The CPD Breakdown: What It Stands For and Why It Counts
In the world of professional development, the acronym CPD is widely recognised- It is used to refer to the various ways in which professionals keep their skills, knowledge, and industry insights up to date.
Taking part in CPD not only helps you to be better at what you do, but it can also open more doors for you in your career, as you are demonstrating that you take a proactive approach in bettering your knowledge.
But have you ever wondered what it stands for?
The most common interpretations are Continuing, Continued, Continual, or Continuous Professional Development.
At first glance, they might all seem interchangeable but at The CPD Group, we’ve done the research and below illustrates which version of CPD is most commonly used around the world- and the results speak for themselves:
- Continuing – 711 million results
- Continued – 706 million results
- Continuous – 582 million results
- Continual – 58.7 million result
At The CPD Group, we’ve chosen to go with Continuing Professional Development—because it's the most widely recognised and actively used phrase in both professional and academic spaces. It captures the spirit of what CPD is all about: an active, ongoing journey of improvement and learning.
But honestly…
They All Mean the Same Thing!!!
While the wording may vary, the premise remains the same. So whether you say continuing, continued, continual, or continuous, it’s not silly, and you’re not wrong with whichever you use as you’re still on the right path. Because in the end, the goal remains the same: to keep developing your skills, knowledge, and expertise to keep moving forward throughout your career. The terminology may vary, but the intent doesn’t change.
And really, that’s what matters most.
If you wish to learn more about CPD and CPD Accreditation, come read one of our previous blogs by following the link below.👇👇👇
https://thecpd.group/articles/view/what-is-cpd
We hope you've learnt a bit more about what CPD means, but if you do have any further questions, our friendly team are always happy to help!
Email us: [email protected]
Thank you for reading
From
The CPD Group.
