Spreadsheets are where CPD records go to die. Here is what a purpose-built CPD log does that Excel never will.
Excel is brilliant at many things. Tracking your professional development is not one of them. If your CPD record is a spreadsheet, you already know the problems - you have just normalised them.
The spreadsheet problems nobody mentions
- It lives on one device - the learning happens on your phone, the spreadsheet is on your work laptop
- No reminders - Excel never nudges you before a deadline
- No evidence - you cannot attach a certificate to a cell, so evidence lives somewhere else entirely
- No structure for reflection - a cell says "safeguarding course, 2h" but nothing about what changed
- Version chaos - CPD_final.xlsx, CPD_final_v2.xlsx, CPD_2025_NEW.xlsx
- It cannot be shared safely - emailing your record around is how records get lost or leaked
What a proper CPD log does instead
- Logs an entry in under a minute, from your phone, the moment learning happens
- Stores the evidence with the entry - certificate, photo, link, notes
- Prompts the reflection while it is fresh
- Totals your hours automatically and shows progress against your target
- Produces an export your manager, appraiser or regulator can actually read
- Reminds you before deadlines, not after
The honest comparison
A spreadsheet costs you nothing to start and hours every year to maintain. A free CPD log costs you nothing and gives the hours back.
Moving over takes less time than you think
You do not need to re-enter history perfectly. Start from today, backfill the big items when you have ten spare minutes, and let next year look after itself.
Ditch the spreadsheet - free CPD log
Related reading
Add this to your CPD log
Sign in to save what you've read - we'll create a free CPD log for you.