Pub. 1 2018-2019 Issue 4

10 T he concept of continuing professional development (CPD) is not new. Professionals have long recognized the impor- tance of gaining knowledge, improving skills, and devel- oping marketable qualities. That is why medical, legal, and edu- cational fields have put CPD requirements in place for contin- ued licensing. What is new today is the broad relevance of CPD when it comes to everyone’s success, regardless of their spe- cific expertise. CPD has always been part of good professional practice. UAPA’s lunch-and-learn events are just one example of this. However, professionalism relies increasingly on an ability to respond quickly to changing market conditions, to client requirements, and to the influences of government policies. Even though we are all being encouraged to innovate, doing so often demands mas- tering new skills. As a result, having access to CPD throughout your professional career is increasingly central to your profes- sional and organizational success. Many professions, even those without the tradition of licensing requirements, are choosing to embrace the concept of CPD because their leaders understand that learning under the guidance of one or more experts will almost certainly save them time, money, and effort. CPD has an additional benefit. The requirements for working in the asphalt industry often include advanced skills and knowledge that may not have been formally taught earlier. Undertaking CPD activities, when combinedwith experiential learning, is an essen- tial way to help ensure that you have the necessary all-around skills and knowledge you need as you continue to progress. The following sections describe the top reasons for CPD in more detail. Professional Competence Some experts estimate that the knowledge gained in some degree courses has an average useful lifespan of about four years. While this will vary according to the discipline, it does nevertheless highlight the increasing need to maintain an active interest in changing legislation, technology, and operational procedures. You will get left behind if you stand still. CPD helps you to stay interested and interesting. Although expe- rience is a great teacher, it does not give you exposure to any- thing you haven’t done before. Lunch-and-learn events open you up to new knowledge, new possibilities, and new skill areas. They ensure that you will be more aware of the changing trends and directions in your profession as you work to stay relevant. Increasing Knowledge Decreases Risk The professions are at much higher risk from claims of negli- gence than they were in the past. In response, insurance com- panies have raised the premiums for professional indemnity (PI) insurance in recent years. Although CPD may not totally elimi- nate PI claims, it does make clear the potential cost of ignorance. The cost of CPD will always be less expensive than getting taken to court. Some evidence is also emerging that insurance compa- nies may be willing to slightly reduce PI premiums when profes- sional staff have access to a structured CPD program. Raising the Bar The fact that so many organizations emphasize quality assur- ance, continuous improvement, andworkplace ethicsmeans that CPD has increased relevance in these areas as well. Quality assur- ance and continuous improvement both require education and training. Additionally, ethics are often taught in continuing pro- fessional development classes that teach participants how to rec- ognize and do the right thing. Safeguarding Standards of Competency One of the primary roles of professional bodies is to safeguard standards of competence. In a society that is driven by con- sumer demand, industry standards have had to rise dramati- cally in recent years. CPD has a key role to play in the commu- nication of agreed standards and in ensuring that members comply with specified procedures. CPD ensures that your capabilities keep pace with the current standards of others in the same field. CPD also helps you continue to make a mean- ingful contribution to your team and helps you gain insight into the work being done by others in your field. “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT