The Security Institute

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an essential way to keep up-to-date with the latest issues and developmemts in the security arena, giving those who participate in the scheme a competitive edge over other practitioners and enhancing confidence and competence.  It is a structured method of encouraging participants to achieve a minimum level of achievement over a set period of time. 

In the Security Institute, all recognised CPD activity has a unit of measure with an associated points value.  This activity is listed in the CPD Activity Table. 

Types of Activity 

In developing its CPD system, the Security Institute understands the varied activities undertaken by its members, and therefore recognises a diverse range of activity.  Further details are shown in the Activity Table, but CPD activity falls into 3 categories:

• Self-Directed for individual learning and research often non-structured
• Structured learning, including member events, seminars, conferences, courses and qualifications, all of which cna be provided by the Security Institute of other organisations
• Other Contributions, such as committee work, presentations, papers, mentoring, often aimed at educating or supporting the development of others

All CPD activity must directly relate to the development of security and/or management proficiency.  It should expand and update knowledge in security and/or management, but should not include activity considered to be part of an everyday job.  CPD scheme participants need to score at least 35 points per CPD year, scoring a minimum of 5 points in each of the 3 categories. 

Participating in the Scheme

From January 2010 Security Institute Fellows, Members, Associates, Graduates and Students may apply to join the CPD Register.  Retired Members and Affiliates are exempt.  Non-members are also welcome to register, and will be subject to the same verifications and controls.

This is currently a voluntary scheme, and individuals are responsible for enrolling on the scheme and maintaining their own CPD record and evidence file using the Record of Activity form provided.  In the future CPD will become compulsory for Chartered Security Practitioners.

Scheme Management

All members joining the scheme are required to maintain CPD records, including evidence of training and other development activity undertaken, and enter it on the CPD Record of Activity form.

Monitoring of the scheme is undertaken via annual CPD compliance sampling, which is verified by the Board of Directors.  Members are required to make an annual declaration in respect of their 35 hours' CPD requirement when renewing their membership.  Retired members are required to make an annual declaration that they are not working, in order to retain the nil CPD hours' requirement and retired membership status.

Worked Examples

Examples of completed records are being added to this web page to assist in the completion of Records of Activity.  Additionally, look out for further examples which will feature in upcoming eNewsletters and will illustrate particular aspects of the scoring.

Please contact cpd@security-institute.org with any queries about the scheme, or to register for CPD.