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Ask a professional where they learned the most in the last year and few will say "on a course". It is the supervision conversation, the article that changed a decision, the colleague who showed you a better way. The problem is that informal learning evaporates unless you catch it - and then your CPD record shows only a fraction of your real development.
Why informal learning gets missed
Three habits cause the gaps. First, we do not label it as learning at the time - it just feels like work. Second, there is no certificate to file, so there is no trigger to record it. Third, people assume only formal training "counts", which is wrong: every major UK regulator explicitly recognises informal and self-directed learning.
What counts as informal learning
- Supervision and line management discussions
- Peer conversations about cases, clients or practice
- Reading articles, guidance, books and research
- Podcasts, webinars you half-watched, recorded talks
- Shadowing, observing and being observed
- Learning from mistakes, incidents and complaints
- New responsibilities figured out as you went
- Feedback received and acted on
The two-minute recording habit
The trick is not to write essays. A credible informal learning entry needs four things:
- What happened - "Supervision with my manager about the referral process" or "Read the updated data protection guidance".
- When and how long - an honest estimate is fine.
- What you learned - one specific insight, in your own words.
- What you will do differently - even if the answer is "check this against our policy next week".
That is it. Sixty to ninety seconds of writing, done within a day or two of the event.
Making it a routine
Willpower alone will not sustain this. Attach the habit to something that already happens:
- After supervision, log one line before you leave the room.
- When you finish reading something useful, log it before closing the tab.
- On Friday, spend five minutes scanning the week for anything you learned.
A weekly five-minute sweep typically uncovers two or three entries you would otherwise have lost - which is over a hundred pieces of evidence a year.
Why it is worth it
A record rich in informal learning does three things a course list cannot. It shows your development is continuous rather than event-driven. It demonstrates reflection, which is what regulators and appraisers actually assess. And it captures the learning that is most specifically yours - the kind that makes you better at your particular job.
Frequently asked questions
Does informal learning count towards CPD requirements?
Yes. Social Work England, the NMC, HCPC and the accountancy bodies all recognise self-directed and informal learning, provided it is recorded and reflected on.
How do I evidence learning that has no certificate?
A dated log entry with the activity, what you learned and what changed is the evidence. Regulators assess the quality of your reflection, not the presence of a certificate.
How long should an informal CPD entry take to write?
About two minutes. Four short elements - what, when, what you learned, what changes - are enough for a credible entry.
What if I forget to log something at the time?
Do a short weekly review of your calendar and inbox to catch what you missed. Entries written within a week are still accurate; entries reconstructed after six months are not.
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