Continuing Professional Development (CPD) & Training

About the CPD scheme

Formal recording and monitoring of CPD acknowledges the responsibility of Chartered Geologists, and those intending to become chartered, to maintain and develop standards of technical and professional competence inherent in the designation of CGeol. The Society's scheme is optional but open to all Fellows – those preparing to make a Chartership application in future are especially encouraged to get into the habit of recording CPD now. Chartered Scientists and European Geologists will also be able to use the CPD records they build up under the new scheme to maintain those titles.

Under the new scheme, CPD can be regarded as having two main phases. The transition between phase 1 and phase 2 is marked by a Fellow becoming chartered.

Phase 1:

Voluntary development of a Fellow of the Society, through professional practice, education, training and participation within the geological community, to maintain and improve their competency as a professional geologist and facilitate candidacy for Chartered Geologist status.

Phase 2:

Systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills through participation in CPD following award of Chartered Geologist status, and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties throughout a practitioner's working life.

Follow the link to see the requirements of the new scheme, and the glossary (an explanation of the CPD categories and other terms).

Follow the link for information about using the online reporting facility.

To start recording your CPD online, please log in as a Fellow.

Auditing and monitoring CPD

By recording your CPD online, you are both maintaining your own record, and reporting your CPD activity to the Geological Society. Your CPD records are available to the staff responsible for maintenance of the scheme, but not to other Fellows. There is no need to submit supporting paper records (e.g. attendance certificates), but these should be retained in case they are required for auditing purposes.

You can continue to record CPD activity in a three-year reporting period even when you have met all the requirements for that period. Once you close the reporting period (whether or not you have met all the requirements), you will no longer be able to directly add to the record (it is possible to reopen the most recent closed CPD report as long as there are no open CPD reports). A new three-year reporting period can then be opened for subsequent years.

Consideration of exceptions

The CPD programme is designed to accommodate changing working patterns throughout your professional life, and to take these into account. Such changes may make it difficult or impossible for you to meet the usual points requirements of the scheme.

You may wish not to record of CPD during periods of extended leave from normal work. The three-year reporting cycle may be suspended in such cases. (Extended leave might include parental leave, other forms of career break, or sickness or accident recovery.)

If you are retired, or not in work for another reason, alternative requirements apply. Maintenance of the titles CGeol and EurGeol in retirement is taken to imply that you may still be available for consulting work etc, so there is still a case for maintenance of CPD (mandatory for EurGeol).

If any of these circumstances apply to you, or if you wish your case to be considered an exception for any other reason, you should contact the Fellowship department. Exceptions will be assessed and permitted or otherwise by the Professional Secretary.