Important changes to the way REPs’ members earn the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points necessary for them to re-register on an annual basis have been approved.

Following consultations with its members, professional bodies, training organisations, employers and its parent company SkillsActive, the changes which come into effect this month include:

• A reduction in the number of CPD credit points and consideration of meeting requirements will be taken across any two-year period of registration

• No difference between L2 or L3 members in the number of points to be achieved • An online theory paper exam which will count towards 50 per cent of CPD requirements. The exam will not be compulsory, and will be available through the Register and other approved training providers

• A link whereby endorsed training will be aligned to levels where possible, and with the outcome of the training more clearly explained by training providers • Employer in-house training programmes will begin to be more fully counted for CPD

• Attendance certificates will be issued to all delegates/members and with training providers submitting lists of attendees which the Register will use to automatically update individual member records • It will now be the responsibility of each member to keep a log-book record of achievement (CPD practice) and this can either be done online within each members’ individual personal record or in hard copy format that will be supplied by the Register

• Formal and informal learning solutions will be possible for CPD as well as the opportunity for more reflective practice by using an on-line template CV which can be used to record employment details and experiences, qualifications, skills, career development expectations, as a written statement

The Register will appoint a compliance officer who will be able to help and advise members on options available and what will need to be done if there is a problem with meeting CPD requirements.

Further details on the changes to CPD, which will come into full effect by December, will be published via the REPs website and in Journal Number 5, and through an information leaflet which will be sent to every member before re-registration is due.