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Suggestions for moving toward
An internationally recognized ideal CPD program
by David M. Abbott Jr. JORC Code list of recognized professional
organizations (JORC, 2012). The cells under
Increasing numbers of professional societies each society’s name are the major CPD headings
and licensing bodies are requiring that at for the society’s CPD program except for the
least some class or classes of their membership European Federation of Geologists (EFG)2. The
engage in a mandatory continuing professional number of cells or main activity reporting area
development (CPD) program by logging a titles for the six CPD reporting systems varies
specified amount (hours, points or units) of from four (APGO) to 11 (EFG). Perusal of these
CPD, continuing education units (CEU) or main activity titles shows common titles among
professional development (PD) hours. The the societies. The commonality reflects both that
five postnominals under my name are from similar activities are covered by similar titles, but
five professional societies to whom I report care must be taken because similar titles do not
CPD1. While these CPD programs have necessarily mean the same thing or cover the
many common elements each one has its own same activities. This variation is a function of the
specific definitions, requirements, and CPD log splitting and lumping of particular CPD activities
reporting system that differs significantly from that each society does differently. For example,
those of other CPD programs. And although the title “formal education or learning” includes
most CPD programs have been updated in the university classes also taken for credit, but it may
past two to three years, there has been little or include other things, and there is sometimes a
no discernible effort to recognize and adopt distinction between tested and untested classes
an internationally common CPD reporting or seminars or short courses or webinars. The
system like that of the CRIRSCO template various main CPD activities also reflect the way
(2103) for mineral resource and mineral reserve in which a particular CPD program accounts
reporting. This has created an international CPD for the reporting of a particular activity. For
Tower of Babel that bedevils, infuriates and example, APEGBC (2011) requires that courses,
wastes the time of professionals who belong to seminars, etc. be at least four hours long to be
several professional societies and are expected classified as formal education.
to comply with each society’s specific CPD
reporting system. Particularly infuriating and The “CPD Tower of Babel” between
time-wasting are those CPD programs that professional societies stems from these factors:
expect that each individual CPD activity will
be logged on the society’s website on a regular • Although most CPD programs were
basis. The various CPD programs should work recently updated, there was no effort to
toward having common meanings of main CPD create a commonly accepted program.
activities and having a CPD logging system that
can be filed by CPD program participants to • There is no commonly agreed-upon
any professional society. The purpose of CPD general definition of CPD; indeed, most
programs is to provide a mechanism allowing the programs lack a definition of CPD.
recording or logging of CPD activities engaged
in by participating professional and provide • There is no agreement on what is
for a society’s monitoring of that participation. included in main CPD activities despite
Insisting on the use of a particular reporting form similarity of activity names.
is irrelevant. What is relevant is the evidence
that CPD has been undertaken by the reporting • There is a lack of agreement on which
participant. This article advocates suggestions for professional practice activities count as
moving toward this goal of having a universally CPD and which do not.
recognized CPD reporting system that is
recognized and accepted by all CPD programs. • The programs use different reporting
David M. Abbott Jr., AIPG-CPG, The CPD Tower of Babel 1 Prior to 2019, I reported CPD to the Society for
EurGeol, FAusIMM(CP), FGS(CGeol), Table 1 presents six
MMSA QP, is AIPG ethics columnist Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration’s Registered Member
and ethics chairman emeritus, Den- different CPD reporting
ver, CO, email dmageol@msn.com. systems from seven program and the Texas Board of Professional Geologists as a
2 july 2019 Mınıng engıneerıng international professional
societies; all are on the licensed geologist in Texas.
2 The 11 cells under EFG in Table 1 are the subdivisions
of the EFG’s main activity categories of Professional practice,
Enhancing & maintaining skills and knowledge, International
mentoring, Program, Social competence and Participate in
the geoscience community.
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