CPD (Continuing Professional Development)

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the means by which ACS members maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge, expertise and competence, and develop the qualities required in their professional lives. Updating skills and knowledge is critical in keeping across industry changes, maintaining professional competence and ensuring qualifications do not become obsolete.

All ACS members are encouraged to advance their professional standing and complete CPD hours each year as part of their membership.

How to complete CPD

There are many ways to maintain, improve and broaden professional knowledge, expertise and competence - the professional development activities selected will vary with individual career planning, area of expertise, learning style, identified skills needs, and timing and availability. Learning should be relevant to your industry, current role or career plans. ACS recommends members engage in a range of CPD activity modes - such as formal and informal events, peer and professional interactions and contributing to the profession through research, courses or professional papers.

ACS members currently self-assess their accumulated CPD hours and can log their CPD activities in the ACS online member portal. CPD hours are allocated to recognised activities on a 1:1 ratio, meaning, 1 hour of learning activity = 1CPD hour.

CPD and career breaks

ACS understands that many members may need to take a career break and may not be reasonably able to undertake CPD during this time. To help with these times, ACS can assess member CPD over a rolling 3-year period e.g. 90 CPD hours for Certified Professionals over any 3-year period. If you need to take a career break and pause your CPD obligations, please reach out to CPD Support on cpd@acs.org.au, or raise this with your ACS account manager or ACS Member Services.

A member is regarded as having had a career break if they have a period of workforce leave of at least six months and up to three years, for any proper cause, that can include:

• a serious illness

• parenting leave

• extended travel

• caring for family members

• involuntary unemployment

• elite sporting or cultural pursuits

CPD Activities

CPD requirements

The minimum CPD requirement per year for certified ACS members are as follows:

• Certified Professional (CP) members – 30 CPD hours
• Certified Technologist (CT) members – 20 CPD hours

For non-certified ACS members, ACS recommends a minimum of 15 CPD hours per year.

CPD is tracked over a 12-month period. If a career break is needed, contact CPD Support on cpd@acs.org.au, or raise this with your ACS account manager or ACS Member Services..

ACS encourages members to engage, participate in and attend activities to increase your knowledge and skills . CPD must be relevant to your industry, current role and career intentions and some activities must pertain to professional ethics. 

Maintaining records

ACS conducts an annual program of randomised audits to review the CPD records of certified members and confirm compliance with requirements. CP and CT members are strongly encouraged (but not required) to use the ACS member portal to maintain their CPD records in this single repository – log in here. Attendance at ACS events or courses or completed online learning will be recorded for you.

ACS recommends you maintain detailed supporting documents or evidence of your CPD activities. Any false claims made in relation to CPD records and activities may be construed as misconduct under the ACS Code of Conduct and Complaint Procedure.