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When people say they have "not done any CPD this year", they usually mean they have not been on a course. But most professional bodies count informal, self-directed learning too - and most of your real learning happens there anyway.
What counts as informal learning
- Reading industry articles, books or guidance
- Listening to podcasts or watching webinars
- Shadowing a colleague or being shadowed
- Solving a new problem at work and researching how
- Being mentored, or mentoring someone else
- Writing guidance, delivering a briefing or teaching others
- Reflecting on something that went wrong and changing your approach
If it developed your knowledge or skills and you can say what changed as a result, it is learning.
The difference between doing it and it counting
Informal learning only counts when you can show it. Three things make the difference:
- A record - date, what you did, how long it took
- A reflection - what you learned and how it changed your practice
- Evidence where possible - a link, notes, the document you produced
"Read an article about safeguarding updates" is weak. "Read the updated statutory guidance; identified two changes affecting our referral process; updated our team checklist" is a CPD entry.
Why this matters for your total hours
Many professionals scramble for hours before a deadline while sitting on months of unlogged informal learning. Ten minutes of logging after each activity beats a weekend of reconstruction.
A quick habit that works
Keep one rule: if you learned something, log it before you close the tab or leave the room. A free CPD log on your phone makes this a 60-second job.
Log informal learning free on WorkplaceHero
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