Formal, structured, verifiable, participatory - different bodies use different words for broadly the same split. Here is what each means and why it matters.
Almost every CPD scheme divides learning into two buckets and requires a minimum in the harder one. The names change; the idea does not.
The vocabulary, translated
| Body | The "harder" category | The other category |
|---|---|---|
| RICS | Formal | Informal |
| ACCA | Verifiable | Non-verifiable |
| NMC | Participatory | Non-participatory |
| ICAEW | Verifiable | Non-verifiable |
| HCPC | No split, but a range of types is expected | - |
They are not identical. RICS cares about structure and defined outcomes. ACCA cares about evidence. The NMC cares about interaction with other people. A recorded e-learning module with an assessment is formal for RICS, verifiable for ACCA, and non-participatory for the NMC - all at once.
That is why "is this formal CPD?" has no universal answer. The question is always "formal under whose definition?"
What generally makes CPD formal or structured
- Defined learning objectives set by someone other than you
- A programme, syllabus or curriculum
- An assessment, or at least a measurable outcome
- Evidence of completion - certificate, attendance record, confirmation
What generally makes it informal
- Self-directed and self-paced
- No formal assessment
- Learning by doing, reading or observing
- Evidence is your own note rather than a third party's
Why the split exists
Regulators want two things. They want proof that you exposed yourself to external standards and expertise, rather than only reinforcing what you already do - that is the formal minimum. And they want to acknowledge that most real professional learning happens on the job - that is the informal allowance.
The practical implication for your log
Tag every entry with the category at the moment you log it. It costs a second and it means you always know your subtotal. Almost everyone who ends the year short is short on the formal side, and finds out too late to fix it comfortably.
If you are registered with more than one body, record enough detail to satisfy the strictest definition: objectives, provider, whether it was live and interactive, whether there was an assessment, and where the evidence sits. Then you can categorise the same entry differently for each scheme without re-doing the work.
A rough monthly target
Take your annual formal minimum, divide by twelve, and treat that as your monthly floor. Ten formal hours a year is under an hour a month. Twenty-one verifiable units is under two. Framed that way it is a small, steady habit rather than a looming compliance task.
Keep your CPD in one place
A record only helps if it exists before you need it. Our free CPD tracker logs an activity in seconds, tallies your hours automatically, keeps your reflections with the entry, and exports a clean PDF whenever you need evidence. Free for life for individuals - and the record belongs to you, not your employer.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between formal and informal CPD?
- Formal CPD is structured learning with defined objectives, usually delivered by someone else and evidenced by a certificate or record. Informal CPD is self-directed learning such as reading, on-the-job learning and observation.
- Is verifiable CPD the same as formal CPD?
- Not quite. Verifiable focuses on whether you can evidence the learning; formal focuses on whether it was structured with defined outcomes. Many activities are both, but not all.
- Why do professional bodies require a minimum of formal CPD?
- To make sure you are exposed to external standards and expertise rather than only reinforcing your existing practice.
Read this next
- What counts as CPD hours (and what doesn't)A plain list of what you can legitimately claim as CPD, what you cannot, and how to work out the hours when the activity does not come with a certificate.
- CPD points vs CPD hours vs credits: a plain-English explainerPoints, hours, units and credits are used almost interchangeably - but not quite. Here is what each means and how to convert between them.
- Does professional reading count as CPD?Yes - almost every professional body accepts reading as CPD. The catch is that it usually counts as informal or non-verifiable, and only if you record what you took from it.
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