Many practitioners focus on formal courses when thinking about CPD — but the range of activities that count is much broader. Understanding what qualifies will help you recognise the learning you are already doing and ensure it is properly recorded.
The principle: relevance and reflection
Across UK professional bodies, CPD is defined broadly as any learning activity that maintains or develops your professional knowledge, skills, and practice. The key tests are:
- Is it relevant to your current or future practice?
- Can you reflect on what you learned and how it has informed your work?
Both elements matter. A one-day conference is not CPD if you attended passively and cannot articulate what you took away. A relevant podcast or article — if genuinely engaged with and reflected upon — absolutely is.
Formal learning
Formal learning activities have a clear structure, a provider, and usually a certificate of completion. These are the easiest to evidence and the most universally recognised:
- Short courses and workshops — CPD-accredited or otherwise, delivered face-to-face or online
- Conferences and seminars — including keynotes, breakout sessions, and professional meetings
- Postgraduate study — modules, diplomas, masters degrees, and doctorates
- Accredited online courses — platforms such as FutureLearn, Coursera, or profession-specific providers
- In-house training — employer-led training days, induction programmes, skills updates
Self-directed learning
Self-directed learning is recognised by all major UK professional bodies, though it may count towards a limited proportion of your total hours with some organisations:
- Reading professional journals and books — record the title, date, time spent, and key learning points
- Listening to relevant podcasts — many high-quality clinical and professional podcasts now exist in therapy and healthcare
- Watching recorded webinars or lectures — including free content from universities, professional bodies, and research organisations
- Following professional discussions — online forums, LinkedIn groups, professional networks
Self-directed learning is valid but requires a stronger reflective note to evidence it well, since there is no external certificate to fall back on.
Reflective practice
Structured reflection on your own practice is explicitly recognised as CPD by bodies including BACP, HCPC, and NMC. This includes:
- Written reflective journals — regular entries on cases, ethical dilemmas, or professional challenges
- Structured reflection models — using frameworks such as Gibbs' cycle, Kolb, or Rolfe to document learning from experience
- Case analysis — reflecting on complex or challenging cases, what you did, and what you might do differently
Supervision
Clinical or professional supervision is a core CPD activity for most UK-regulated practitioners, particularly counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers, and HCPC registrants. Supervision hours are typically logged separately from other CPD, as many bodies have distinct supervision requirements in addition to general CPD hours.
Both individual supervision and group supervision count. You should record: date, duration, supervisor name and qualifications, and a brief note on what was discussed (without breaching client confidentiality).
Peer consultation and peer learning
Regular conversations with colleagues about clinical matters, case consultations, and peer review can all qualify as CPD where they involve genuine professional learning:
- Peer consultation groups (formal or informal)
- Case discussions with colleagues
- Mentoring — both as mentee and mentor
- Participating in practice audits or clinical governance meetings
Writing, teaching, and presenting
Developing and sharing knowledge qualifies as CPD in its own right:
- Writing — contributing to journals, newsletters, or professional blogs
- Teaching or training others — preparing and delivering CPD, lecturing, mentoring trainees
- Conference presentations — the preparation involved in presenting is itself significant learning
- Research and audit participation — contributing to research projects or clinical audit
How professional bodies differ
While the broad categories above are widely recognised, bodies differ on specific rules:
- BACP requires at least 30 hours per year for accredited members, with a proportion specifically from supervision. Informal self-directed learning is accepted but should be balanced with structured activities.
- HCPC has no minimum hours — it requires a mix of activity types that demonstrably benefits service users.
- NMC requires 35 hours of CPD per three-year revalidation cycle, of which at least 20 hours must be participatory (i.e., involving others).
- ICF requires ongoing Continuing Coach Education (CCE) hours for credential renewal, with specific requirements for mentor coaching and observed coaching.
Always check your body's current guidance, as requirements are updated periodically.