About
Continuing professional development (CPD) is the maintenance, enhancement and continuous improvement of knowledge, skills and abilities. There are many benefits to undertaking CPD:
- Keeps you up to date with current business requirements
- Shapes thinking around career development
- Demonstrates versatility and growth by constantly updating skill sets
- Can be a used at appraisals and in helping to secure a promotion.
- Shows current or potential employers that you are professionally competent and committed to your own development.
All chartered members at the Institute must undertake the mandatory completion of a minimum of 20 CPD hours, excluding exemptions.
Members in public practice are required to carry out and record 35 hours of CPD.
As we head towards the end of the membership year and the start of a new one, this is the time when members will be thinking about updating their CPD log. We understand that for some members, completing the requisite 20 hours of CPD (or 35 for members in Professional Practice) may be difficult due to the current COVID-19 situation. We are therefore applying a degree of flexibility by asking members to record what CPD activity they have undertaken, even if they have not been able to meet the mandated number of hours. Remember, the Institute is now offering a number of online, virtual CPD courses, we also accept informal CPD towards the annual requirement. You can update your CPD log here
If you have any questions about your CPD please contact the membership team on enquiries@cgi.org.uk. You can also call the team on +44 20 7580 4741. Though we are now working from home, we are still here for you and ready to help between 9.30am and 5:00pm UK time.
Competency Framework
The Competency Framework for Governance Professionals supports the development of company secretaries and governance professionals by identifying the behaviours required for high performance in a company secretarial or governance role.
These behaviours are grouped into three areas in the framework: Understanding, Practice and Values. In each area a collection of the key attributes or core competencies that sit at the heart of good governance are identified.
The framework describes how these core competencies are exemplified through professional behaviours. Together, they define what an effective company secretary or governance professional knows, does and believes. This provides a clear picture of the role for governance professionals and those who work with them.
The Competency Framework Model
The Competency Framework for Governance Professionals comprises 12 core competencies divided into three areas. These three areas are:
Understanding
What I know. Knowledge of the essential practical and theoretical information required for good governance and how to apply it.
Practice
What I do. The skills and expertise that company secretaries and governance professionals bring to their roles.
Values
What I believe in. The values that inform and sustain an effective governance professional.
Guidance
The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland provides in-house training opportunities and accept approved external training by providers who meet our quality standards.
As we head towards the end of the membership year and the start of a new one, this is the time when members will be thinking about updating their CPD log. We understand that for some members, completing the requisite 20 hours of CPD (or 35 for members in Professional Practice) may be difficult due to the current COVID-19 situation. We are therefore applying a degree of flexibility by asking members to record what CPD activity they have undertaken, even if they have not been able to meet the mandated number of hours. Remember, the Institute is now offering a number of online, virtual CPD courses, we also accept informal CPD towards the annual requirement. You can update your CPD log here
If you have any questions about your CPD please contact the membership team on enquiries@cgi.org.uk. You can also call the team on +44 20 7580 4741. Though we are now working from home, we are still here for you and ready to help between 9.30am and 5:00pm UK time.
Required CPD hours
Use this table to determine how much CPD you're required to undertake.
| Membership type | Total CPD hours | Formal CPD | Either formal or informal CPD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chartered member | 20 hours | Minimum 5 hours | Maximum 15 hours |
| Member in public practice | 35 hours | Minimum 10 hours | Maximum 25 hours |
For members in public practice, the CPD year runs from the date on your practicing certificate.
You MUST use the CPD log to record CPD hours and need to submit documentary evidence of CPD hours for monitoring, along with your practicing certificate applications.
Formal and informal CPD
Formal CPD entails participation in organised activities that have appropriate content for chartered secretaries and where attendance can be evidenced. For example, attendance at a relevant half day course or seminar might constitute 4-5 hours formal CPD. Informal CPD involves activities the individual undertakes themselves, including experiential and workplace learning, reading and research. For example, reading Governance and Compliance magazine for half an hour each month would equate to 6 hours of informal CPD over the year. Find out more about what constitutes formal and informal CPD.
Recording your CPD activity
We require CPD activity to be logged and evidence provided. For formal CPD, it might be anything including attendance lists, confirmation emails, receipts and copies of teaching materials or agendas. It is often easier to evidence formal than informal CPD activity, but you can complete a self-evaluation sheet to help you evidence informal CPD. Find out how to evidence your CPD hours.
The Institute audits CPD with a selection of members are chosen at random for a check on CPD activity every year.
CPD exceptions
All chartered members are eligible for CPD with the following exceptions:
| Circumstance | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Fully retired and 60 years old or over |
If you've been granted the retired subscription fee or you're a life member, you are automatically exempt and need take no further action. |
| Fully retired and under 60 years old | You can apply for full exemption from CPD. |
| Partially retired and working part time | You can apply for exemption from CPD. |
| On maternity/paternity leave |
Providing you are on leave for at least eight months of the CPD year, you can apply for full exemption. |
| Not currently in paid employment/looking after children full time/full time carer | You can apply for full exemption. |
| Unemployed |
If you’ve been unemployed for eight months or more of the CPD year you may apply for full exemption. |
| Just elected to membership |
If you're elected to membership part way through the subscription/CPD year, you won’t need to undertake mandatory CPD until the next full year of membership. |
If any of the above circumstances apply, to discuss possible exemptions please contact us
Students and graduates at the Institute don’t have to fulfil the CPD requirement, but it’s good practice to get into the habit, so we provide the logging function for students and graduates too.
FAQs
Continued Professional Development
What is CPD?
Who needs to undertake CPD?
How many hours of CPD must I undertake?
What constitutes formal and informal CPD?
What work-based meetings can be accepted as formal CPD?
Are students and graduate members required to undertake CPD?
How do I record my CPD?
Do I need to record my CPD?
How does The Institute monitor CPD?
How do I provide evidence of my CPD?
What happens if I don’t undertake or record my CPD?
How do I declare my completed CPD for the current subscription year?
How long do I have to complete my CPD for the current membership year and when must the declaration of my completed CPD be made by?
Are any exemptions available from undertaking CPD?
How do I apply for exemption from CPD?
Do training and events offered by The Institute count towards my CPD?
Does CPD count if it is gained using other training providers, or by attending non-Institute events?
What happens if I become a registered member in public practice part way through the current membership year?
What happens if I am elected to chartered membership part way through the subscription year?
Where can I get advice on planning my CPD?
Log/declare
The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland offers an online log in the MyCG area, providing a secure place to record all CPD activity.
As we head towards the end of the membership year and the start of a new one, this is the time when members will be thinking about updating their CPD log. We understand that for some members, completing the requisite 20 hours of CPD (or 35 for members in Professional Practice) may be difficult due to the current COVID-19 situation. We are therefore applying a degree of flexibility by asking members to record what CPD activity they have undertaken, even if they have not been able to meet the mandated number of hours. Remember, the Institute is now offering a number of online, virtual CPD courses, we also accept informal CPD towards the annual requirement. You can update your CPD log here
If you have any questions about your CPD please contact the membership team on enquiries@cgi.org.uk. You can also call the team on +44 20 7580 4741. Though we are now working from home, we are still here for you and ready to help between 9.30am and 5:00pm UK time.
Whilst it’s not compulsory to use our log (you may already have one, or do a CPD log for another professional organisation) you might find it a handy tool to keep a record of your CPD activities as-you-go throughout the year.
You'll need to log in to MyCG to access the CPD log. Not registered yet? Register for MyCG.
If you have any questions or issues regarding your CPD declaration, please call our friendly Members & Students team on +44 20 7580 4741 or contact us
