Skip to content

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

About the CPD scheme

Formal recording and monitoring of CPD acknowledges the responsibility of Chartered Geologists, and those intending to become chartered, to maintain and develop standards of technical and professional competence inherent in the designation of CGeol. Previously, the Geological Society operated an optional scheme for use only by its chartered Fellows. The new scheme, launched in September 2004, is still optional but is now open to all Fellows – those preparing to make a Chartership application in future are especially encouraged to get into the habit of recording CPD now.

The Geological Society certifies the CPD of those participating in the scheme who meet certain requirements. Chartered Scientists and European Geologists will also be able to use the CPD records they build up under the new scheme to maintain those titles.

Under the new scheme, CPD can be regarded as having two main phases. The transition between phase 1 and phase 2 is marked by a Fellow becoming chartered.

Phase 1:

Voluntary development of a Fellow of the Society, through professional practice, education, training and participation within the geological community, to maintain and improve their competency as a professional geologist and facilitate candidacy for Chartered Geologist status.

Phase 2:

Systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills through participation in CPD following award of Chartered Geologist status, and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties throughout a practitioner's working life.

Want to see the CPD and Chartership process summarised on one piece of paper? Download handy CGeol flowchart (PDF).

Follow the link to see the requirements of the new scheme, and the glossary (an explanation of the CPD categories and other terms).

Follow the link for information about using the online reporting facility.

To start recording your CPD online, please log in as a Fellow.

Features of the new scheme

  • A major concern was to give clearer guidelines on the sorts of activity that are generally acceptable; and by setting out an online form that can be completed and submitted electronically, ensure that participants can quickly and easily fulfil their obligations.
  • The revised scheme principally differs from the earlier version in recognising the importance of experiential learning in geoscience. This is based on the understanding that the actual practice of the profession makes you better at it. 
  • The former scheme reflected life-long learning by commitment to objectives and quantification by hours spent in achieving study goals - the revised scheme incorporates both of these approaches. 
  • In addition, the new scheme’s inclusion of 'professional practice', necessarily occurring over lengthy periods of time, requires the adoption of a points-based system. 
  • The revised scheme also recognises that there are those who for one reason or another may not be able to practise and allows for these special circumstances.

Transition from the old to the new scheme

Some Chartered Geologists may be part way through a three-year cycle of CPD recording under the conditions of the old scheme.

If this cycle started in 2002, and will therefore end at the close of 2004, you should complete it under the conditions of the old scheme, submitting your records in paper form.

If the cycle started in 2003 or 2004, you are asked to use the new online reporting system to record your CPD activity for this period retrospectively, where the conditions of the new scheme will apply. This is because CPD requirements for those taking part in the scheme are calculated over the full three-year reporting period, so it is not possible to mix the old and new schemes across a three-year cycle.

It is expected that the vast majority of CGeols whose CPD activity satisfied the conditions of the old scheme will also meet the requirements of the new scheme, so that retrospective recording of CPD for previous years should not pose a problem. If your current reporting period started in 2003 or 2004, and you are concerned that you will not meet the new conditions, please contact the Fellowship department.

Auditing and monitoring CPD

By recording your CPD online, you are both maintaining your own record, and reporting your CPD activity to the Geological Society. Your CPD records are available to the staff responsible for maintenance of the scheme, but not to other Fellows. There is no need to submit supporting paper records (e.g. attendance certificates), but these should be retained in case they are required for auditing purposes.

You can continue to record CPD activity in a three-year reporting period even when you have met all the requirements for that period. Once you close the reporting period (whether or not you have met all the requirements), you will no longer be able to directly add to the record (it is now possible to reopen the most recent closed CPD report as long as there are no open CPD reports). A new three-year reporting period can then be opened for subsequent years.

Geological Society staff will automatically be notified when you close a three-year reporting period and, assuming you have met the requirements, a certificate will be sent to you shortly thereafter. You do not need to notify us that you have met the requirements, or that you want a certificate.

Each year a sample of mid-reporting period records and completed three-year records will be audited. The process will be co-ordinated by the Fellowship Services Manager, and will be vetted and approved by the Fellowship and Validation Committee. If your record is audited, you may be asked to supply supporting paperwork, e.g. attendance certificates.

If you fail to meet the requirements of the scheme, the Society may withhold certification of your CPD (but see 'Consideration of exceptions', below). In the case of a EurGeol, this may lead to removal of the title. The Fellowship and Validation Committee will review all such cases. Removal of the EurGeol title will be ratified by Council only upon recommendation by the Professional Committee.

Consideration of exceptions

The CPD programme is designed to accommodate changing working patterns throughout your professional life, and to take these into account. Such changes may make it difficult or impossible for you to meet the usual points requirements of the scheme.

You may wish not to record of CPD during periods of extended leave from normal work. The three-year reporting cycle may be suspended in such cases. (Extended leave might include parental leave, other forms of career break, or sickness or accident recovery.)

If you are retired, or not in work for another reason, but still want your CPD certified by the Society, alternative requirements apply. Maintenance of the titles CGeol and EurGeol in retirement is taken to imply that you may still be available for consulting work etc, so there is still a case for maintenance of CPD (mandatory for EurGeol).

If any of these circumstances apply to you, or if you wish your case to be considered an exception for any other reason, you should contact the Fellowship department. Exceptions will be assessed and permitted or otherwise by the Fellowship and Validation Committee