobile app.  

Online Courses for RICS CPD 

RICS CPD hours can be made up with online courses, such as ones provided by the College of Contract Management. There is a variety of differing CPD courses which will contribute to your RICS membership. For example, Project Audit and Evaluation, Risk Management and Project Documentation are all offered which contribute towards your formal CPD hours.  

RICS Memberships and Careers 

Having a RICS membership, whether you are a student, Associate (AssocRICS) or Chartered Member (MRICS), is greatly beneficial. Getting the chance to participate in CPD hours is a great opportunity to develop your skills and further your career opportunities. You can use your CPD hours to specialise in a particular sector if you wish to enter that sector seeking a job. It’s a great opportunity to explore avenues you might not have delved into before. Any career you choose within construction is bound to be supplemented with extracurricular work such as CPD. Use your CPD hours wisely and pick topics which you find interesting and that will help you perform your role to the best of your ability. 

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Ruth Bopearachchi
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