Are you familiar with CPD? What are the types, objectives, and benefits of CPD to building surveying? Let’s find out below.
Surveying is a broad career with different variations included in the profession, making it difficult to define. Building surveyors specialise in assessing the physical state of any land or property, advising on construction projects, valuing domestic or commercial buildings, and property development’s impact on the environment.
Technological and skill requirements changes in the profession make CPD a long-lasting career process. Hence, understanding what it is and how it benefits surveyors is essential to take the necessary step forward.
What is CPD for Building and Chartered Surveyors?
Building and chartered surveyors use CPD, also known as Continuous Professional Development, as a development activity that enhances a surveyor’s skillset. In other words, CPD helps surveyors stay on par with current trends. It helps to maintain professional standards in the surveyor’s work.
Continuous Professional Development ensures sustainability and skill among its registered members. Keeping them up-to-date through skill enhancement past their initial training and career is another added advantage of using CPD.
But what are the objectives of CPD? Let’s dive deep and discuss them below.
Objectives of CPD for Surveyors
CPD helps improve the skills of building and facilities surveyors. Although other objectives make CPD effective in the profession:
- It helps to meet the Act requirements, which state that each registered member must undergo at least 20 hours of CPD each year.
- Encouraging professionals to get and withhold competence to serve their clients. This, in turn, improves the customer-professional relationship and enhances their career.
- It takes into consideration that certain individual professionals have specific needs, i.e. being good at several management skills, while others need more training.
- It aims to develop surveying as a group of educated, skilled professionals.
- Aids is one of the means of registration renewal for its members.
According to the objectives stated above, CPD improves the surveying profession and boosts productivity.
Types of CPD
Different professionals need various ways of educating themselves and developing their surveying skills. Each type has its own approach to education. They are further discussed below.
Formal Education
Formal education and training include face-to-face education, short courses, on-the-job training, and distance learning. Face-to-face training and distance learning both take into account the number of hours attended to meet the CPD requirements. Training and education account for 50% of the member’s annual CPD activities.
Informal Education
It also includes being familiar with computer programmes and equipment as well. Due to the workplace environment, informal education is a learning-on-the-job kind of training. It happens when someone starts a new project, and it is important to improve the skills and knowledge needed for the job.
Conferences and Meetings
Conferences, workshops, and technical meetings at the institution’s branches or at its headquarters are all great ways to learn more and improve your skills. All the events must meet the CPD requirements. Other organisations may run this training as long as it relates to further career development.
Presentations and Papers
The preparation and presentation of materials used for seminars, courses, etc., may contribute towards advancing engineering-related competencies. Such papers teach and improve land surveyors, and in the long run, they help them build strong relationships with their clients.
An individual is free to select whichever type best adheres to their profession.
Benefits of CPD for Building Surveyors
With Continuous Professional Development, the benefits that come along with it are helpful in the long run. Below are the various benefits of using CPD for building surveyors.
- Keeping academic and practical qualifications up-to-date allows individuals to improve their skills throughout their careers. Such updates are imperative when looking for a new form of employment.
- Creates a competitive advantage within the job market by enabling individuals to showcase further their learning and development skills. Competitiveness aids in the production of high-quality work.
- Helps in supporting academic qualifications with current ongoing vocational and skill-based learning. Further development of such skills improves a person’s credibility.
- Knowing boosts an individual’s confidence in their work since they are knowledgeable in the work they do. The more confidence a surveyor has, the better work they can deliver.
- Providing a structured and coherent framework for learning to help individuals focus more on improving their workplace skillsets and knowledge. The well-organised manner allows for a more fluid and efficient workflow, especially in project management.
The benefits are helpful and maintain a person’s professional career. Although, understanding the advantages and disadvantages is crucial before making any forward step.
See related: Dilapidation Survey in Dubai
CPD Requirements for Building Surveyors?
As building surveyors, becoming members of the institutions that offer CPD is essential in furthering your career skill development. An individual must be a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Recommending passing their demanding qualifications and undertaking thorough CPD to become a member.
Below are the requirements for building surveyors:
- All the included members must undertake approximately 20 hours per calendar year of the 20 hours provided, 10 must be formal CPD, while the rest should be informal CPD.
- Members must record their CPD activities online by the 31st of January.
- Requiring maintenance of relevant and current understanding of the professionals and ethical standards for three years.
Conclusion
Continuous Professional Development aids building surveyors in adding knowledge, expanding experience, enhancing skills, and effective learning. Each type, formal or informal, has its specific role and contribution to CPD training. The benefits and requirements help improve an individual’s skillset and maintain a systemic atmosphere.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you do CPD without informal learning?
CPD requires formal and informal learning to further expand an individual’s building survey expertise.
What are the examples of CPD?
Examples of CPD include peer coaching, peer review and observation, work shadowing, and team teaching.
What are the critical features of CPD?
The key CPD features included being self-directed, focused on learning from experience, and reflective learning and review.
