You may have seen the occasional tweet concerning CPD and that I’ve reached this years RIAI target. But what exactly is CPD?

CPD, or Continuing Professional Development is the lifelong learning or continuing education that is mandatory to ensure architects are up to date in their field.

The following text from the RIAI website describes it well:

“The systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skill and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties throughout the practitioner’s working life”.

One of the key benefits of employing an architect for your construction project is that CPD is mandatory and gives the following key benefits:

* To support architects and architectural technologists in the production of high quality architecture

* To protect the consumer

* To protect the public interest

* To increase client satisfaction

* To increase effectiveness (for the practice)

(Text again from RIAI website)

The RIAI CPD requirements are for 40 total hours, 20 hours unstructured and 20 hours structured (the structured needs to have specific qualifying status with certificated evidence upon completion). It takes commitment to maintain the CPD when knocking off the odd hour when compared to the ‘big-hit’ courses such as the Conservation Accreditation.

The CPD hours are all logged on the online RIAI Engage system and are the verified and checked by the RIAI.

If you’re interested in the RIAI CPD Policy then CLICK HERE

Well anyway, I’ve reached this years target and it’s lovely receiving the email from the RIAI saying:

“The CPD cycle 2011-2012 ended on 30 September 2012 and your RIAI CPDEngage account has achieved the minimum CPD requirements.”