CPD – It’s easier than you think

The Institute of Residential Property Management

CPD – It’s easier than you think!

The residential property management industry continues to move forwards and it will do so for the time being without government regulation that many believe is much needed. Legislative changes over recent years means the need to keep the professionals within our industry up to date has never been so great. Allied to the more technical aspects of your own role, all of us need to keep our ‘soft’ skills fresh helping to consistently deal with our customers a professional manner and improve our contribution to the success of the organisations we work for.

The IRPM recognises this need for life long learning – more commonly known as Continued Professional Development (CPD) - and from 1 January 2011, compliance with the IRPM’s CPD requirements is compulsory underlining the IRPM’s professional standing and commitment to developing its members.

The IRPM Code of Professional Conduct requires every member to strive to maintain and improve his or her professional knowledge. The aims of CPD and benefits to you are to:

improve your performance
increase your understanding of your job and ensure greater job satisfaction
progress your career prospects
develop your CV
allow you to command better salary and benefits
give substance and credibility to your professional standing
improve how you interact with your customers.

Compulsory CPD means undertaking and recording at least 15 hours CPD per year (1 January to 31 December). 15 hours is not a great deal and the vast majority of you will surpass the minimum requirement with relative ease.

If you have any queries about your CPD that are not answered on the website, please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat on 020 7622 5092 or info@irpm.org.uk.

How do I log my CPD?

Through the Members Only section of the IRPM website, it’s easy to log your CPD online.

Once you have logged into the IRPM website, go to:

http://www.irpm.org.uk/members/page/cpd/

You will be able to add your activities as per the following headings:

Activity Title
Activity Date
Total Hours
What did you learn?
How will it benefit you in future?

Please be sure to save any changes you make.

...and what happens if I don’t?

What are the consequences if:

I don’t submit a minimum of 15 hours of CPD time – on time, or
some or all of my CPD is inappropriate, or
I don’t submit my CPD ‘evidence’ when requested to do so?

Answer:

Failure to file your CPD records on time will be met with a reprimand, reminding you that your membership is conditional upon the CPD requirements being met in full. Similarly, if your CPD is inappropriate, you will be given time to rectify this and re-submit your CPD records. You will be reminded what is suitable CPD and what is not suitable CPD - please refer to http://www.irpm.org.uk/public/page/relevant-CPD-activities if at all unsure.

If you fail to upload your valid CPD records (containing at least 15 hours of suitable CPD) after a written warning or similarly fail to submit evidence of CPD after requested to do so, your membership may be suspended for six months or until 15 hours of suitable CPD has been submitted (whichever is the greater).

A random sample of members’ CPD records will be scrutinised. Please co-operate with us to provide the ‘evidence’ requested.