How to Define and Report CPD
WHY IS REPORTING CPD NECESSARY?
- Continuing professional development (CPD) are activities members undertake to demonstrate they are current in their declared scope of practice. The reason members report CPD annually is to verify their competence as a practising professional and to document that they are scientifically up to date in a rapidly changing industry. Keeping current on CPD hours is a legal requirement under The Agrologists Act and it is for members’ benefit and protection.
- The Institute does not pre-determine or pre-approve CPD activities. Since there are many scopes of practise within the profession of agrology, it is up to each member to determine what to report in order to assure the Minister of Justice of their expertise in their declared scope of practise and situation. Continuing professional development (CPD) are activities members undertake to demonstrate they are current in their declared scope of practice. The reason members report CPD annually is to verify their competence as a practicing professional and to document that they are scientifically up-to-date in a rapidly changing industry. Keeping current on CPD hours is a legal requirement under The Agrologists Act for members benefit and protection.
DEFINING CPD
- CPD can include activities such as attending (or presenting at) conferences, workshops, courses, seminars, scientific meetings (field days), or webinars. It can include reading journals, scientific articles or researching and writing articles related to their practice area. Or other activities that document competency in a scope of practise or contribute to the profession.
- CPD generally does not include: staff meetings, reading weekly farm papers and magazines, or attending trade shows, fairs and exhibitions because these activities usually do not have the scientific rigor of the above-listed examples of CPD.
CPD REPORTING GUIDELINES
All practicing members of the Institute are required to report a minimum of 105 hours of professional development over a 3-year period (an average of 35 hours per year) to maintain their member “in good standing” status.
The (CPD) Tracker within the Private Portal section of the website allows members to record activities as they occur and submit on a yearly basis prior to payment of fees.
General Requirements
- Eligible CPD activities are grouped into six categories (see below for details). These categories enable agrologists of all sectors and disciplines to attain and report the required CPD hours.
- At least 50% of CPD should support members’ declared scope of practice. The other 50% can be industry support or SIA networking events. There are random audits each year.
- Activities can be reported using the CPD tracker online by logging in at the SIA Member Portal.
- The annual reporting period is from January 1 to December 31.
Other Reporting Details
- Articling Members – Are encouraged to document CPD hours as soon as they are accepted into the program.
- Leave of Absence/Reinstatements – Members who go on a leave of absence and or reinstating should report CPD as follows:
- <1 Year – No CPD report required (exemption extended to 18 months for those on parental leave)
- >1 Year – 21 Hours of CPD to reinstate
- >3 Years – 35 Hours of CPD to reinstate
- Retired Members – Retired members are not required to maintain their CPD record.
- If “0” CPD – Members are required to file with the Registrar a “non-practice declaration” stating that the member is not actively engaged in the practise of agrology.
EXAMPLES AND CATEGORIES OF HOW TO REPORT CPD
The following categories are examples that can help identify relevant CPD activities.
- Formal continuing education such as attending structured courses, formal training provided through universities, colleges, technical institutions, industry, employers including correspondence courses. For example:
- Those in the agronomy or related scopes of practise can report CCA training hours
- Those in project management can report Project Management Professional (PMP) hours
There is no maximum number of hours per year for formal continuing education.
- Informal continuing education such as: workshops, seminars, webinars, field days, tours, and clinics. This includes reading professional journals relevant to members' declared scope of practice. This can include generic or transferable skills training for professionals such as:
- Technical writing seminars
- HR seminars, i.e. “How to manage difficult people”
- Basic photography workshop
- “How to run a successful business meeting” workshop
Maximum 21 hours per year for attending workshops, seminars, webinars, field days, etc.
Maximum 7 hours per year for reading professional scientific articles and reports
- In-house technical, scientific, agribusiness and economic updates offered by employers that focus on keeping current on science industry trends and issues.
- Maximum 30 hours CPD per year in this category
- Academic contributions such as instructing courses, workshops, seminars, webinars, or similar events. Also producing articles, refereed papers, training materials, and presenting technical, scientific, economic, and business information. This applies to those in academic teaching and research, for example:
- Teaching or developing a University class = maximum 7 hours CPD per class
- Supervising graduate students = maximum of 7 hours CPD per student
- Preparing scientific articles/papers = maximum 7 hours CPD per paper
Members can report and claim CPD in categories #5 and #6 below as long as 50% of reported activities directly support the member’s scope of practise, which is in categories #1 to #4 above.
- Professional service such as a board of directors in a professional, scientific, or business organization at the local, provincial or national level with a scientific, technical, or business focus relating to agrology
- Maximum 10 hours CPD per year in this category
- SIA networking such as attending SIA branch activities, presentations and networking events or serving on branch executive committees or provincial council.
- Maximum 10 hours of CPD per year in this category.
The Friday Agrology Update email includes a selection of reports, seminars, webinars, conferences, etc. that may assist in identifying CPD opportunities appropriate to members’ scope of practice.
RECORDING CPD
Annually an online record of continuing professional development (CPD) must be recorded by all members using the CPD Tracker or submitting a hard copy to the Provincial Office demonstrating a minimum of 105 hours of CPD completed over a 3-year period.
As a regulatory body, the Institute is expected to be able to assure the public that members are maintaining competency and practicing ethically.
| CPD TRACKER |
Member in Good Standing
As a regulated profession, on February 1 of each year, the Institute submits a roster of registered members in “good standing” with the provincial government. To be a member in “good standing” annual registration and license to practice fees must be paid, as well as, CPD hours must be recorded online no later than December 31 of each year.
Other Resources
Ensure you are signed in to use the CPD Tracker.
QUESTIONS:
Valerie Pearson, PAg | Executive Director & Registrar
306-242-2606 or valerie.pearson@sia.sk.ca