What is Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Domestic Energy Assessors?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a method of improving your skills and knowledge base by constant development. This is achieved by the individual Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) setting themselves a target for certain areas of improvement and learning across a given time.
There is not a set route or programme with regard to CPD as different people will begin the process at different levels of experience and knowledge; however, the process follows certain guidelines that allow each to achieve what is planned.
Each domestic energy assessor must undertake a CPD programme keeping a record of his or her progress, thus achieving a progressive level of improvement and learning as they work. The basis of CPD is upon developmental results rather than ticking off boxes indicating what has been done. Rather than being a constantly reducing ‘to do’ list it is a ladder that charts ones progress. The aim of CPD is constant learning – the ability to do something after the planned progress that could not be done before.
There are many benefits to CPD not least the constant adding to your own knowledge, undertaking a CPD programme is an absolute must for any energy assessor professional in the field.
How long does CPD take for DEAs?
By its very nature CPD is ongoing – there is always something that can be done better, and always some area of your professional knowledge that can be improved. In many walks of life there are constant changes – new regulations or improved methods – that mean CPD has no defined finishing point. The beauty of CPD in this respect is that it enables the participant to keep on top of the changing face of their professional environment thus giving them, and their customers the assurance that they are operating to the best of their ability.
How do I know how well I am doing with my CPD?
CPD is not a test or an exam – it is a working route to improvement. Think of CPD as an investment, you put in the extra commitment by drawing up a CPD programme and not only following this but also achieving the goals YOU defined. The process will result in your improved personal professional performance.
Keeping a record of your CPD is vital as it allows you to look back on past achievements and milestones in your professional development and also enables you to evidence these. Reflective learning is the process of looking back on what you have learned. It is known to be an important part of CPD and aids the process greatly.
Whatever Accreditation Scheme you are a member of they will be involved in encouraging and tracking CPD within their members. Many people find it hard to keep detailed records of what they have done and when, this can be helpful when reviewing improvement across a set time. At present there is no set method of recording CPD, there are no industry standard specific forms to fill in or ‘tests’ to carry out and the individual assessor to date has had to organise their own systems.
HIP-Consultant.co.uk are pleased to announce that we have been asked to commission such a system; which aims to provide an easy way of detailing and recording CPD amongst those within the industry.
www.CPDregister.net will be a specific online tool for the management of CPD for those involved in the energy assessment industry. CPDregister is now close to being ready to go through the necessary testing stages with some leading industry organisations that plan to utilise the tool. We look forward to publishing further updates on this exciting development within the industry, our progression with the site and ultimately announcing the website going live.
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