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Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

 

Practitioners accredited under the Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme (FPAS) are required to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) in order to maintain their accreditation. 

 

This ensures that these practitioners can keep their knowledge and skills relevant and up-to-date.  

 

It is a condition of accreditation for individuals to attain 20 CPD points per year, which can be gained in a variety of ways. 

 

Practitioners will not be able to renew their accreditation each year without providing evidence to FPA Australia that they have met the required threshold. 

 

 

What is Continuing Professional Development? 

 

Continuing professional development (CPD) is ongoing learning undertaken by a practitioner that is relevant to their field of practice.  

 

All industries and professions constantly change and evolve as a result of research; amendments to regulations, standards, and codes; and the introduction of new technologies and equipment. 

 

So it is important that practitioners seek out opportunities to learn about issues that may alter the way they carry out their roles, and (in so doing) improve their own knowledge and abilities. 

 

Ongoing learning and upskilling - in the form of CPD - allows practitioners to remain current and effective and to deliver better services to their clients. 

 

 

FPAS CPD requirements

 

To maintain accreditation, individuals must accrue 20 CPD Points within each 12-month period of their accreditation.  

 

To qualify for CPD points, an activity must:  

 

  • extend knowledge or skills in areas that are relevant to their current and future practice needs;

  • contribute to the development of the relevant accreditation class and category;

  • promote the development of outcomes that will better serve the community; and

  • be separate to (and not form part of) normal income generation activities.  

 

Points can be accrued from any CPD category, as outlined in Table 1 below, and approval of an activity will be at the discretion of FPA Australia.

 

Note:  Practitioners should seek to undertake CPD activities that focus on one or more of the following areas:  

 

  • professional and/or good practice;

  • relevant legislation;

  • the accreditation scheme; 

  • relevant Australian Standards; or 

  • technical knowledge relevant to the accreditation held.  

Record keeping

 

Accredited individuals must keep full and accurate evidence of their CPD activities, so that they can be independently assessed and verified.  These records must include:  

 

  • the date and category of the activity; 

  • a description of the activity and its relevance to improving the knowledge and skills required to practice; 

  • evidence verifying the validity of the activity; and 

  • the number of hours 'claimed' by the individual. 

 

 

Activity selection

 

Not all CPD activities are considered equal in terms of enhancing the technical competence and professionalism of accredited individuals.  

 

For example, activities that more effectively extending knowledge and skills are given a higher weighting than those that simply maintain existing knowledge and skills.  

 

Each activity is allocated a specific number of points per hour to reflect this emphasis.  

 

The total points that can be claimed for an activity is the result of the points per hour multiplied by the total hours contributed to the activity.  

 

CPD activities and their corresponding weighting (points per hour) are shown in Table 1.

 

The detail in the column tilted Examples of Accepted CPD is designed to guide you and is not a comprehensive list.

 

If you are attending or participating in programs not specified below, please list it on your CPD logbook for consideration.

 

  

Category

CPD Activity

Conditions

Examples of Accepted CPD

Notes

Points per hour

1

Formal education and training, including distance education, where there is a formal assessment.

There is no limit to the maximum number of CPD Points that you can claim for these activities.
  • Certificate or Diploma in fire service, electrical, mechanical, building disciplines

Click link to see examples FSA Qualifications April 2021

  • Engineering qualification
  • Building Surveying qualifications
  • Fire Engineering qualifications

Study may be either on campus or by distance education. For distance education, estimate the equivalent number of hours of formal face-to- face education that would have been involved.

Time claimed is the actual hours of lectures, tutorials and assessment work.

2.5

2

Short courses, professional development sessions and workshops where a formal assessment may not be required.

There is no limit to the maximum number of CPD Points that you can claim for these activities.
  • AIBS TV
  • AMCA
  • Industry training from other associations
  • Fire equipment training (extinguisher use, etc)
  • ABCB seminars
  • EA seminars

 

Includes professional development sessions and workshops relevant to accredited class activities run by FPA Australia, Fire Services or other authorities where the content is directly related to the accredited class activities.

1.5

3

Attendance at seminars and discussion groups and conferences where there is a clear link to the professional development of individuals working in the accredited class profession.

There is no limit to the maximum number of CPD Points that you can claim for these activities.
  • Fire Australia Conference
  • Industry Reference Groups
  • Technical Committees relevant to the fire industry
  • Industry / Government consultation forums

Seminars and workshops will normally be delivered or facilitated by recognised individuals in the accredited class and associated fields.

Only the portion of the seminar / conference that is relevant to accredited class activities or the professional development of the individual may be included.

1.5

4

Learning activities in the workplace (non-income generating) that extend your knowledge and skills.

A maximum of 10 hours may be claimed for these activities.
  • First aid Training
  • Fire warden training
  • Company provided staff development programs
    • Presentation skills
    • Negotiation skills
    • Tool box meetings
    • Group discussion topics
    • Attendance at supplier product information/training sessions
    • Attending a testing laboratory to witness a fire or smoke test

 

Activities that are normal work activities applying current knowledge cannot be claimed as learning activities in the workplace. For any learning activity undertaken in the workplace you must be able to demonstrate how it has extended your knowledge.

1

5

Private study of journals, texts etc (informal learning activities) which extends your knowledge and skills in the accredited class and/or in the areas of business and management skills.

A maximum of 20 hours may be claimed for these activities.
  • Reading journals or reports related to the fire industry
  • Reading Good Practice Guides and other documents on the FPA Australia Website

Private study should be limited to areas directly related to accredited class or business and management skills.

Private study includes the reading of books, journals, transactions, manuals etc.

Sufficient records must be kept of claimed personal reading (e.g. date, title, author and time invested) to address an auditor's inquiry.

This information should be recorded after you have read the article for audit purposes.

0.5

6

Voluntary service to the profession relevant to accreditation.

A maximum of 20 hours may be claimed for these activities.
  • FPA Australia Technical Committees
  • FPA Australia Local Coordination Committees
  • Industry / Government consultation forums

 

Service to the accredited class profession may include:

serving in a volunteer capacity on boards, working groups and committees of FPA Australia

being a member of the peer review panel

reviewing technical publications prior to publication

assisting with CPD audits

serving as a volunteer on other boards and committees which advance accredited class profession

mentoring a colleague for work experience purposes

preparation of written submissions / contributions to, and participation in technical standards related meetings of organisations, such as Standards Australia, on areas relevant to accredited class.

1

7

The preparation and presentation of material for courses, conferences, seminars or journals.

Up to 10 hours per paper may be claimed for papers published in journals and conference proceedings and for the preparation of material for courses not part of your normal employment function
  • Include on your logbook specific details of what you have done within your industry and with your peers that  expand your knowledge and learning

This represents work outside of your normal employment and can be claimed for CPD purposes if the material is prepared and presented by you and the activities contribute to the advancement of the profession.

1

8

Any other structured activities not covered by 1 to 7 above that meet the CPD requirements of this scheme.

Documentary evidence and a clear justification will be necessary.
  • Include on your logbook specific details of what has been completed for review. We will assess to confirm if it qualifies for CPD points.

It is recommended that advice be sought from FPA Australia before claiming CPD points for activities in this category.

1

9

Attendance at a nominated FPA Australia professional development session if considered critical to FPAS accredited classes and categories.

There is no limit to the maximum number of CPD Points that you can claim for these activities.
  • FPA Australia Events

Pre-recorded-Webinars

 CPD Certificates issued by FPA Australia

Contact events@fpaa.com.au

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