22/09/2026
The CPD Edge: Looking Beyond Courses and Conferences
💡 Not all CPD comes with a certificate.
When people think about Continuing Professional Development (CPD), they often picture training courses, webinars, and conferences. While these are valuable learning opportunities, some really impactful CPD activities can happen as part of our everyday professional practice.
As an ANutr or RNutr, it's important to remember that CPD is about learning, development, and improving practice, not simply accumulating attendance records or hitting a number of hours.
Activities that can contribute to meaningful CPD include:
✅ Peer review
Reviewing a colleague's work, providing constructive feedback, or participating in quality assurance activities can strengthen critical appraisal skills and expose you to different approaches and perspectives.
✅ Mentoring and coaching
Supporting others often develops your own knowledge and skills. Mentoring encourages reflection, communication, leadership, and professional growth for both mentor and mentee.
✅ Presenting and teaching
Delivering presentations, facilitating workshops, or educating others can deepen your understanding of a topic and highlight areas for further development.
✅ Professional discussions and networking
Engaging with peers, participating in special interest groups, and discussing emerging evidence can broaden your knowledge and challenge your thinking.
The key question isn't "Did I attend a course?" but rather "What did I learn, how does it link to the wider evidence base and how has it influenced my practice?"
🎯 CPD Edge Tip: If an activity helped you develop knowledge, skills, behaviours, or professional practice, take a moment to record it. Capturing learning little and often makes CPD more meaningful and far easier to evidence later.
What's the most valuable CPD activity you've completed that didn't involve formal training? Share your experiences below.
