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Sometimes you just need a CPD log template. Maybe your regulator has asked for evidence, your appraisal is next month, or you are starting a new role and want to begin properly this time. Here is a free template in two formats, plus an honest look at where spreadsheets fall down.
What a good CPD log template includes
Whichever format you use, your log needs these columns as a minimum:
- Date - when the activity happened
- Activity - what you did and who provided it
- Type - course, webinar, supervision, reading, observation, mentoring, and so on
- Hours - how long it took (many regulators and appraisals want a total)
- Participatory? - yes or no, if your regulator distinguishes (the NMC does - 20 of your 35 hours must be participatory)
- Relevance - the standard, code section or objective it links to
- What I learned / impact - one or two sentences on how it changed your practice
That last column is the one people skip, and it is the one that matters most. Anyone can list courses. The impact note is what turns a log into evidence.
Excel or PDF?
- Excel template - best if you plan to update it yourself. You can add rows freely and even add a SUM formula to tally your hours automatically.
- PDF template - best for printing and filling in by hand, or for submitting as part of a portfolio where a fixed format is expected.
The honest limits of a spreadsheet
A template gets you started, but be aware of where it leads:
- You manage the copies - cloud storage can help, but spreadsheets still need clear versions and backups when you change laptops or jobs
- Formulas need care - our Excel template includes totals, but check them if you change the layout or add new columns
- Evidence is separate - organise your certificates and notes so you can find them alongside the relevant entry
- Easy to abandon - most template logs are updated twice: the day they are downloaded and the week before appraisal
If the spreadsheet habit sticks for you, genuinely, use it - a simple log kept consistently beats a clever tool you never open.
There's a better way
If you have tried templates before and found them abandoned by spring, the problem usually is not discipline - it is friction. Our free CPD tracker removes it: log an activity in seconds from any device, watch your hours tally automatically, and export a clean PDF whenever you need evidence. It is free for life for individuals, and it belongs to you - not your employer, and not a file on a laptop you no longer have.
Compare both free options below, then start your Passport or download the Excel/PDF files. No account is needed for the downloads.
Two free ways to keep your CPD
Free Passport or an Excel/PDF template?
Choose the record you will actually keep up to date. Passport handles the totals and keeps your learning together. The files below suit anyone who prefers a spreadsheet or a printed log.
| Your CPD record | Passport - free online log | Excel / PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free for individuals | Free to download |
| Hours | Automatic totals and progress rings | Excel totals; add hours yourself on paper |
| Reflections | Kept alongside each learning activity | Write them in your file or printed log |
| Evidence | Attach certificates and notes to entries | Keep supporting files separately |
| Access | Your personal account on phone or computer | Save and back up your file, or keep the paper copy |
| Sharing | Export PDF or CSV, or share a read-only link | Send your file or scan the printed log |
No card. No trial. PassportPro is optional.
Whichever you choose, check your professional body's requirements. Neither a template nor Passport guarantees that an audit submission will be accepted.
Prefer a file? Download your free template
The Excel and PDF downloads are below. No account or email address needed.
Free download
CPD log template
One row per activity, with an example entry filled in, a participatory column and totals that add themselves up in the spreadsheet version.
For anyone who needs a written CPD record for an appraisal, employer or regulator.
Or skip the paperwork - start your free Passport and it adds up your hours and shares a read-only record for you.
Read this next
- Spreadsheet vs CPD app: an honest comparisonA spreadsheet is genuinely fine for a lot of people. Here is when it works, when it stops working, and what an app actually adds.
- CPD log software compared: what to look forEmployer platforms, professional body portals, generic apps and dedicated CPD trackers all do different jobs. Here is how to judge which one fits.
- How to build a CPD logging habit that survives FebruaryEveryone logs CPD in January. Here is how to make it stick past February, using triggers, tiny entries and a two-minute monthly review.
Or skip the reading and start your free Passport - free for life for individuals.
Save your learning to Passport
Sign in to save what you've read - we'll create a free CPD log for you.