Structured or unstructured, active or passive, classroom or podcast. Understanding the categories of CPD helps you plan a better year — and helps providers design activities that genuinely fit professional learners' needs.
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Continuing Professional Development comes in many forms. Understanding the different types of CPD helps professionals plan their annual development more effectively, and helps training providers design activities that genuinely meet the needs of their audiences. This guide explains the main categories and formats of CPD, and explains how The CPD Group accredits the full range of structured CPD activities.
The most fundamental distinction in CPD is between structured and unstructured learning.
Structured CPD involves organised learning activities with defined objectives, a set format, and a means of evidencing completion. It is sometimes called formal or active CPD. Examples include accredited training courses, webinars, conferences, online learning modules, and professionally accredited podcasts. Structured CPD is the type most commonly required by professional bodies — most mandate that a proportion of annual CPD comes from structured activities that can be independently verified.
Unstructured CPD covers self-directed learning that does not have a formal structure or certification. Examples include reading professional journals and industry publications, peer discussions, on-the-job learning, mentoring, attending networking events, and watching informational videos. Unstructured CPD is valuable and widely accepted by professional bodies, but it typically carries less weight than structured, accredited activities.
Within structured CPD, activities can be delivered in a wide range of formats. The CPD Group accredits all of the following.
The most traditional form of structured CPD. Face-to-face in a classroom, fully online as self-paced e-learning, live online as virtual classroom sessions, or as a blend. Length ranges from a few hours to multi-week programmes. Defined learning objectives, structured content, certificate of completion.
Course accreditationOnline seminars delivered via video conferencing. Live with audience interaction, pre-recorded on demand, or a combination. Particularly popular for compliance and regulatory update CPD, expert presentations, and interactive professional discussions. The CPD Group accredits both live and recorded webinars.
Webinar accreditationProfessional conferences, seminars, summits, and industry events deliver CPD through keynote presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and networking. CPD credits are calculated based on hours of accreditable learning content — not including breaks or non-educational sessions. The CPD Group accredits events of all sizes, from single-day seminars to multi-day international conferences.
Event & conference accreditationBoth audio and video podcasts are increasingly recognised as valuable CPD formats. The CPD Group was among the first accreditation bodies in the UK to offer dedicated podcast accreditation, reflecting the growing role of podcast-style content in professional development. Accredited episodes allow listeners and viewers to earn CPD credits and receive certificates.
Podcast accreditationEducational articles in professional publications that deliver measurable learning value to readers. The CPD Group pioneered edutorial accreditation in the UK — a unique format that allows readers of professional magazines, journals, and online publications to earn CPD credits by reading accredited articles.
Edutorial accreditationInternal workplace training programmes can be formally recognised as CPD through The CPD Group's employer accreditation service. When an employer's internal training meets CPD standards, employees can earn verifiable CPD credits for their workplace learning — particularly valuable in regulated sectors where employee CPD must be evidenced.
Employer accreditationCourse, webinar, event, podcast, edutorial, or in-house programme. Provider registration is free; submissions reviewed individually.
Active CPD involves direct participation and engagement — attending a live course, interacting in a webinar, participating in a workshop, or completing assessed activities. Most professional bodies give greatest weighting to active, structured CPD because it demonstrates genuine engagement with the learning rather than passive consumption.
Both can be
CPD accredited
When content meets professional learning standards
Passive CPD involves absorbing information without formal interaction or assessment — watching a recorded lecture, reading an article, or listening to a podcast without engagement features. Passive CPD is generally accepted by professional bodies but carries less weighting than active participation. CPD accreditation from The CPD Group applies to both active and passive formats, provided the content meets professional learning standards.
The right CPD mix depends on:
Your professional body's requirements
Your identified development needs from the CPD cycle
Your available time and budget
Your preferred learning style
Most professionals benefit from a combination of structured accredited activities and informal self-directed learning throughout the year. The CPD Group's CPD Passport helps you track your activities across all formats.
Combine structured accredited activities with informal learning. Log every hour, in any format, with the CPD Passport.