CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It is the intentional maintenance and development of knowledge and skills which are needed to perform your job successfully. This might mean brushing up on current skills, or increasing the knowledge you have, or even learning new skills which will allow you to progress up the career ladder.
Most professions require their employees to take part in CPD courses to ensure their staff are fully trained in the necessary skills they require.
A good CDP structure gives employees a clear path to success with their current role and shows the potential progression to future jobs. If you work in a regulated industry such as the healthcare, accountancy or legal industries, employers can get in a lot of trouble if they do not keep their staff up with their CPD!
CPD activities could include formal educational activities like instructor led training courses, workshops and seminars, or CPD could include self directed learning through online courses and structured reading.