Hi,
I feel there is some confusion particularly with new therapists as to what consititutes CPD - how many points you need and as associations change their requirements ………

Continuous Professional Development is a requirement for all professionals, and when you undertake a learning activity, which might be attending a short course or even reading a book, you gain points. I have attached my CPD information for you as well as the very latest information from CThA and AOR.

We, as therapists all have a part to play in raising standards in our profession

The best practitioners are usually those who reflect on their practice and strive to continuously improve their knowledge, skills and the service they provide to their clients.

The definition of CPD is:

‘The systematic maintenance, improvement and trading of knowledge and skills and the

development of personal qualities necessary for the effective execution of professional practice’.

Students are not required to undertake CPD, although the AOR will allow students to carry forward their points to the next year should they undertake a workshop during the course of their basic training that gives valid CPD points eg an advanced reflexology workshop.

If you belong to more than one association, for example CThA and AOR and attend a (for example) Ear Candling course, this can be used for CPD for both associations.
 
CThA for example have recognised that some therapists aren’t practicing all the time and some only practice on family and friends and therefore if they dont gain any extra points, they can still belong to CThA, the only difference to them is that they will no longer have an entry on CThA – but you aren’t going to be chucked out!

CThA have guidelines and not rules regarding CPD and you could have anything from 0-45 points and they explain clearly on the attachment what activitities count for what – eg attending a workshop all day is 5 CPD points, private reading of therapy journals etc maximum 10 points per year (eg 1 point for each hour spent reading), research is also 1 point per hour – eg research a disease or disorder regarding one of your clients.  See attachment for full details.

AOR – CPD points changing in January 2010

The AoR scheme initially required members to accrue an average of 20 points per year over the 3 year development period.

From January 2010 members will be required to undertake 20 points of activity each year. Other organisations will have different CPD categories and different point values for their activities.

To meet the AoR’s CPD requirements, members will need to ensure that they refer to the guidelines for the AoR’s CPD scheme and not those of another organisation

Examples of how you can gain AOR CPD points: exchange treatments – 1 point per session – maximum 15 points per year (you will need evidence of this i.e. a letter from the other practitioner – the AOR CPD booklet explains this all), attending a workshop – 1 point per hour (certificate of attendance to prove it required.

You will need to record your activities in the log they provide – they don’t want you to send it in!  They will make checks with different members and ask them about their CPD and occasionally ask them to send in their ‘proofs’, but it is mainly done on trust

Jackie Hamilton