Continuing professional development

Abstract

Continuing professional development (CPD), when provided formally, is something that is easy to recognize but perhaps rather more difficult to define. Theoretical and empirical controversy surrounds the scope and understanding of the concept. Definition is made more elusive by the different conceptualizations in use but the common denominator is that CPD concerns practices aimed at employees' development beyond that derived from their initial training. Moreover, there can be informal as well as formal practices intended to develop professional expertise as well as professional experience which generates learning without learning being an express objective. This variety of forms makes conceptualization of CPD even more difficult, as it does the conceptualization of training and development more generally. In addition, current policies and practices in CPD are frequently based on assumptions about learning and practice that are in urgent need of more empirical research (see