CPD for property professionals explained
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If you work in property — as a surveyor, energy assessor, retrofit professional or housing specialist — CPD is how you stay credible. Regulations move fast (Awaab’s Law, MEES, EPC reform, PAS 2035), and clients, employers and professional bodies all expect you to keep up. This page explains what CPD actually is, what the main bodies require, and how to log it without making it a chore.
Looking for things to actually do? Jump straight to the free CPD directory — a curated, annotated list of (mostly free) CPD across the property professions.
What CPD is — and why it matters
Continuing Professional Development is the structured and informal learning you do throughout your career to maintain and grow your competence. It’s not just box-ticking: in a field where getting it wrong can affect people’s homes, health and money, demonstrable, up-to-date knowledge is part of being a professional.
For property professionals specifically, CPD matters because:
- The rules keep changing. Damp and mould duties, energy standards and retrofit frameworks have all shifted significantly in recent years.
- It’s often a membership condition. Most professional bodies require CPD to keep your designation.
- It builds and protects trust. Clients and employers want to know you’re current, not working from what you learned years ago.
CPD requirements by professional body
Each body sets its own rules, and they revise them periodically. Treat the notes below as a starting point and confirm the current requirement with the body itself before relying on it.
| Body | Who it covers | CPD expectation |
|---|---|---|
| RICS | Chartered surveyors | An annual CPD requirement split between formal and informal learning, recorded via the RICS CPD portal. |
| RIBA | Architects (membership) | An annual CPD requirement with core curriculum topics. |
| ARB | Architects (UK register) | CPD/competence expectations as part of registration. |
| PCA | Property Care Association members (damp, timber, etc.) | CPD as part of membership and certification. |
| TrustMark / RPSA | Registered tradespeople & residential surveyors | Scheme-specific CPD/competence requirements. |
One thing worth knowing: searches for “RICS CPD” usually mean people heading to the RICS CPD portal to log hours. If that’s you, go straight to the RICS site — this page is the plain-English explainer, not the portal.
How to record your CPD
Whatever your body requires, the mechanics are the same:
- Log it as you go. Note the date, the activity, the time spent and the source. Doing this monthly beats a panicked scramble before your renewal.
- Reflect, don’t just list. A sentence on what you learned and how you’ll apply it is what turns an hour watched into CPD that counts.
- Keep the evidence. Certificates, attendance confirmations or your own notes — enough to show what you did if you’re asked.
- Mix structured and informal. Courses and accredited sessions sit alongside reading, podcasts and webinars.
Where to find good CPD
The hard part isn’t logging CPD — it’s finding CPD that’s actually worth your time. That’s exactly what this site is for: the free CPD directory is a curated, annotated list of (mostly free) resources across damp & mould, energy, retrofit, building pathology and the regulations, each with a note on who it suits and whether it’s accredited.
When you want something more structured, my own CPD courses are in development — built by a working surveyor who also trains new students.
Frequently asked questions
What does CPD stand for?
CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development — the ongoing learning you do to keep your knowledge and skills current after you've qualified. For property professionals it covers everything from a webinar on Awaab's Law to a structured course on damp diagnosis.
How many hours of CPD do I need?
It depends on your professional body and membership grade, and the rules change — so check the current requirement directly with your body rather than relying on a number you read elsewhere. As an indication, several bodies set an annual hours target split between structured and informal learning.
Does free CPD count?
Generally yes — most bodies care that the learning is relevant and that you can show what you got from it, not that you paid for it. Free webinars, reading and podcasts can all count, provided you record them and reflect on them. Always confirm what your body accepts.
How do I record my CPD?
Keep a simple log: date, activity, time spent, and a line or two on what you learned and how you'll use it. Many bodies provide an online CPD portal; a spreadsheet works too. The reflection matters as much as the hours.
Free CPD to get you started
A curated, practitioner-annotated directory of (mostly free) CPD across the property professions — updated as Dom finds the good stuff.
Browse the free CPD directory