If you are at all career-minded and want to get on in the Security Industry, you have probably already heard of CPD, but what is it, and why should you participate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CPD means Continuing Professional Development. Quite simply, it involves participating in, and recording, your security-related extracurricular activities. Anything that will expand your knowledge, expose you to new ideas and practices, or promote the sector will be a type of CPD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This can take many forms but will include things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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As you can see, the very best part of CPD is that it can be achieved at no cost and using a time frame that suits you. as has been noted, most events are free to attend. Most security magazines are free to read online. There is a lot of free online training, and most webinars cost nothing. It also costs nothing but time and thought to write an article on a subject that motivates you and submit it to a trade magazine. You get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of these activities help expand your industry knowledge and keep you updated on trends, legislation, and best practices. Simply put, this is why CPD is considered so important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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There are several organisations that allow you to formalise your activities. Moreover, they tend to allocate points to different forms of learning, based on the level of professional value they represent. This provides a framework allowing you to record and evaluate these activities, with the goal of reaching a preset points target every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, reaching this point target in any 12-month period demonstrates your commitment to personal and professional development, and several organisations will award you with a certificate of annual CPD completion, upon receipt of a spreadsheet detailing your efforts. Occasionally, you may be asked to provide evidence of your CPD activities, so keep hold of those event tickets, articles, photos of magazines you have read, and the like, to save you hours of wading through old emails for event bookings or confirmations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n