Continuing Professional Development (CPD) — also called Continuing Professional Education (CPE) in some jurisdictions and industries — is the ongoing structured learning professionals undertake to maintain, update, and expand their skills and knowledge throughout their career. In 2026, CPD is required for many regulated professions (medicine, law, accounting, teaching, engineering) and increasingly recognized as essential across all knowledge work.
TL;DR
- Definition: ongoing structured learning to maintain, update, expand skills and knowledge throughout a career.
- Required in: medicine, law, accounting (CPE), teaching, engineering, finance, real estate, and many regulated fields.
- Common units: CPD hours/credits/points — often 20-50 hours per year required for regulated professions.
- Formats: courses, conferences, webinars, workshops, self-directed study, mentoring, professional reading.
- Modern 2026 application: cohort-based CPD programs, AI-augmented learning, capability academies meeting CPD requirements.
Continuing Professional Development/Education (CPD/CPE) refers to learning and growing in your field of work. It means taking classes, attending workshops, or participating in other training to keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date. This can help you do your job better and can also help you advance in your career.
For example, if you are a doctor, you might take a class on a new medical treatment that has become available. Or, if you are a teacher, you might attend a workshop on a new teaching method.
Purpose of Continuing Professional Development/Education (CPD/CPE)
Here are a few critical purposes of Continuing Professional Development/Education (CPD/CPE) in bullet points:
- Keep skills and knowledge up-to-date: CPD/CPE helps professionals learn new information and relevant techniques to their field, improving their job performance and making them more valuable to their employers.
- Advancement in career: By learning new skills and staying current in their field, professionals can increase their chances of getting promoted or finding better job opportunities.
- Compliance and Safety: CPD/CPE can help professionals stay informed about laws, regulations, and industry standards relevant to their field. This is essential for compliance and safety.
- Job satisfaction and engagement: Learning new things and staying current in one's field can help professionals stay motivated and engaged in their work. This leads to job satisfaction and a more fulfilling career.
What steps do you Need to get started with Continuing Professional Development/Education (CPD/CPE)?
Here are a few steps you can take to get started with Continuing Professional Development/Education (CPD/CPE):
- Assess your needs: Identify the areas in your field where you need to improve or update your knowledge and skills. Consider your career goals and the requirements of your industry or professional body.
- Research opportunities: Look for CPD/CPE opportunities that align with your needs and goals. Research professional associations or organizations, online learning platforms, employer-provided training, conferences, trade shows, and local higher education institutions.
- Make a plan: Once you have identified the opportunities that align with your needs and goals, plan how you will complete them. Consider factors such as cost, time commitment, and location.
- Set a budget and schedule: Consider the cost of the CPD/CPE opportunities and set a budget. Also, schedule the CPD/CPE activities in your calendar.
- Start Learning: Sign up for the CPD/CPE opportunities that align with your needs and goals, and start learning. Be consistent, don't give up, and enjoy the process of learning new things.
- Track your progress: Keep track of the CPD/CPE activities you have completed and the skills and knowledge you have acquired. This will help you measure your progress and demonstrate your commitment to ongoing professional development.
How to find Continuing Professional Development/Education (CPD/CPE) opportunities?
There are many ways to find Continuing Professional Development/Education (CPD/CPE) opportunities; here are a few:
- Professional associations or organizations: Many professional associations or organizations offer CPD/CPE opportunities for their members, such as conferences, workshops, webinars, and online courses.
- Online Learning Platforms: Many online platforms offer CPD/CPE courses, such as Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning. These platforms provide a wide range of courses in different fields and levels.
- Employer-Provided Training: Some employers provide CPD/CPE opportunities for their employees, such as in-house training sessions or tuition reimbursement for courses.
- Conferences and Trade Show: Conferences and trade shows can be a great way to learn about the latest trends, developments, and best practices in your field, as well as to connect with other professionals.
- Local Institutions of Higher Education: Many local institutions of higher education, such as community colleges or universities, offer CPD/CPE opportunities for working professionals, including certificate and degree programs, as well as individual classes.
Conclusion
Continuing Professional Development/Education (CPD/CPE) is when you learn and grow in your field of work. This can include taking classes, attending workshops, or participating in other training to keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date.
Doing CPD/CPE can help you do your job better, advance your career, stay informed about laws and regulations, and stay engaged and motivated. However, To get started, assess your needs, and research opportunities, plan, set a budget and schedule, and track your progress.
Moreover, some ways to find CPD/CPE opportunities include professional associations or organizations, online learning platforms, employer-provided training, conferences, trade shows, and local higher education institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is CPD / CPE?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) — also called Continuing Professional Education (CPE) in some industries — is the ongoing structured learning professionals undertake to maintain, update, and expand their skills and knowledge throughout their career. It's required for many regulated professions.
What's the difference between CPD and CPE?
Largely terminological. CPD is the term commonly used in UK, Australia, healthcare, teaching, and many regulated professions. CPE (Continuing Professional Education) is more common in US accounting, financial services, and some other US-regulated fields. The underlying concept is the same — required ongoing learning.
How many CPD hours do professionals need each year?
Varies by profession and jurisdiction. Common ranges: doctors 30-50 hours/year, lawyers 12-15 hours/year (US state-specific), CPAs 40 hours/year (US state-specific), teachers vary widely, engineers 15-30 hours/year. Always check your specific regulatory body.
How do professionals earn CPD/CPE credits?
Common formats: accredited courses and certifications, conferences and webinars, workshops, self-directed reading with reflection, mentoring (giving or receiving), publishing professional articles, and increasingly cohort-based capability academies. Most regulatory bodies accept a mix of formal and self-directed CPD.
How is CPD changing in 2026?
Three shifts: (1) cohort-based CPD programs (Teachfloor, Reforge) replacing one-shot webinars for deeper learning. (2) AI-augmented CPD with personalized learning paths. (3) capability academies that integrate CPD requirements with strategic skill development. The era of 'one webinar to tick the box' is giving way to richer, sustained CPD experiences.