The Institute and Qualifications

Developing professionally in Insurance

Completing a qualification is a key way of gaining the knowledge and skills you need to support your current job and to help you develop your career. However, learning does not stop there. The need to keep your knowledge and skills up to date is important.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is any activity which is relevant to your ongoing development. This may be activity that develops your career, helps to keep your knowledge up-to-date or simply supports your role.

You can undertake some CPD activities which are not related to your current role, insurance and financial services, or to the CII. The CII aims to support the regulator’s requirements but there is a wider need to encourage aspirational personal career development.

CPD enables development to be structured in a way that meets your own personal needs, the requirements of your employer and indeed the regulator; ensuring you remain competent and up to date as this is the mark of a true professional. The CII is the world’s largest body dedicated to the insurance and financial services sector. Employers, agencies, and the profession in general, recognise that our qualified members are required to undertake a programme of CPD.

CPD is the planned acquisition of knowledge, experience and skills and the development of personal qualities. You are constantly learning and developing, often without realising that it is CPD. Activity should be a balance of development relevant to your current role and that which helps build your professional and future career. We would encourage you to discuss your plans with your employer to ensure they are relevant and appropriate.

How the scheme works

You should consider your professional career development in three fundamental areas:

Technical knowledge	Theory – That which is 'factual' and can be learned
Business knowledge and skills	Theory/acumen – Knowledge which is applied in a business context
Interpersonal skills	Ability – Acquired skills to apply knowledge

The CII's CPD scheme encourages members to consider their ongoing development in the broadest sense and offers a flexible way of recording activity undertaken.

The CII scheme is self-certifying and credits can only be accumulated if the activity has been completed.

By definition CPD is continuous and you should do at least as much developmental activity as is required to enable you to do your job competently and maintain your expertise. You can also undertake development which relates to wider professional aspirations.

The CII’s CPD scheme requires an accumulation of 100 credits each year. Completion of CPD activity ensures that members are able to use their designatory letters. It takes effect from the date of successful application of designatory letters.

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