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CPD

CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

WHAT IS CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Continuous Education Training or what is more commonly known as, Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) can be defined as the systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of
knowledge and skills, and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of
professional and technical duties throughout a person’s professional pest control career.

CPD, fundamentally refers to the process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge and
experience that a person gains both formally and informally as they work, beyond any initial formal
qualification or training.

Simple put CPD is by-product of what a person does naturally i.e. we learn and develop on a daily
basis in some form or another. CPD program should not be seen as a burden and is not be limited to
the traditional “classroom” or “book learning” activities but also development/improvement of
one’s self as a person and within one’s work environment.

The CPD process is there to simply help and manage a person’s own development on an ongoing
basis, keeping record, review and guide on what is learnt and should be learnt and inturn making
you a better person and more importantly an improved and professional pest control sector as a
whole.

All CPD Activities should contain an element of learning and development that has taken place
within the context of the Pest Control Sector.

CPD CREDITS REQUIRED

The PCIPC CPD cycle is 12 months, during which period every registered PCIPC registered individual
will be required to accumulate a minimum of credits according to the professionals registered
designation in order to retain their PCIPC registration when renewing their annual PCIPC
registration.

The CPD Credits Required Per Individuals PCIPC Registered Designations Is Defined As Follows:

Learner PCO

10 CPD Credits

Assistant Pest Control Operator

15 CPD Credits

Licensed Pest Control Operator

25 CPD Credits

Master PCO

35 CPD Credits

THE 3 CPD STREAMS

CPD is not be limited to the traditional “classroom” or “book learning” activities but also
development/improvement of one’s self as a person and within one’s work environment.

In order to obtain the required CPD credits, registered PCO professionals can engaged in one or
more of the following three knowledge/skills CPD Streams:

Stream 1: Developmental: Core Knowledge and/or Non-core Knowledge

Development CPD Activities are activities that are related to structured educational and developmental meetings, seminars and training programs.All development activities must be approved and accredited by the PCIPC before a CPD credit(s) may be allocated to the relevant activities and be awarded to the relevant registered person.

Stream 2: Work-Based

Work-based CPD Activities are activities that are related to any work-related pest control activities.  All work-based activities should be done in an approved manner, according to a planned program approach, and will be subject to verification upon submission for CPD credits.

Stream 3: Individual

As the name implies individual CPD Activities are activities that are undertaken by each relevant individual.  All individual activities should be done in an approved manner, according to a planned program approach, and will be subject to verification upon submission for CPD credits.

 

SOURCES OF CPD ACTIVITIES

Professionals are required to be proactive and imaginative in searching for useful CPD information.
Sources may include, but are not limited to, local and international training and CPD providers, local
and regional conferences, association notices, pest control books and publications and the PCIPC
website.

PCIPC professionals, who intend participating in an activity provided, should ensure that the activity
is approved by the PCIPC before the activity is undertaken so that the credits awarded will be
recognised by PCIPC.

See: CPD Activities

CPD CREDIT SUBMISSION

PCIPC registered professionals are responsible for evaluating their own CPD activities and keeping all
relevant CPD records for a period of at least 3 years. The CPD system is administered by the PCIPC in
conjunction with the PCIPC registered individual. The number of CPD credits accumulated during
the specific annual cycle will be electronically recorded. Registered PCIPC persons may access their
personal CPD records by going to the PCIPC registration login portal.

CPD activities can be recorded as follows:

NON-COMPLIANCE TO CPC

In the event of a registered professional not complying with the requirements of CPD, the
PCIPC may impose any one or more of the following conditions:
  • A 3 (three) month remedial period may be imposed on the registered
    professional who has not achieved the required credits at the end of their
    receptive CPD cycle.
  • If the registered professional does not achieve his/her required CPD
    credits after the remedial period, the registered professional will be
    required to undertake and pass the respective designation assessment,
    and or be interviewed in order to demonstrate his/her skill, in order to be
    reinstated as a registered PCIPC professional.
  • Removing the registered professional name from the PCIPC register.

AUDIT

PCIPC may conduct random audits of the CPD records of all registered persons.

If selected for audit, registered persons will be required to send, within four weeks of initial notification,
verification of their CPD activities in the form of a certificate, statement of results, record of attendance,
receipt of course payment, or a written verification from the recognized voluntary association or
accredited tertiary educational institution, which presented the developmental activity.

FURTHER DETAILS VIEW THE PCIPC CPD POLICY

CPD FAQ

What is Continuous Professional Development or CPD?

CPD can be defined as the systematic maintenance, improvement, and broadening of knowledge and skills, and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties throughout a person’s plumbing career.

What does that mean to me

As a PCO you will need to obtain and accumulate CPD credits to maintain your registration with the PCO on an annual basis.

How do I obtain and accumulate

By doing various activities that improve and broaden your knowledge and skills and develop personal qualities within the industry.

What is a Registration Cycle?

A Registration cycle is a 12-month period that runs concurrently with your yearly renewal
registration period with the PIRB. Therefore, if your date of registration with the PCIPC is 1 July,
your CPD registration cycle runs from 1 July to 30 June the following year.

How do I keep track of my CPD credits?

As a registered PCO, you need to keep track of CPD credits and keep all evidence relating to the CPD activities you have undertaken. Evidence must be kept for a minimum of two years and the PCIPC may request proof of this evidence at any point during this period.

How do I record my CPD credits with the PCIPC?

Every time that you have obtained any form of credits, you may download, complete, and
return the CPD Activity Registration Form to the PCIPC, or submit it online upon which the PCIPC will record the relevant CPD credits on your registration profile

Why would I need CPD?

CPD forms part of the PCIPC’s professional registration. As PCIPC registered, you will be required to keep your CPD credits in line with the required year credit amount to keep your registered status with the PCIPC.

The CPD process is just a money-making racket!

The PCIPC does not engage in delivering any actual CPD, PCIPC merely facilitates the process. Developmental CPD activities are mostly undertaken by third parties such as suppliers, manufacturers, training providers, private individuals, etc. In many cases these activities are free and in other cases, they are not. It is up to each of these 3rd parties to make the decision, to charge for the CPD activity or not. Similarly, it is your choice to attend any of the developmental CPD activities, free or not.

How many credits do I require?

The number of CPD credits required within your registration cycle is subject to your type of PCIPC registration that you have.

  • Master PCO = 35 points,
  • Licensed PCO = 25 points
  • Learner/ Pest Control Operating Assistant = 10 points

 

How are the CPD credits determined for an activity?

 In most cases, the time and the content being delivered will be taken into consideration when evaluating the number of credits that should be awarded to an activity.

 

What happens if I do not obtain my CPD points for the cycle?

In the event of a registered professional not complying with the requirements of CPD, the PCIPC may impose any one or more of the following conditions:

  • A three-month remedial period may be imposed on the PCIPC registered professional who has not achieved the required credits at the end of their receptive CPD cycle.
  • If the registered professional does not achieve his/her required CPD credits after the remedial period, the registered professional will be required to undertake and pass the respective designation assessment, and/ or be interviewed to demonstrate his/her skill, to be reinstated as a registered PCIPC professional.
  • In the case of a Master or Licensed PCO registration they will be re-categorized to the designation of Qualified PCO.
  • Removing the registered professional name from the PCIPC register.